Communication apparatus and method
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A communication apparatus for communicating over an electrical power cable, comprising:
- a transmitter circuit adapted to transmit a communication signal; and
a receiver circuit adapted to receive a communication signal from another communication apparatus;
wherein the communication apparatus is adapted to transmit and receive communication signals over the power cable both when said power cable is conducting electricity and when said power cable is not conducting electricity;
wherein the communication signal comprises an amplitude shift keying signal; and
wherein the receiver circuit further comprises;
an analog to digital converter adapted to sample the communication signal and output digital samples;
a filter adapted to filter the digital samples;
an amplitude tracker adapted to calculate the magnitude of each of a group of digital samples from the filter;
a mark counter adapted to count the number of digital samples within the group having magnitudes equal to or greater than a predetermined threshold;
a space counter adapted to count the number of digital samples within the group having magnitudes less than the predetermined threshold;
a comparator adapted to output an output signal indicative of whether or not the mark counter exceeds the space counter; and
a buffer adapted to store the output of the comparator.
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Abstract
A communication apparatus (1) for communicating over an electrical power cable (3). The communication apparatus (1) comprises a transmitter circuit (5) adapted to transmit a communication signal; and a receiver circuit (6) adapted to receive a communication signal from another communication apparatus (1). The communication apparatus (1) is adapted to transmit and receive communication signals over the power cable (3) both when said power cable (3) is conducting electricity and when said power cable (3) is not conducting electricity.
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Citations
23 Claims
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1. A communication apparatus for communicating over an electrical power cable, comprising:
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a transmitter circuit adapted to transmit a communication signal; and a receiver circuit adapted to receive a communication signal from another communication apparatus; wherein the communication apparatus is adapted to transmit and receive communication signals over the power cable both when said power cable is conducting electricity and when said power cable is not conducting electricity; wherein the communication signal comprises an amplitude shift keying signal; and wherein the receiver circuit further comprises; an analog to digital converter adapted to sample the communication signal and output digital samples; a filter adapted to filter the digital samples; an amplitude tracker adapted to calculate the magnitude of each of a group of digital samples from the filter; a mark counter adapted to count the number of digital samples within the group having magnitudes equal to or greater than a predetermined threshold; a space counter adapted to count the number of digital samples within the group having magnitudes less than the predetermined threshold; a comparator adapted to output an output signal indicative of whether or not the mark counter exceeds the space counter; and a buffer adapted to store the output of the comparator. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 23)
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16. A method of communicating over an electrical power cable, the method comprising:
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transmitting a communication signal; and receiving a communication signal; wherein said transmitting and receiving communication signals over said power cable takes place both when said power cable is conducting electricity and when said power cable is not conducting electricity; wherein transmitting a communication signal further comprises transmitting an amplitude shift keying signal; and wherein receiving a communication signal comprises; sampling the communication signal to generate digital samples; filtering the digital samples; grouping a predetermined number of consecutive digital samples; calculating the magnitude of each digital sample in the group; comparing the magnitude of each digital sample in the group to a predetermined threshold; incrementing either a mark counter or a space counter if the outcome of the said comparison is above or below the predetermined threshold respectively; comparing the mark counter and the space counter at the end of the group; and buffering the result of said comparison. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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Specification