Highly reliable power line communications system

• US 6,441,723 B1
• Filed: 11/15/2000
• Issued: 08/27/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 11/15/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: UTC Fire & Security Americas Corporation, Inc. (Carrier Global Corporation)
• Original Assignee: General Electric Company
• Inventors: Marman, Douglas H., Mansfield, Amos R. Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hofsass, Jeffery
• Assistant Examiner(s): Previl, Daniel
• Application Number:
  US09/713,675
• Time in Patent Office: 650 Days
• Field of Search: 340/310.01, 340/310.02, 340/310.03, 340/310.04, 340/310.05, 340/310.06, 340/310.07, 340/310.08, 340/538, 375/259
• US Class Current: 340/538.11
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/06 using power transmission lines
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/10 using wireless transmission systems G08B25/009 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 2203/5425 improving S/N by matching impedance, noise reduction, gain control
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 2203/5437 Wired telephone
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 2203/5441 Wireless systems or telephone
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 2203/5445 Local network
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 2203/545 Audio/video application, e.g. interphone
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 2203/5458 Monitor sensor; Alarm systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 2203/5479 using repeaters
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 2203/5483 using coupling circuits
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 2203/5491 using filtering and bypassing
• 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

An electric power line communication system operates with an electric power distribution system to provide through premises power distribution lines highly reliable communication links among receiving devices electrically coupled or located in proximity to the premises power distribution lines. A power line transceiver is designed to transmit and receive through the premises power distribution lines modulated carrier signals conveying information over the communication links. The power line transceiver operates in a transmitter mode as an intentional radiator to emit modulated carrier signals by transmitting them at a frequency band and a power level sufficient to form by electrical conduction a communication link with a modulated carrier signal receiving device.

Claims

1. In an electric power distribution system that includes premises power distribution lines, an electric power line communications system operatively associated with the electric power distribution system to provide through the premises power distribution lines highly reliable communication links among modulated carrier signal receiving devices electrically coupled or located in proximity to the premises power distribution lines, comprising:

a power line transceiver designed to transmit and receive over the premises power distribution lines modulated carrier signals conveying information over the communication links, the power line transceiver operating in a transmitter mode as an intentional radiator to emit the modulated carrier signals by transmitting them at a frequency band and a power level sufficient to form by electrical conduction a communication link with a modulated carrier signal receiving device that is electrically coupled to the premises power distribution lines, and to form by at least one of electrical induction a communication link by coupling across electric power distribution line phases or electromagnetic radiation a communication link with a modulated carrier signal receiving device that is located in proximity to the premises power distribution lines.

2. The system of claim 1, in which the premises power distribution lines carry an AC electric power signal that undergoes AC signal zero crossings relative to an electrical reference, the modulated carrier signal conveying the information on the premises power distribution lines during times not necessarily concurrent with those of the AC signal zero crossings.

3. The system of claim 2, in which the modulated carrier signal forms by electrical conduction a communication link with the modulated carrier signal receiving device in the absence of the AC electric power signal on the premises power distribution lines.

4. The system of claim 1, in which the frequency band is within a range of between about 1.7 MHz and about 41.0 MHz.

5. The system of claim 4, in which the frequency band lies within one of four ranges including from about 1.7 MHz to about 10.0 MHz, from about 13.5 MHz to about 13.6 MHz, from about 26.9 MHz to about 27.3 MHz, and from about 40.6 MHz to about 41.0 MHz.

6. The system of claim 5, in which, for the ranges of frequency bands exceeding about 10.0 MHz, the modulated carrier signal has a bandwidth equal to about 1 percent or less of their respective frequency bands.

7. The system of claim 5, in which, for the range of frequency bands of under about 10.0 MHz, the modulated carrier signal has a bandwidth equal to or more than about 10 percent of their respective frequency bands.

8. The system of claim 1, further comprising an inductance or radiation antenna operatively associated with the power line transceiver to transmit and receive the modulated carrier signals conveying information.

9. The system of claim 1, in which one or more of the first and second transceivers include an alarm annunciating device.

10. An electric power line communications system for use in association with premises power distribution lines of an electric power distribution system, comprising:

premises power distribution lines routed to make electric power available at different locations throughout the premises; and

a power line transmitter associated with and designed to transmit a modulated carrier signal over the premises power distribution lines, the modulated carrier signal conveying information for receipt by one or more modulated carrier signal receiving devices electrically coupled or located in proximity to the premises power distribution lines, the power line transmitter operating as an intentional radiator to emit the modulated carrier signal at a frequency band and a power level sufficient to form by electrical conduction a communication link with a modulated carrier signal receiving device that is electrically coupled to the premises power distribution lines, and to form by at least one of electrical induction a communication link by coupling across electric power distribution line phases or electromagnetic radiation a communication link with a modulated carrier signal receiving device that is located in proximity to the premises power distribution lines.

11. The system of claim 10, in which the premises power distribution lines carry an AC electric power signal that undergoes AC signal zero crossings relative to an electrical reference, the modulated carrier signal conveying the information on the premises power distribution lines during times not necessarily concurrent with those of the AC signal zero crossings.

12. The system of claim 10, in which the frequency band is within a range of between about 1.7 MHz and about 41.0 MHz.

13. The system of claim 12, in which the frequency band lies within one of four ranges including from about 1.7 MHz to about 10.0 MHz, from about 13.5 MHz to about 13.6 MHz, from about 26.9 MHz to about 27.3 MHz, and from about 40.6 MHz to about 41.0 MHz.

14. The system of claim 13, in which, for the ranges of frequency bands exceeding about 10.0 MHz, the modulated carrier signal has a bandwidth equal to about 1 percent or less of their respective frequency bands.

15. The system of claim 13, in which, for the range of frequency bands of under about 10.0 MHz, the modulated carrier signal has a bandwidth equal to or more than about 10 percent of their respective frequency bands.

16. The system of claim 10, further comprising first and second transceivers configured to form a communication link between them, the first transceiver including the power line transmitter associated with and the second transceiver including the modulated carrier signal receiving device electrically coupled to the premises power distribution lines.

17. The system of claim 16, in which the first and second transceivers include smoke detector devices.

18. The system of claim 16, in which one or more of the first and second transceivers include an electrical control device or a condition monitoring device.

19. The system claim 10, in which the premises power distribution lines constitute a first set of premises power distribution lines that are part of a first electric circuit and further comprising:

a second set of premises power distribution lines that are part of a second electric circuit that is distinct from the first electric circuit; and

first and second transceivers configured to form a communication link between them, the first transceiver including the power line transmitter associated with and the second transceiver including the modulated carrier signal device located in proximity to the first set of premises power distribution lines.

20. The system of claim 19, in which one or more of the first and second transceivers include a smoke detector device.

21. The system of claim 19, in which one or more of the first and second transceivers include an electrical control device or a condition monitoring device.

22. The system of claim 19, in which the first and second transceivers include respective first and second antennas configured to form the communication link between the first and second transceivers, the first transmitter transmitting the modulated carrier signal from the first antenna, and further comprising a relay signal corresponding to the modulated carrier signal conveying information and carrying at least some of the information, the relay signal produced for transmission by the second antenna of the second transceiver after its reception of the modulated carrier signal by the second antenna.

23. The system of claim 22, in which each of the first and second antennas is of an inductance or a radiation type.

24. The system of claim 19, further comprising:

a third transceiver configured to form communication links with the first and second transceivers, the third transceiver including a power line transmitter and a modulated carrier signal receiving device; and

a central monitor associated with the first transceiver and a security system associated with each of the second and third transceivers.