Power line communication networks and methods employing multiple widebands

• US 7,877,078 B2
• Filed: 06/15/2009
• Issued: 01/25/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 10/03/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Avago Technologies International Sales Pte Limited (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Broadcom Networks Spain SL (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Inventors: Riveiro, Juan Carlos, Fouren, Nils Hakan, Hurwitz, Jonathan Ephraim David
• Primary Examiner(s): CAI, WAYNE HUU
• Application Number:
  US12/484,754
• Publication Number:
  US 20090252209A1
• Time in Patent Office: 589 Days
• Field of Search: 455/402, 340/538, 340/538.11, 340/310.11, 340/310.12
• 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 2203/5495 having measurements and testing channel
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 3/542 the information being in digital form

Abstract

Systems and methods for communicating over a power line are configured to substantially simultaneously communicate over a plurality of wideband frequency ranges. Signals may be communicated two or from a communication node at two different frequencies simultaneously. These signals may be exchanged with different nodes and/or include independent data. In some embodiments, some of the wideband frequency ranges are above 30 MHz.

Claims

1. A communication network comprising:

three communication nodes, each including a first analog filter, each configured to communicate simultaneously and independently over a power line with the other two communication nodes using a plurality of widebands, wherein a high band of the plurality of widebands has a minimum frequency greater than 30 MHz, wherein a low band of the plurality of widebands has a maximum frequency of about 30 MHz, wherein the first analog filter of each communication node comprises a low pass filter, and wherein each of the three communication nodes is configured to transmit signals in the low band with a low band transmission power spectral density and configured to transmit signals in the high band with a high band transmission power spectral density and wherein the low band transmission power spectral density is approximately one thousand times greater than the high band transmission power spectral density.

2. A communication network comprising:

three communication nodes, each including a first analog filter, each configured to communicate simultaneously and independently over a power line with the other two communication nodes using a plurality of widebands wherein a high band of the plurality of widebands has a minimum frequency greater than 30 MHz, wherein the first analog filter of each communication node comprises a first analog high pass filter and each communication node comprises;

a high band receiver including the first analog high pass filter, a first demodulator, and a first ADC coupled between the first analog high pass filter and the first demodulator;

a low band receiver including a first analog low pass filter configured to exclude frequencies above about 30 MHz, a second demodulator, and a second ADC coupled between the first analog low pass filter and the second demodulator; and

a transmitter including a second analog filter, a first modulator, and a first DAC coupled between the second analog filter and the first modulator.

3. The communication network of claim 2 further comprising a second modulator coupled to the first DAC.

4. The communication network of claim 2 wherein the second analog filter of the transmitter comprises a second analog high pass filter.

5. The communication network of claim 2 wherein the second analog filter of the transmitter comprises a second analog low pass filter configured to exclude frequencies above about 30 MHz.

6. A communication network comprising:

three communication nodes, each including a first analog filter, each configured to communicate simultaneously and independently over a power line with the other two communication nodes using a plurality of widebands wherein a high band of the plurality of widebands has a minimum frequency greater than 30 MHz, wherein the first analog filter comprises a first analog high pass filter and each communication node comprises;

a high band transmitter including the first analog high pass filter, a first modulator, and a first DAC coupled between the first analog high pass filter and the first modulator;

a low band transmitter including a first analog low pass filter configured to exclude frequencies above about 30 MHz, a second modulator, and a second DAC coupled between the first analog low pass filter and the second modulator; and

a receiver including a second analog filter, a first demodulator, and a first ADC coupled between the second analog filter and the first demodulator.