Communication system for simultaneous two-channel transmission of data between subscribers

• US 6,633,228 B1
• Filed: 02/22/2000
• Issued: 10/14/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 02/22/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Siemens AG
• Original Assignee: Siemens AG
• Inventors: Reitter, Josef
• Primary Examiner(s): Wu, Daniel J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Nguyen, Tai T.
• Application Number:
  US09/510,729
• Time in Patent Office: 1,330 Days
• Field of Search: 340/310.01, 340/310.03, 340/310.07, 340/310.02, 340/310.06, 375/259, 455/3.3
• US Class Current: 375/260
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 2203/5466 using three phases conductors
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 3/54 Systems for transmission via power distribution lines

Abstract

A communication system having at least two communication subscribers unidirectionally or bidirectionally exchanging data that are electrically connected to one another via at least one network cable which is in turn, connectible to a network termination via which energy can be supplied to the communication subscribers and via which an at least two-channel transmission of data in the form of electrical signals can occur at the same time from a first to a second communication subscriber.

Claims

1. A communication system comprising:

at least first and second communication subscribers, each communication subscriber respectively including means for generating signals to be transmitted and means for interpreting signals received; and

at least one network cable electrically connected between the first and second communication subscribers via which an at least two-channel bidirectional transmission of the data in the form of electrical signals simultaneously occurs between the first and second communication subscribers, the at least one network cable further connected to a network termination via which the first and second communication subscribers can be supplied with energy;

wherein

the network cable is an at least three-lead, shielded network cable including a conductor, a zero conductor and a protective conductor, the conductor and the zero conductor forming a first transmission channel, and the protective conductor forming a second transmission channel; and

the network termination is a single-phase network termination.

2. A communication system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the conductor and the zero conductor form a first transmission channel via which a symmetrical transmission of data occurs.

3. A communication system as claimed in claim 2, wherein, upon transmission, a carrier signal is modulated with signals containing data, the modulated carrier signal being separately transmitted via the conductor and the zero conductor in the form of two signals.

4. A communication system as claimed in claim 3, wherein, upon reception, a difference signal to be demodulated and which corresponds to the modulated carrier signal is acquired from the signals transmitted via the conductor and the zero conductor.

5. A communication system as claimed in claim 2, wherein a data rate in the symmetrical transmission is approximately 1 through 100 Mbits/s.

6. A communication system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the protective conductor forms a second transmission channel via which an asymmetrical transmission of data occurs.

7. A communication system as claimed in claim 6, wherein upon transmission, a carrier signal is modulated with signals containing data.

8. A communication system as claimed in claim 7, wherein, upon reception, the modulated carrier signal is demodulated.

9. A communication system as claimed in claim 6, wherein a data rate given asymmetrical transmission is approximately 9 through 200 kbits/s.

10. A communication system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the network cable is an at least five-lead, shielded network cable and includes three conductors, a zero conductor and a protective conductor, and wherein the network termination is a three-phase network termination.

11. A communication system as claimed in claim 10, wherein the first and second conductors of the three conductors form a first transmission channel and the third conductor of the three conductors and the zero conductor form a second transmission channel via which a symmetrical transmission of data respectively occurs.

12. A communication system as claimed in claim 11, wherein a carrier signal is respectively modulated with signals containing data given transmission per transmission channel, the modulated carrier signal being transmitted via the two conductors of the respective transmission channel in the form of two signals.

13. A communication system as claimed in claim 12, wherein, upon reception, a difference signal is to be demodulated which corresponds to the respective modulated carrier signal being acquired from the signals transmitted via the two conductors of the respective transmission channel.

14. A communication system as claimed in claim 10, wherein the protective conductor forms a third transmission channel via which an asymmetrical transmission of data occurs.

15. A communication system as claimed in claim 14, wherein, upon transmission, a carrier signal is modulated with signals containing data.

16. A communication system as claimed in claim 15, wherein, upon reception, the modulated carrier signal is demodulated.

17. A communication system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the means for generating signals to be transmitted includes a filter circuit, at least one transformer, and a circuit for modulation of carrier signals with signals containing data.

18. A communications system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the means for interpreting received signals includes a filter circuit, at least one transformer, and a circuit for demodulation of modulated carrier signals.

19. A communication system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the communication subscribers include at least one medical apparatus.

20. A communication system as claimed in claim 19, wherein plurality of medical apparatus are provided that form a medical work station.