Arrangement for communicating messages via a low-voltage electricity supply system and adapter

• US 6,771,775 B1
• Filed: 02/06/2001
• Issued: 08/03/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 08/17/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Current Communications International Holding GmbH
• Original Assignee: Ascom Powerline Communications AG
• Inventors: Widmer, Hanspeter
• Primary Examiner(s): TIEU, BINH KIEN
• Application Number:
  US09/762,316
• Time in Patent Office: 1,274 Days
• Field of Search: 379/90.01, 379/93.01, 379/93.05, 379/93.06, 379/93.08, 379/93.11, 379/399.01, 379/387.01, 379/412, 379/413.02, 379/413.04, 439/105, 439/651, 439/652, 439/655, 439/499, 439/620
• US Class Current: 379/413.04
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/6633 with inductive component, e.g. transformer
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/719 specially adapted for high frequency, e.g. with filters
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 31/005 Intermediate parts for distributing signals
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 3/58 Repeater circuits

Abstract

A PC (10) connected to a low-voltage electricity supply system (9) via a mains plug (11) and a mains socket outlet (12), into which the said plug is plugged, exchanges messages with other apparatuses via the said electricity supply system by means of signals whose frequency is between 1 MHz and 40 MHz. In order to suppress high-frequency interference signals which are generated by further apparatuses which are connected to the low-voltage electricity supply system (9) via mains plugs (11′) and further mains socket outlets (12′), arranged in local proximity to the said mains socket outlet (12), or which are produced by reflections of signals at open line ends, an adapter (1) is in each case interposed there, which adapter is plugged into the mains socket outlet (12′) and into which adapter the mains plug (11′) of the respective apparatus is plugged. The adapter (1) connects each pin of the mains plug (11′) to a socket of the mains socket outlet (12′), inductor coils which block signals in the frequency range of the message transmission being situated, however, in the phase conductor and in the neutral conductor of the adapter (1).

Claims

1. Arrangement for communicating messages via a low-voltage electricity supply system (9) having at least one phase conductor, a neutral conductor and an earth conductor, comprising at least one apparatus which is suitable at least for receiving or for emitting a carrier signal for the transmission of data, the frequency of which carrier signal is substantially greater than the mains frequency, and is connected to the low-voltage electricity supply system (9) via a plug that is plugged into a mains socket outlet (12), and at least one apparatus which does not participate in the exchange of data, constitutes a possible source of interference and is connected to the low-voltage electricity supply system (9) via a mains plug (11′

) and a mains socket outlet (12′

), which is electrically conductively connected to the latter, characterized in that the connection between the mains plug (11′

) of the at least one apparatus constituting a possible source of interference and the mains socket outlet (12′

) is established via an adapter (1) having a plug (3), which is connected to the mains socket outlet (12′

) and, in particular, is plugged into the latter, and at least one socket outlet (4), to which the apparatus is connected via a plug which is plugged into the said socket outlet, which adapter (1) has parallel conductor connections for the individual conductors of the low-voltage electricity supply system (9), and inductance being situated in each of the conductor connections with the exception of the earth conductor connection.

2. Arrangement according to claim 1, characterized in that it is situated within a building or building complex.

3. Arrangement according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the frequency of the signal for the transmission of data is between 1 MHz and 40 MHz.

4. Arrangement according to claim 1, characterized in that the value of the inductance is in each case between 10 μ

H and 20 μ

H.

5. Adapter (1) for use in an arrangement according to claim 1, having, in a housing (2), a plug (3) having at least three switching pins (5a, 5b, 5c) for plugging into a mains socket outlet (12′

), having at least one socket outlet (4) having sockets (6a, 6b, 6c) for receiving a mains plug (11′

), the said socket outlet being arranged such that it is remote from the plug (3) and being compatible with the latter, each switching pin (5a;

5b;

5c) being electrically conductively connected to a socket (6a;

6b;

6c), characterized in that, except for in the case of a pin (5c) and a socket (6c), which are connected by a direct connection (7), an inductor coil (8a;

8b) is in each case situated between the pin (5a;

5b) and the socket (6a;

6b).

6. Adapter according to claim 5, characterized in that the connection (7) between the pin (5c) and the socket (6c) is designed in one piece with the same.

7. Adapter according to claim 5 or 6, characterized in that it has precisely one socket outlet (4).

8. Adapter according to claim 5, characterized in that the housing (2) is designed to be coherent and rigid.

9. Adapter according to claims 7 and 8, characterized in that it has in each case precisely three pins (5a, 5b, 5c) and three sockets (6a, 6b, 6c), and the pins (5a, 5b) and sockets (6a, 6b) connected to the inductor coils (8a, 8b) are arranged such that they are in each case spaced apart from one another in one plane, and the remaining socket (6c) is fitted between them in an offset manner with respect to the said plane, while the inductor coils (8a, 8b) are in each case situated under the sockets (6a, 6b), connected to them, on both sides next to the remaining socket (6b).

10. Adapter according to one of claims 5 to 9, characterized in that the housing (2) is composed of plastic.