Discharge cycle communication
First Claim
Patent Images
1. An apparatus for transmitting data over a line, the apparatus comprising:
- a control circuit configured to receive a direct current signal over the line, the direct current signal being periodic and having a period, wherein the period comprises a charge cycle and a discharge cycle, the direct current signal is generated from a charging of the line for the duration of the charge cycle and a cessation of the charging of the line for the duration of the discharge cycle, and the line fails to fully discharge for at least a portion of the discharge cycle; and
a switch electrically coupled to the line and to the control circuit, wherein the control circuit is configured to close the switch in the discharge cycle to transmit data over the line, the closure of the switch configured to cause the switch to discharge the line to an extent greater than in absence of a closure of the switch, the closure of the switch during the discharge cycle being detectable as a drop in voltage on the line.
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Abstract
In one embodiment, a system may be provided that includes a circuit that is electrically coupled to a line. The circuit generates a direct current signal on the line, where the direct current signal has a period that includes a charge cycle and a discharge cycle. The circuit charges the line in the charge cycle and ceases to charge the line in the discharge cycle in order to generate the direct current signal. The line fails to fully discharge for at least a portion of the discharge cycle. To receive data from the line, the circuit detects a variation in a discharging of the line in the discharge cycle.
60 Citations
20 Claims
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1. An apparatus for transmitting data over a line, the apparatus comprising:
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a control circuit configured to receive a direct current signal over the line, the direct current signal being periodic and having a period, wherein the period comprises a charge cycle and a discharge cycle, the direct current signal is generated from a charging of the line for the duration of the charge cycle and a cessation of the charging of the line for the duration of the discharge cycle, and the line fails to fully discharge for at least a portion of the discharge cycle; and a switch electrically coupled to the line and to the control circuit, wherein the control circuit is configured to close the switch in the discharge cycle to transmit data over the line, the closure of the switch configured to cause the switch to discharge the line to an extent greater than in absence of a closure of the switch, the closure of the switch during the discharge cycle being detectable as a drop in voltage on the line. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A system for receiving data over a line, the system comprising:
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a power device configured to generate a direct current signal on the line, the direct current signal being periodic and having a period, wherein the period comprises a charge cycle and a discharge cycle, wherein the power device charges the line during the charge cycle and does not charge the line during the discharge cycle, and wherein the line fails to fully discharge for at least a portion of the discharge cycle; and a power communicator configured to detect a variation in a voltage on the line in the discharge cycle, the variation indicating data received by the power communicator that is transmitted to the power communicator through a discharge of the line in the discharge cycle. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A method comprising:
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receiving a direct current signal from a line with a load communicator, the direct current signal having a period, wherein the period comprises a charge cycle and a discharge cycle, the direct current signal is generated from a charging of the line for the duration of the charge cycle and a cessation of the charging of the line for the duration of the discharge cycle, and the line fails to fully discharge for at least a portion of the discharge cycle; and transmitting data over the line with the load communicator by altering a discharging of the line in the discharge cycle with the load communicator so that a voltage on the line is lower than in an absence of the load communicator altering the discharging of the line, wherein the lower voltage on the line represents the data transmitted over the line. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification