Apparatus for transmitting and receiving a power line

• US 4,746,897 A
• Filed: 04/02/1987
• Issued: 05/24/1988
• Est. Priority Date: 01/30/1984
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: ABB Power T&D Co Inc (ABB Limited)
• Original Assignee: Westinghouse Electric Corporation (Paramount Global (f/k/a ViacomCBS Inc.))
• Inventors: Shuey, Kenneth C.
• Primary Examiner(s): NOT, DEFINED
• Assistant Examiner(s): Scutch, III, Frank M.
• Application Number:
  US07/035,255
• Time in Patent Office: 418 Days
• Field of Search: 340/310 R, 340/310 A, 328/163, 328/167, 328/168, 328/169, 328/171, 328/175, 333/173, 333/176, 379/66
• US Class Current: 375/219
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 2203/5416 by adding signals to the wave form of the power source
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 2203/5425 improving S/N by matching impedance, noise reduction, gain control
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 2203/5483 using coupling circuits
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 2203/5491 using filtering and bypassing
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 3/542 the information being in digital form

Abstract

A transceiver provides a relatively constant output voltage from its linear amplifier by providing both current and voltage feedback to its operational amplifier. The present invention utilizes common components for both transmitting and receiving and provides an apparatus which can both transmit and receive power line carrier signals which can be used to communicate digital data through phase modulation of the carrier signal. The transceiver of the present invention can be operatively connected to a microprocessor through appropriate filtering and switching.

Claims

1. Apparatus for transmitting and receiving carrier signals in communication with a power line, comprising:

means for amplifying a modulated signal and producing an amplified output signal;

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein:

said amplifying means comprises an operational amplifier, said operational amplifier being cooperatively associated with a plurality of transistors.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein:

said filtering means comprises a capacitor and an inductor.

7. The transceiver of claim 5, wherein:

one of said transistors comprises a pair of transistors connected as a Darlington pair.

9. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein:

said voltage feedback circuit comprises a first resistor which is electrically connected between said noninverting input of said operational amplifier and said emitters of said first and second transistors.

10. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein:

said current feedback circuit comprises a second resistor which is electrically connected between said noninverting input of said operational amplifier and said second terminal.

2. means for electrically filtering said output signal, said filtering means being electrically connected to a burden which is connectable in electrical communication with said power line;

means for providing said burden for an incoming signal from said power line;

switching means having a first position for directly connecting said burden in electrical communication with said power line and a second position for disconnecting said burden from electrical communication with said filtering means;

means for providing a voltage feedback for said amplifying means; and

,

means for providing a current feedback for said amplifying means.

4. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein:

one of said transistors comprises a Darlington amplifier.

6. A carrier signal transceiver, comprising:

an operational amplifier having its noninverting input being connectable to a signal source;

a plurality of transistors cooperatively associated with said operational amplifier to form a linear amplifier, the output of said linear amplifier being directly connectable to a power line;

first means for providing a voltage feedback circuit for said operational amplifier;

second means for providing a current feedback circuit for said operational amplifier;

an electrical filter connectable between said linear amplifier and said power line, said electrical filter comprising a capacitor and an inductor;

a burden component electrically connectable with said power line between said capacitor and said inductor; and

means for connecting and disconnecting said burden component and said power line.

8. An apparatus for transmitting and receiving a power line carrier signal, comprising:

first and second terminals, said first and second terminals being connectable with said power line at points of different voltage potential;

an operational amplifier having an output, a noninverting input and an inverting input, said noninverting input being electrically connectable to said first terminal;

a first transistor having its emitter electrically connected to said noninverting input of said operational amplifier;

a second transistor having its emitter electrically connected to said noninverting input of said operational amplifier and to said emitter of said first transistor;

a third transistor having its collector electrically connected to the base of said second transistor and having its base electrically connected to said output of said operational amplifier;

a voltage feedback circuit electrically connected between said noninverting input and said output of said operational amplifier;

a current feedback circuit electrically connected between said noninverting input and said output of said operational amplifier;

a capacitor being electrically connectable between said first terminal and said noninverting input of said operational amplifier;

an inductor being electrically connected between said second terminal and said noninverting input of said operational amplifier;

a burden being connectable between said capacitor and said inductor;

means for electrically connecting said first terminal to said emitters of said first and second transistors;

a third terminal connected to said burden, said third terminal being connectable to an external device for sending a received signal to said external device;

a fourth terminal connected to said noninverting input of said operational amplifier, said fourth terminal being connectable to an external device for receiving a signal to be transmitted to said power line.

11. A method for transmitting signals to a power line and receiving signals from a power line, comprising:

providing a first and a second terminal, said first and second terminals being connectable to points of different voltage potential within said power line;

providing an operational amplifier having an output, a noninverting input and an inverting input;

associating a plurality of transistors cooperatively with said operational amplifier to form a linear amplifier;

connecting a capacitive component to said first terminal, said capacitive component being connectable in electrical communication between said first terminal and said noninverting input;

connecting together the emitters of a preselected two of said plurality of transistors;

connecting said emitters with said noninverting input;

providing a means for connecting said emitters with said capacitive component;

providing an inductive component in electrical connection with said second terminal;

providing a burden between said capacitive and inductive component;

providing a voltage feedback from said output to said noninverting input of said operational amplifier; and

providing a current feedback from said output to said positive input of said operational amplifier, said current feedback passing through said indicative component.

12. A power line carrier signal transceiver, comprising:

a linear amplifier circuit comprising an operational amplifier which is cooperatively associated with a plurality of transistors, the output of said linear amplifier being connectable between a first point and a second point of said power line having a voltage potential therebetween;

means for providing a voltage feedback for said operational amplifier;

means for providing a current feedback for said operational amplifier;

a filter network comprising a capacitor and an inductor, said inductor being electrically connected with said second point, said capacitor being electrical to said first point, said capacitor being electrically connectable with the output of said linear amplifier;

a burden which is electrically connectable between said capacitor and said inductor;

first means for connecting said burden to an external device, said first connecting means being electrically connected to said burden with said burden being disposed electrically between said first connecting means and said capacitor; and

second means for connecting said linear amplifier to an external device, said second connecting means being connected in electrical communication with a non-inverting input of said operational amplifier.