Endpoint transmitter and power generation system
First Claim
1. An apparatus for transmitting data to a distribution substation, wherein the distribution substation is configured to receive encoded data in a power signal on a distribution line in a power distribution network, the apparatus comprising:
- a transformer that includes a primary winding that is coupled to the distribution line and a secondary winding that is coupled between a first node and a second node;
a half-bridge drive circuit that is configured to selectively assert a first drive signal and second drive signal in response to a control signal;
a first driver that is coupled between a first power-supply node and a common node, wherein the first driver is arranged to couple the first power-supply node to the common node when the first drive signal is asserted;
a second driver that is coupled between the common node and a second power-supply node, wherein the second driver is arranged to couple the common node to the second power-supply node when the second drive signal is asserted; and
a resonant circuit that is coupled between the first node and the common node, wherein the resonant circuit has a natural resonant frequency in an audio frequency range, and wherein the half-bridge driver is arranged to selectively activate the first and second drivers such that the distribution line is modulated with a square-wave signal at a frequency that is associated with the encoded data.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An endpoint in a power distribution system includes a transmitter. The transmitter includes a transformer, a half-bridge driver, a first and second driver, and a resonant circuit. A primary winding from the transformer is coupled to a power distribution line, while the secondary winding is coupled to the transmitter. The half-bridge drive circuit selectively asserts drive signals. The resonant circuit has a natural resonant frequency in an audio frequency range. The half-bridge driver is arranged to selectively activate the first and second drivers such that the power-line is modulated with a square-wave signal at a frequency that is associated with encoded data. The half-bridge driver circuit can also be arranged to provide power to the transmitter, and to the endpoint.
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Citations
17 Claims
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1. An apparatus for transmitting data to a distribution substation, wherein the distribution substation is configured to receive encoded data in a power signal on a distribution line in a power distribution network, the apparatus comprising:
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a transformer that includes a primary winding that is coupled to the distribution line and a secondary winding that is coupled between a first node and a second node; a half-bridge drive circuit that is configured to selectively assert a first drive signal and second drive signal in response to a control signal; a first driver that is coupled between a first power-supply node and a common node, wherein the first driver is arranged to couple the first power-supply node to the common node when the first drive signal is asserted; a second driver that is coupled between the common node and a second power-supply node, wherein the second driver is arranged to couple the common node to the second power-supply node when the second drive signal is asserted; and a resonant circuit that is coupled between the first node and the common node, wherein the resonant circuit has a natural resonant frequency in an audio frequency range, and wherein the half-bridge driver is arranged to selectively activate the first and second drivers such that the distribution line is modulated with a square-wave signal at a frequency that is associated with the encoded data. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. An apparatus for supplying power to an endpoint from a power signal on a distribution line in a power distribution network that receives power from high voltage power lines, the apparatus comprising:
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a transformer that steps down the power from the distribution line to a voltage level that is useful by the endpoint at a premises that includes a primary winding that is coupled to the distribution line and a secondary winding that is coupled between a first node and a second node; a first diode circuit that is coupled between a first power-supply node and the a common node; a second diode circuit that is coupled between the common node and a second power-supply node; a third diode circuit that is coupled between the second node and the second power-supply node; a fourth diode circuit that is coupled between the first power-supply node and the second node; and a capacitor circuit that is coupled between the first power-supply node and the second power-supply node. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. An apparatus for generating a transmitter clock frequency from a power signal, comprising:
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a phase accumulator block that is arranged to increase a phase signal in response to an interrupt; a phase latch block that is arranged to capture a temporary phase error signal from the phase signal when a zero-crossing is detected in the power signal; a comparator block that is arranged to compare the last error signal to the temporary phase error signal; a first summer block that is arranged to increase an error signal when the last error signal is greater than the temporary phase error signal, and further arranged to decrease the error signal when the last error signal is less than the temporary phase error signal; a first delay block that is arranged to provide the last error signal in response to the error signal; a filter block that is arranged to provide a filtered signal in response to the phase error signal; a second delay block that is arranged to provide a last filtered signal in response to the filtered signal; a second summer block that is arranged to subtract the last filtered signal from the filtered signal to provide a difference signal; a first gain block that is arranged to provide a proportional signal in response to the filtered signal, wherein the proportional signal is related to the filtered signal according to a proportional gain factor; a second gain block that is arranged to provide a differential signal in response to the difference signal, where the differential signal is related to the difference signal according to a differential gain factor; a third summer block that is arranged to combine the proportional signal and the differential signal to provide a correction signal; and a third gain block that is arranged to provide a proportional and differential correction signal that is related to the correction signal by a proportional and differential gain factor, and a fourth summer block that is arranged to increase a timer adjustment signal in response to the correction signal such that a time interval associated with the interrupt is adjusted by changing the timer adjustment signal.
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15. An endpoint that is arranged to communicate with a distribution substation with a power signal over a distribution line in a power distribution network, the endpoint comprising:
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a means for locking that is arranged to lock a transmitter frequency to a multiple of the frequency that is associated with the power-signal; a means for generating that is arranged to generate a carrier frequency for the transmitter in response to the transmitter frequency and a data signal such that the carrier frequency is changed according to the data signal; and a means for modulating that is arranged to modulate the power-signal according to the carrier frequency. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17)
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Specification