Communication terminal for electrical power line distribution system
First Claim
1. A communications terminal coupled to and operable with at least two intelligent, independently operable circuit breakers, each circuit breaker having a communication port and connected in a power distribution network, comprising:
- a housing for said terminal and adapted to provide connection to at least line and neutral conductors of said power distribution netwvork;
a processing circuit, having a first communication port, coupled to and powered by said power distribution network;
a first communication link coupling said first communication port of said processing circuit to the communication ports of all of the circuit breakers in the power distribution network; and
a first communication protocol for automatically addressing individual ones of the circuit breakers and for controlling message traffic through said first communication link between said processing circuit and said circuit breakers.
4 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A communication terminal (10) is coupled to and operable in a power line network with at least one of plurality of intelligent circuit breakers (40) wherein each such circuit breaker (40) has a communication port. The terminal (10) includes a housing and connection means (12, 14) for connecting the terminal (10) to the power line network. The terminal (10) includes a processing circuit (76) and communication ports (24, 22, 20) for communicating over communication links with the circuit breakers (40) or other external devices according to a message protocol defined for the system.
289 Citations
50 Claims
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1. A communications terminal coupled to and operable with at least two intelligent, independently operable circuit breakers, each circuit breaker having a communication port and connected in a power distribution network, comprising:
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a housing for said terminal and adapted to provide connection to at least line and neutral conductors of said power distribution netwvork; a processing circuit, having a first communication port, coupled to and powered by said power distribution network; a first communication link coupling said first communication port of said processing circuit to the communication ports of all of the circuit breakers in the power distribution network; and a first communication protocol for automatically addressing individual ones of the circuit breakers and for controlling message traffic through said first communication link between said processing circuit and said circuit breakers. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50)
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Specification