Power line networking apparatus and method

• US 6,741,162 B1
• Filed: 10/04/2000
• Issued: 05/25/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 10/04/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Synaptics Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Conexant Systems Incorporated (Synaptics Incorporated)
• Inventors: Mantovani, Alberto, Sacca, Frank
• Primary Examiner(s): Pham, Toan Ngoc
• Application Number:
  US09/678,983
• Time in Patent Office: 1,329 Days
• Field of Search: 340/310.01, 340/310.03, 340/310.06, 340/310.08, 375/219, 375/220
• US Class Current: 307/3
• 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 2203/5483 using coupling circuits
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 2203/5491 using filtering and bypassing
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 3/56 Circuits for coupling, blocking, or by-passing of signals

Abstract

An apparatus for carrying electrical data signals and electrical power over a power line is disclosed. The apparatus includes a data processing device, a power supply, and a data signal transceiver. The apparatus also includes an interference filter coupled to the power line and to the power supply and configured to reject electromagnetic interference. A coupling circuit that is electromagnetically coupled to the power line is also disclosed. The coupling circuit is configured to transmit and receive data signals carried through the power line. The coupling circuit is coupled to the data signal transceiver. The data signal transceiver is configured to transmit and receive the data signals to and from the data processing device.

Claims

1. An apparatus for sending and receiving electrical data signals to and from a power line, and for receiving electrical power from the power line, comprising:

a power line coupling configured to be coupled to the power line;

a power supply;

a data signal transceiver;

an interference filter coupled between the power line coupling and the power supply for providing a first path for delivery of electrical power from the power line coupling to the power supply and for rejecting high frequency electromagnetic interference; and

a coupling circuit coupled between the power line coupling and the data signal transceiver for providing a second path for exchange of electrical data signals between the data signal transceiver and the power line coupling and for rejecting low frequency signals.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the electrical power has a first frequency and the electrical data signals have a second frequency different than the first frequency.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the first frequency is in the range of 50 to 60 (Hz).

4. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the second frequency is in the range of 2 to 50 megaHertz (MHz).

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the interference filter includes at least one capacitor.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the interference filter includes a filter transformer having a filter transformer core.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the filter transformer includes a wire wrapped around the filter transformer core to electromagnetically couple the power supply to the power line coupling.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the interference filter and the coupling circuit are integrated into a personal computer.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the data signal transceiver is a power line technology analog front end circuit.

10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the coupling circuit and the interference filter are integrated into a module coupled between the power line coupling and the power supply.

11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the module includes a coupling for a data line, the data line configured to carry the electrical data signal.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the data line coupling is an RJ11jack.

13. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the data line coupling is a BNC connector.

14. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the coupling circuit and the interference filter are integrated into a power strip.

15. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the power strip includes at least one electrical outlet.

16. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the power line coupling is an electrical plug coupled to the power strip.

17. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the power strip includes a power line transformer coupling configured to connect a data line, the data line configured to carry the electrical data signal.

18. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the power line transformer coupling is an RJ11 jack.

19. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the power line transformer coupling is a BNC connector.

20. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein:

the interference filter comprises a first transformer; and

the coupling circuit comprises a second transformer and a low-frequency blocking capacitor coupled between the data signal transceiver and the power line coupling.

21. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein the power line coupling is an AC plug having hot (H) and neutral (N) terminals, and wherein the second transformer is coupled to the H and N terminals through the low-frequency blocking capacitor.

22. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein the coupling circuit further comprises a resistor coupled in parallel with the low-frequency blocking capacitor to discharge the capacitor when the AC plug is not coupled to the power line.

23. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein:

the interference filter comprises a toroid core supporting two common-mode inductors; and

the coupling circuit comprises a wire wound on the toroid core of the interference filter.

24. An apparatus for receiving electrical power from an AC plug coupled to a power line and delivering the electrical power to a power supply, and for exchanging electrical data signals between the AC plug and a PLT analog front end (AFE), the apparatus comprising:

an interference filter configured to be coupled between the AC plug and the power supply for providing a first path for delivery of electrical power from the power line coupling to the power supply and for rejecting high frequency signals; and

a coupling circuit configured to be coupled between the AC plug and the PLT AFE for providing a second path for exchange of electrical data signals between the PLT AFE and the AC plug and for rejecting low frequency signals.

25. The apparatus of claim 24, wherein:

the interference filter comprises a first transformer; and

the coupling circuit comprises a second transformer coupled to hot (H) and neutral (N) terminals of the AC plug through a low-frequency blocking capacitor.

26. The apparatus of claim 25, wherein the coupling circuit further comprises a resistor coupled in parallel with the low-frequency blocking capacitor to discharge the capacitor when the AC plug is not coupled to the power line.

27. The apparatus of claim 24, wherein:

the interference filter comprises a toroid core supporting two common-mode inductors; and

the coupling circuit comprises a wire wound on the toroid core of the interference filter.