Power line communication modem capable of simultaneously supplying power and exchanging data

• US 6,999,505 B2
• Filed: 03/31/2003
• Issued: 02/14/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 04/01/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: ALPS Electric Company Limited (Alps Alpine Co., Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: ALPS Electric Company Limited (Alps Alpine Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: Yokoo, Kenichi, Tadachi, Akio
• Primary Examiner(s): HAN, YOUNGHUIE JESSICA
• Application Number:
  US10/403,549
• Publication Number:
  US 20030185027A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,051 Days
• Field of Search: 363/146, 363/125, 710/63, 710/64, 710/72, 713/300, 340/310.01, 340/310.08, 340/326, 340/310.16, 340/310.18, 340/656, 455/402, 375/222
• US Class Current: 375/222
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 2203/5408 using protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 2203/5445 Local network
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 2203/547 via DC power distribution
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 3/54 Systems for transmission via power distribution lines
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 3/56 Circuits for coupling, blocking, or by-passing of signals

Abstract

A power line communication MODEM includes a rectification circuit for converting an AC power source to a DC power source, a MODEM circuit to which a DC voltage is supplied from the rectification circuit, a USB connector connected to the MODEM circuit, and a signal overlapping circuit for overlapping a signal processed by the MODEM circuit with the AC power source, wherein the rectification circuit supplies the DC voltage to the USB connector.

Claims

1. A power line communication MODEM for connecting to an AC power source, the AC power source having a power signal and a data signal comprising:

a power line having an AC plug connectable to the AC power source;

a rectification circuit that converts an AC power signal to a DC power signal;

a MODEM circuit connected to receive the data signal and process the data signal;

a signal overlapping circuit that overlaps the data signal processed by the MODEM circuit with the external AC power signal,

the USB connector is connected to receive the data signal from the MODEM circuit and connected to the rectification circuit to receive the DC power signal, and

the USB connector is connectable to an information processing unit to provide the data signal to the information processing unit and to provide power to the information processing unit.

2. The power line communication MODEM of claim 1, further comprising a case accommodating the rectification circuit, the MODEM circuit, and the signal overlapping circuit, and the USB connector is fitted to the case.