Data communication over power lines

• US 7,236,765 B2
• Filed: 07/24/2003
• Issued: 06/26/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 07/24/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hunt Techonologies Incorporated (Landis+Gyr Group AG)
• Original Assignee: Hunt Techonologies Incorporated (Landis+Gyr Group AG)
• Inventors: Flen, Rolf J., Bonicatto, Damian G., Wolter, Chad K., Olson, Verne J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Urban; Edward F.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Hannon; Christian A.
• Application Number:
  US10/626,495
• Publication Number:
  US 20050020232A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,433 Days
• Field of Search: 455/402, 375257-260, 307 1- 4, 340/310, 340/870, 340/310.11, 340/310.12, 340/310.13, 340/310.14, 340/310.15, 340/310.16, 340/310.17, 340/870.1, 340/870.2, 340/870.3
• US Class Current: 455/402
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 2203/5416 by adding signals to the wave form of the power source
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 2203/5425 improving S/N by matching impedance, noise reduction, gain control
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 2203/5433 Remote metering
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 2203/5466 using three phases conductors
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 2203/5483 using coupling circuits
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 2203/5491 using filtering and bypassing
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 3/54 Systems for transmission via power distribution lines

Abstract

A system for receiving and processing signals received from a plurality of endpoints. Each endpoint includes an endpoint transmitter in electrical communication with a power distribution line within a power distribution system. The system comprises a power line coupler. A substation receiver is in electrical communication with the power line coupler. A substation circuit is in electrical communication with the substation transceiver. The substation circuit is configured to simultaneously demodulate signals received from the plurality of different endpoints.

Claims

1. A system for receiving and processing signals received from a plurality of endpoints, each endpoint including an endpoint transmitter in electrical communication with a power distribution line within a power distribution system, the system comprising:

a power line coupler;

a substation transceiver in electrical communication with the power line coupler; and

a substation circuit in electrical communication with the substation transceiver, the substation circuit configured to simultaneously demodulate signals received from the plurality of different endpoints wherein the substation circuit being configured to simultaneously demodulate the signals comprises the substation circuit being configured to;

separate a channel on the power distribution line carrying the plurality of signals into sub-channels, and

separate each of the sub-channels into sub-sub-channels, each of the sub-sub-channels being respectively assigned to different ones of the endpoints, each of the sub-sub-channels having a predetermined bandwidth.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the substation circuit is programmed to demodulate signals using frequency shift keying.

3. The system of claim 2 wherein the substation circuit is programmed to demodulate signals within the range of about 970 Hz to about 1006 Hz.

4. The system of claim 3 wherein each signal has a bandwidth of about 10 mHz or less.

5. The system of claim 4 wherein each signal has a bandwidth of 4 mHz.

6. The system of claim 2 wherein the substation circuit is programmed to simultaneously demodulate up to 9000 signals, each signal being from a different endpoint transceiver.

7. The system of claim 1 wherein the substation circuit includes a digital signal processor programmed to simultaneously demodulate the signal received from the endpoint transmitters.

8. The system of claim 1 wherein the substation transceiver simultaneously receives signals from a plurality of the endpoint transceivers.

11. The system of claim 1 further comprising a substation receiver, the substation receiver integrally formed in the substation transceiver.

9. A system for receiving and processing signals received from a plurality of endpoints, each endpoint including an endpoint transmitter in electrical communication with a power distribution line within a power distribution system, the system comprising:

a power line coupler;

a substation transceiver in electrical communication with the power line coupler; and

a substation circuit in electrical communication with the substation transceiver, the substation circuit configured to simultaneously demodulate signals received from the plurality of different endpoints wherein the power line coupler is in electrical communication with a power distribution line within a power distribution system, the system further comprising one or more endpoints in electrical communication within the power distribution system, each endpoint including;

an endpoint circuit configured to generate data; and

an endpoint transceiver in electrical communication with the endpoint circuit and a power distribution line within the power distribution system, the endpoint transceiver configured to generate a signal embodying the signal, to modulate the data using frequency shift keying, and to transmit the modulated signal onto the power distribution line, the endpoint circuit including an automated meter reading device, the automated meter reading device being interfaced with an electrical meter, the data including a quantity of electrical power measured by the electrical meter.

10. The system of claim 9 wherein each endpoint further comprises an endpoint transmitter, the endpoint transmitter integrally formed in the endpoint transceiver.

12. A method of processing signals received from a plurality of endpoints over power distribution lines, the method comprising:

obtaining a plurality of signals from a power distribution line, each signal corresponding to a different frequency bandwidth; and

simultaneously demodulating the plurality signals wherein demodulating the plurality signals comprises,

separating a channel carrying the plurality of signals into sub-channels, and

separating each of the sub-channels into sub-sub-channels, each of the sub-sub-channels being assigned to different ones of downstream endpoint transceivers each respectively corresponding to ones of the plurality of endpoints, each of the sub-sub-channels having a predetermined bandwidth.

13. The method of claim 12 wherein simultaneously demodulating the plurality signals includes demodulating each of the signals using frequency shift keying.

14. The method of claim 13 further comprising simultaneously receiving signals from each of the endpoints.

15. The method of claim 14 wherein obtaining a plurality of signals from a power distribution line includes obtaining a plurality of signals within a frequency range from about 970 Hz to about 1006 Hz.

16. The method of claim 14 wherein obtaining a plurality of signals from a power distribution line includes obtaining a plurality of signals, each of the plurality of signals having a bandwidth of about 10 mHz or less.

17. The method of claim 16 wherein obtaining a plurality of signals from a power distribution line includes obtaining a plurality of signals, each of the plurality of signals having a bandwidth of about 4 mHz.

18. The method of claim 12 wherein obtaining a plurality of signals from a power distribution line includes obtaining up to 9000 signals.