Digital switch communication
First Claim
1. An electric circuit electrically coupled to and for communicating over a line, the electric circuit comprising:
- a processor;
a switch electrically coupled in series with a load, the switch and the load in series between first and second conductors, the first and second conductors comprising the line, wherein the line provides direct current power to the load over the first and second conductors of the line; and
a resistive element electrically coupled in parallel with the switch and in series with the load;
wherein the switch is configured to short circuit the resistive element when closed such that a voltage on the line varies between a first voltage level and a second voltage level when the switch is opened and closed;
wherein the voltage on the line is an electric potential difference between the first and second conductors;
wherein the line provides the direct current power to the load when the switch is opened and when the switch is closed;
wherein the processor is configured to direct the switch to vary the voltage on the line between the first voltage level and the second voltage level, the variation of the voltage on the line indicative of data transmitted over the line;
wherein the direct current power provided to the load over the first and second conductors of the line increases from a first power level to a second power level based on the data indicated by the variation of the voltage on the line between the first voltage level and the second voltage level; and
wherein the voltage on the line varies between a third voltage level and a fourth voltage level when the switch is opened and closed at the second power level.
15 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
In one example, an electric circuit may be provided that is coupled to a line. The electric circuit may include a switch connected in series with a load, where the switch and the load are in series between two conductors of the line. The line may provide power to the load. The electric circuit may also include a resistive element connected in parallel with the switch and in series with the load. The switch may be configured to short circuit the resistive element when closed such that the voltage on the line varies between two voltage levels when the switch is opened and closed. The line provides power to the load when the switch is opened and when the switch is closed.
87 Citations
22 Claims
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1. An electric circuit electrically coupled to and for communicating over a line, the electric circuit comprising:
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a processor; a switch electrically coupled in series with a load, the switch and the load in series between first and second conductors, the first and second conductors comprising the line, wherein the line provides direct current power to the load over the first and second conductors of the line; and a resistive element electrically coupled in parallel with the switch and in series with the load; wherein the switch is configured to short circuit the resistive element when closed such that a voltage on the line varies between a first voltage level and a second voltage level when the switch is opened and closed; wherein the voltage on the line is an electric potential difference between the first and second conductors; wherein the line provides the direct current power to the load when the switch is opened and when the switch is closed; wherein the processor is configured to direct the switch to vary the voltage on the line between the first voltage level and the second voltage level, the variation of the voltage on the line indicative of data transmitted over the line; wherein the direct current power provided to the load over the first and second conductors of the line increases from a first power level to a second power level based on the data indicated by the variation of the voltage on the line between the first voltage level and the second voltage level; and wherein the voltage on the line varies between a third voltage level and a fourth voltage level when the switch is opened and closed at the second power level. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A system comprising:
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a power device electrically coupled to a line and configured to generate a direct current power signal over the line; and a power communicator in communication with the power device, the power communicator configured to receive data in a form of a plurality of variations of voltage on the line caused from a variation of resistance on the line during generation of the direct current power signal, wherein; the direct current power signal is operable to power a load device during the plurality of variations of voltage on the line, the load device electrically coupled to the line, the load device comprising the load; the power communicator is configured to direct the power device to increase the average power of the direct current power signal on the line that powers the load device from a first power level to a second power level in response to the data received on the line; and the variations of voltage on the line caused from the variation of resistance comprises variations between a first voltage and a second voltage at the first power level and between a third voltage and a fourth voltage at the second power level. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A method comprising:
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receiving a direct current power signal on a line at a load device, the load device powered from the direct current power signal when a voltage of the direct current power signal is at a first voltage level and a second voltage level, the direct current power signal having a first power level, wherein the voltage of the direct current power signal is an electric potential difference between first and second conductors, the first conductor and the second conductor comprising the line; transmitting data over the line, wherein transmitting the data includes alternating the voltage of the direct current power signal on the line between the first voltage level and the second voltage level at the first power level by switching a resistive element in and out of a current path, the current path passing from the first conductor to the second conductor through the load device; receiving, on the line at the load device, the direct current power signal having a second power level that is higher than the first power level in response to transmitting the data over the line; and transmitting information over the line, wherein transmitting the information includes alternating the voltage of the direct current power signal on the line between a third voltage level and a fourth voltage level at the second power level by switching the resistive element in and out of the current path, the third voltage level and the fourth voltage level higher than the first voltage level and the second voltage level, respectively, and the load device is powered from the direct current power signal when the voltage on the line is at the third voltage level and the fourth voltage level. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A system comprising:
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a power device electrically coupled to a line and configured to generate a direct current power signal over the line; a load device electrically coupled to the line, the load device powered from the direct current power signal; a load communicator electrically coupled to the line; and a power communicator in communication with the power device, the power communicator configured to communicate with the load communicator over the line through a pulse-width modulation of the direct current power signal, the load communicator configured to communicate data to the power communicator through alteration of impedance on the line during the pulse-width modulation and the powering of the load device, the power communicator further configured to direct the power device to increase the average power of the direct current power signal on the line that powers the load device from a first power level to a second power level in response to the data communicated to the power communicator over the line, and the alteration of impedance causes a change from a first voltage to a second voltage at the first power level and from a third voltage to a fourth voltage at the second power level. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22)
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Specification