Communications apparatus and method for transmitting and receiving multiple modulated signals over electrical lines

• US 5,351,272 A
• Filed: 05/18/1992
• Issued: 09/27/1994
• Est. Priority Date: 05/18/1992
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Satius Holding, Inc. (Satius, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Elcom Technologies Corporation
• Inventors: Abraham, Karoly C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Chin, Stephen
• Assistant Examiner(s): Kobayashi, Duane
• Application Number:
  US07/884,123
• Time in Patent Office: 862 Days
• Field of Search: 340/310 R, 340/310 A, 340/825, 340/58, 340/310 CP, 375/7, 375/8, 375/9, 375/52, 375/53, 375/54, 375/83, 375/85, 375/37, 375/38, 375/39, 455/14
• US Class Current: 375/260
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 2203/5408 using protocols
• 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 2203/5445 Local network
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 2203/545 Audio/video application, e.g. interphone
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 2203/5466 using three phases conductors
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 3/56 Circuits for coupling, blocking, or by-passing of signals
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 27/00 Modulated-carrier systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 27/18 Phase-modulated carrier systems, i.e. using phase-shift keying H04L27/32 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 5/08 each combination of signals in different channels being represented by a fixed frequency

Abstract

The present invention discloses an improved electrical communication apparatus which communicates high speed data/information over existing AC wiring, provides a phase linear environment for electrical transmission and reception of information on electrical wiring and provides a means for simultaneous transmission and reception of multiple data/information streams via the use of dielectric core couplers. This invention provides a means for linking 2 or more microprocessor based or electronic devices via conventional electric lines such as power lines, building wiring, twisted pair, coaxial cable or other wiring.

Claims

1. A communication apparatus which transmits and receives multiple modulated signals over an electrical line which comprises:

a first station and a second station;

said first station capable of receiving high speed data and converting the high speed data into multiple modulated signals for sending simultaneously over the electrical line to said second station, said second station being capable of simultaneously demodulating the multiple modulated signals and converting the signals back into high speed data; and

each said station incorporating dielectric core couplers for coupling the multiple modulated signals between the electrical line and each station.

2. A communication apparatus in accordance with claim 1 wherein the dielectric-core couplers couple the multiple modulated signals between the electrical line and each station in a phase linear manner.

3. A communication apparatus in accordance with claim 1 wherein the electrical line is any conventional wiring.

4. A communication apparatus in accordance with claim 1 wherein the multiple modulated signal sent over the electrical line can be set for a distance of less than 3 km.

5. A communication apparatus in accordance with claim 1 wherein the multiple modulating signal is a combination of multiplexed digital data which is modulated at different distinct preselected frequencies and then combined.

6. A communication apparatus in accordance with claim 1 wherein the high speed data is serial data traveling at a rate of up to 100 KSymbols/sec.

7. A communication apparatus in accordance with claim 1 wherein each station utilizes quadrature phase shift keying techniques when modulating and demodulating the multiple modulated signals.

8. A communication apparatus in accordance with claim 6 wherein the high speed data is serial data traveling at a rate of at least 160 kbits/sec.

9. A communication apparatus in accordance with claim 1 wherein each station utilizes octaphase shift keying techniques.

10. A communication apparatus in accordance with claim 7 wherein the data error rate of the communication apparatus is less than 10^-9.

11. A communication apparatus which transmits and receives composite modulated signals over an electrical line at high speeds comprising:

a first station and a second station connected to each other by an electrical line;

each station including multiple input data lines, multiple output data lines, multiple modulators, multiple demodulators and multiple air-core couplers;

said multiple input data lines carrying electrical information signals to said modulators, with one input data line associated with each of said modulators;

each of said modulators operating at a different preselected modulation frequency, and modulating electrical information signals received from its associated input data line and passing modulated electrical information signals to one of said air-core couplers;

each of said air-core couplers, being phase-shift linear and impedance matched with the electrical line at a preselected modulation frequency, coupling each modulated electrical information signal to the electrical line to create a composite output signal;

each of said air-core couplers also receiving a composite input signal from the electrical line and separating the composite input signal into parallel input modulation signals, without affecting the phase of said parallel input modulation signals, and passing said parallel input modulation signals to said demodulators;

each of said demodulators, one for each input modulation signal, demodulating one of said input modulation signals and transmitting a demodulated input modulation signal on one of said output data lines as input data.

12. A communication apparatus in accordance with claim 11 wherein all said input data lines are connected to a demultiplexer which demultiplexes the electrical information on an input data stream line onto said input data lines, and

all said output data lines are connected to a multiplexer which multiplexes the electrical information on said output data lines onto an output data stream line.

13. A communication apparatus in accordance with claim 12 wherein the input data lines and the output data lines operate individually at approximately 80 KSymbols/sec multiplied by the number of input data lines and the output data lines, respectively.

14. A communication apparatus in accordance with claim 11 wherein each of the air-core couplers has a dielectric core.

15. A communication apparatus in accordance with claim 11 wherein the electrical information on the input data lines and the output data lines is analog information.

16. A communication apparatus in accordance with claim 12 wherein the demodulators incorporate phase-lock-loop circuity prior to demodulation.

17. A communication apparatus in accordance with claim 16 wherein the modulators and the demodulators incorporate Quadrature Phase Shift Keying Circuitry.

18. A communication apparatus in accordance with claim 16 wherein the modulators and the demodulators incorporate octaphase shift keying circuitry.

19. A communication apparatus in accordance with claim 11 wherein each said station includes a multiplexer, demultiplexer, a serial input line and a serial output line;

each serial input line carries input data to a demultiplexer;

said demultiplexer demultiplexes the input data on the serial input line onto the multiple input data lines;

each multiplexer receives output data from the output data lines and multiplexes the data into data stream output data and sends the output data on the serial output line.

20. A communication apparatus in accordance with claim 17 wherein both the data on the serial input line and data on the serial output line travel at data speeds exceeding approximately 1 Mbaud.

21. A method of communication which allows multiple electronic processors to communicate on an electrical line comprising the steps of:

providing a first encoder/decoder unit connected to a first electronic processor and at least a second encoder/decoder unit connected to a second electronic processor, both first and second encoder/decoder units being connected to said electrical line and utilizing air-core couplers;

receiving a first data stream from the first electronic processor;

multiplexing the first data stream into multiple parallel data streams;

modulating each parallel data stream at a different distinct preselected modulation frequency resulting in multiple modulated data streams;

combining the multiple modulated data streams into a combination data stream;

sending the combination data stream on the electrical line in a phase linear manner;

receiving the combination data stream at the second encoder/decoder unit;

separating the combination data stream, in a phase linear manner, into second multiple modulated data streams each modulating at a different distinct modulation frequency;

demodulating each of said second modulated data streams and creating second parallel data streams;

demultiplexing the second parallel data streams into a single second data stream;

transmitting said second data stream to the second electronic processor.

22. Communication apparatus comprising:

an electrical line over which first composite modulated information signals and second composite modulated information signals are transmitted;

a first station connected to said electrical line for;

(a) developing said first composite modulated information signals,

(b) conducting to said electrical line said first composite modulated information signals,

(c) receiving from said electrical line said second composite modulated information signals, and

(d) processing said second composite modulated information signals,

said first station including;

(a) a plurality of first station input data lines carrying first electrical information signals,

(b) a plurality of first station modulators, each one associated with one of said first station input data lines and operating at a different preselected modulation frequency, for modulating said first electrical information signals received from associated first station input data lines to develop components of said first composite modulated information signals,

(c) a plurality of first station demodulators, each one operating at a different preselected demodulation frequency, for demodulating components of said second composite modulated information signals received from said electrical line,

(d) a plurality of first station output data lines, each one associated with one of said first station demodulators for carrying second electrical information signals,

(e) a plurality of phase-shift linear first station air-core couplers impedance matched with said electrical line for;

(i) coupling said components of said first composite modulated information signals developed by said first station modulators to said electrical line,

(ii) separating said components of said second composite modulated information signals without affecting the phase of said components of said second composite modulated information signals, and

(iii) passing said components of said second composite modulated information signals in parallel to said first station demodulators;

and a second station connected to said electrical line for;

(a) developing said second composite modulated information signals,

(b) conducting to said electrical line said second composite modulated information signals,

(c) receiving from said electrical line said first composite modulated information signals, and

(d) processing said first composite modulated information signals,

said second station including;

(a) a plurality of second station input data lines carrying said second electrical information signals,

(b) a plurality of second station modulators, each one associated with one of said second station input data lines and operating at a different preselected modulation frequency, for modulating said second electrical information signals received from associated second station input data lines to develop components of said second composite modulated information signals,

(c) a plurality of second station demodulators, each one operating at a different preselected demodulation frequency, for demodulating components of said first composite modulated information signals received from said electrical line,

(d) a plurality of second station output data lines, each one associated with one of said second station demodulators for carrying said first electrical information signals,

(e) a plurality of phase-shift linear second station air-core couplers impedance matched with said electrical line for;

(i) coupling said components of said second composite modulated information signals developed by said second station modulators to said electrical line,

(ii) separating components of said first composite modulated information signals without affecting the phase of said components of said first composite modulated information signal, and

(iii) passing said components of said first composite modulated information signals in parallel to said second station demodulators.

23. Communication transmitting apparatus for transmitting composite modulated information signals over an electrical line comprising:

a transmitting station connected to said electrical line for;

(a) developing said composite modulated information signals,

(b) conducting to said electrical line said composite modulated information signals,

said transmitting station including;

(a) a plurality of transmitting station input data lines carrying first electrical information signals,

(b) a plurality of transmitting station modulators, each one associated with one of said transmitting station input data lines and operating at a different preselected modulation frequency, for modulating said first electrical information signals received from associated transmitting station input data lines to develop components of said composite modulated information signals,

(c) a plurality of phase-shift linear first station air-core couplers impedance matched with said electrical line for coupling said components of said composite modulated information signals developed by said transmitting station modulators to said electrical line.

24. Communications apparatus in accordance with claim 23 further comprising a receiving station for receiving said composite modulated signal.

25. Communication apparatus in accordance with claim 24 wherein said receiving station comprises air-core couplers impedance matched to said electrical line.

26. Communication receiving apparatus for receiving composite modulated information signals over an electrical line comprising:

a receiving station connected to said electrical line for;

(a) receiving from said electrical line said composite modulated information signals, and

(b) processing said composite modulated information signals,

said receiving station including;

(a) a plurality of receiving station demodulators, each one operating at a different preselected demodulation frequency, for demodulating components of said composite modulated information signals received from said electrical line,

(b) a plurality of receiving station output data lines, each one associated with one of said receiving station demodulators for carrying second electrical information signals, and

(c) a plurality of phase-shift linear first station air-core couplers impedance matched with said electrical line for;

(i) separating said components of said composite modulated information signals without affecting the phase of said components of said composite modulated information signals, and

(ii) passing said components of said composite modulated information signals in parallel to said receiving station demodulators.

27. Communication apparatus in accordance with claim 26 further comprising a transmitting station for transmitting said composite modulated signal.

28. Communication apparatus in accordance with claim 27 wherein said transmitting station comprises air-core couplers impedance matched to said electrical line.

29. Communication transceiver apparatus for transmitting and receiving first and second composite modulated information signals over an electrical line comprising:

a transceiver station connected to said electrical line for;

(a) developing said first composite modulated information signals,

(b) conducting to said electrical line said first composite modulated information signals,

(c) receiving from said electrical line said second composite modulated information signals, and

(d) processing said second composite modulated information signals,

said transceiver station including;

(a) a plurality of input data lines carrying first electrical information signals,

(b) a plurality of modulators, each one associated with one of said input data lines and operating at a different preselected modulation frequency, for modulating said first electrical information signals received from associated input data lines to develop components of said first composite modulated information signals,

(c) a plurality of demodulators, each one operating at a different preselected demodulation frequency, for demodulating components of said second composite modulated information signals received from said electrical line,

(d) a plurality of output data lines, each one associated with one of said demodulators for carrying second electrical information signals,

(e) a plurality of phase-shift linear first station air-core couplers impedance matched with said electrical line for;

(i) coupling said components of said first composite modulated information signals developed by said transceiver station modulators to said electrical line,

(ii) separating said components of said second composite modulated information signals without affecting the phase of said components of said second composite modulated information signals, and

(iii) passing said components of said second composite modulated information signals in parallel to said demodulators.

30. Communication apparatus in accordance with claim 29 further comprising a second transceiver station connected to said electrical line for sending said second composite modulated signals over said electrical line and receiving said first composite modulated signals over said electrical line.

31. The communication apparatus of claim 30 wherein said second transceiver comprises air-core couplers impedance matched to said electrical line.