Transmission and detection of data in a dual channel transceiver

• US 6,414,968 B1
• Filed: 10/30/1998
• Issued: 07/02/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 10/30/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Echelon Corporation (Renesas Electronics Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Echelon Corporation (Renesas Electronics Corporation)
• Inventors: Stubbs, Mark Adrian, Chen, Luna, Downey, Walter J., Sutterlin, Philip H.
• Primary Examiner(s): Vu, Huy D.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Harper, Kevin C.
• Application Number:
  US09/183,565
• Time in Patent Office: 1,341 Days
• Field of Search: 370/216, 370/225, 370/228, 370/464, 370/480, 370/343, 370/344, 340/310.01, 340/310.02, 455/550, 455/553, 375/316, 375/346, 375/347, 375/260, 375/349, 714/820
• US Class Current: 370/480
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 2203/5416 by adding signals to the wave form of the power source
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 2203/542 using zero crossing information
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 2203/5495 having measurements and testing channel
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 3/54 Systems for transmission via power distribution lines

Abstract

A dual channel transceiver which operates at two different frequencies and which may be used in a network using older transceivers operating at a single frequency is disclosed. A pilot tone is transmitted by the transceiver when it is using the second channel to cause the older transfers to remain synchronized and thereby prevent them from transmitting data which would otherwise interfere with the data on the second channel. The relative magnitude of the signals on both channels is compared to prevent the detection of cross-talk on the second channel as data.

Claims

1. A method for selecting between a first and a second channel in a receiver where the first and second channel receive data on carriers having a first and second frequency, respectively, where the first and second channels provide first and second enable signals, respectively, indicating that data is present on its channel, comprising:

selecting the data on a first channel if the first enable signal is present and the second enable signal is not present;

selecting the data on the second channel if the second enable signal is present and the first enable signal is not present; and

examining the relative signal levels in the first and second channels at two different times if both the first and second enable signals are present.

2. The method defined by claim 1 wherein the examination step includes;

determining if the signal level in the second channel is a predetermined level below the signal level in the first channel, and where one of the times is when the enable signal in the first channel occurs.

3. The method defined by claim 2 including the step of examining the number of zero crossings in the second channel within a predetermined time.

4. The method defined by claim 1, 2 or 3 wherein the first frequency is approximately 131 kHz and the second frequency is approximately 115 kHz.

5. A method for selecting between a first and a second channel in a receiver where the first and second channel receive modulated carriers having first and second frequencies, respectively, when there is an indication that data may be present on both channels comprising:

determining a signal level in the first channel;

determining a signal level in the second channel;

comparing the signal levels in the first and second channels at two different times;

using as a factor in selecting the first channel the results of the comparison when the signal level in the first channel is substantially larger than the signal level in the second channel.

6. The method defined by claim 5 wherein the comparison examines the first level to determine if it is at least 18 dB above the second signal level.

7. The method defined by claim 5 wherein one of the times that the comparison is made is when the indication that data is present in the first channel occurs.

8. The method defined by claims 5 or 7 wherein the number of zero crossings within a predetermined time in the second channel is determined and used as one of the factors in the selecting.

9. The method defined by claim 8 wherein the first frequency is approximately 131 kHz and the second frequency is approximately 115 kHz.

10. A method for selecting between a first and a second channel in a receiver where the first and second channel receive data on carriers having a first and second frequency, respectively, where the first and second channels provide first and second enable signals, respectively, indicating that data is present on its channel, comprising:

selecting the data on a first channel if the first enable signal is present and the second enable signal is not present;

selecting the data on the second channel if the second enable signal is present and the first enable signal is not present; and

examining the number of zero crossings in at least one of the first and second channels during a predetermined time if both the first and second signals are present.