Apparatus, systems and methods for power line carrier data communication to DC powered electronic device

• US 8,830,040 B2
• Filed: 01/24/2014
• Issued: 09/09/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 03/29/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Dish Technologies LLC (Dish Network Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Eldon Technology Limited (Dish Network Corporation)
• Inventors: Burton, David Robert, Ward, Martyn
• Primary Examiner(s): Khan, Omer S
• Application Number:
  US14/163,986
• Publication Number:
  US 20140139326A1
• Time in Patent Office: 228 Days
• Field of Search: 340/13.23, 340/5.61, 340/13.37, 340/12.32, 340/12.4, 323/255, 341/126, 341/118, 375/257, 375/268, 307/2
• US Class Current: 340/13.25
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 19/00 Electric signal transmission systems G08C17/00 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 13/0001 using modification of a parameter of the network power signal
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 13/00017 using optical fiber
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 2203/547 via DC power distribution
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 3/54 Systems for transmission via power distribution lines
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/00 Enabling technologies; Technologies with a potential or indirect contribution to GHG emissions mitigation
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 10/52 Outage or fault management, e.g. fault detection or location
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 40/121 using the power network as support for the transmission
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 40/124 using wired telecommunication networks or data transmission busses

Abstract

Systems and methods are operable to communicate information to a direct current (DC) powered electronic device. An exemplary embodiment receives alternating current (AC) power with an AC information signal modulated thereon, converts the received AC power to DC power, demodulates the received AC information signal to determine information, modulates the information onto the transmitted DC power as a DC information signal, transmits the DC power with the DC information signal over a DC connector to the DC powered electronic device, detects the DC information signal on the modulated DC power at the DC powered electronic device, demodulates the DC information signal from the received DC power, and determines the information at the DC powered electronic device based upon the demodulated DC information.

Claims

1. A method for communicating information to a direct current (DC) powered electronic device, the method comprising:

receiving alternating current (AC) power with an AC information signal modulated thereon;

converting the received AC power to DC power, wherein the DC power is transmitted to the DC powered electronic device at a DC voltage defined by a nominal DC voltage value;

demodulating the received AC information signal to determine the information;

modulating the information onto the transmitted DC power as a DC information signal, wherein the information modulated onto the DC information signal comprises a series of first binary numbers and second binary numbers, wherein each first binary number is defined by a pull up DC voltage and each second binary number is defined by a pull down DC voltage;

detecting, at the DC powered electronic device, the DC voltage of the transmitted DC power;

determining a percentage change in the detected DC voltage;

determining that the information has changed from the first binary number to the second binary number when the magnitude of the percentage change of the detected DC voltage of the transmitted DC power is a decrease that is at least equal to a predefined percentage change; and

determining that the information has changed from the second binary number to the first binary number when the magnitude of the percentage change of the detected DC voltage of the transmitted DC power is an increase that is at least equal to the predefined percentage change,

wherein the pull up DC voltage is at least five percent greater than the nominal DC voltage value and wherein the pull down DC voltage is at least five percent less than the nominal DC voltage value.

2. A method for communicating information to a direct current (DC) powered electronic device, the method comprising:

receiving alternating current (AC) power with an AC information signal modulated thereon;

converting the received AC power to DC power,

wherein the DC power is transmitted to the DC powered electronic device, and

wherein the DC power is transmitted to the DC powered electronic device at a DC voltage defined by a nominal DC voltage value;

demodulating the received AC information signal to determine the information;

modulating the information onto the transmitted DC power as a DC information signal,

wherein the information modulated onto the DC information signal comprises a series of first binary numbers and second binary numbers, and

wherein each first binary number is defined by a pull up DC voltage and each second binary number is defined by a pull down DC voltage;

detecting, at the DC powered electronic device, a change in voltage of the transmitted DC power;

determining that the information has changed from the first binary number to the second binary number when a magnitude of the detected change in the DC voltage of the transmitted DC power is a decrease that is at least equal to a predefined amount; and

determining that the information has changed from the second binary number to the first binary number when a magnitude of the detected change in the DC voltage of the transmitted DC power is an increase that is at least equal to the predefined amount,

wherein the pull up DC voltage is at least five percent greater than the nominal DC voltage value, and

wherein the pull down DC voltage is at least five percent less than the nominal DC voltage value.

5. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

operating at least one component of the DC powered electronic device in accordance with the determined information.

3. A method for communicating information to a direct current (DC) powered electronic device, the method comprising:

receiving alternating current (AC) power with an AC information signal modulated thereon;

converting the received AC power to DC power,

wherein the DC power is transmitted to the DC powered electronic device, and

wherein the DC power is transmitted to the DC powered electronic device at a DC voltage defined by a nominal DC voltage value;

demodulating the received AC information signal to determine the information;

modulating the information onto the transmitted DC power as a DC information signal,

wherein the information modulated onto the DC information signal comprises a series of first binary numbers and second binary numbers, and

wherein each first binary number is defined by a pull up DC voltage and each second binary number is defined by a pull down DC voltage;

detecting, at the DC powered electronic device, a change in voltage of the transmitted DC power;

determining that the information has changed from the first binary number to the second binary number when a magnitude of the detected change in the DC voltage of the transmitted DC power is a decrease that is at least equal to a predefined amount; and

determining that the information has changed from the second binary number to the first binary number when a magnitude of the detected change in the DC voltage of the transmitted DC power is an increase that is at least equal to the predefined amount,

wherein the pull up DC voltage is a predefined first percent that is greater than the nominal DC voltage value, and

wherein the pull down DC voltage is a predefined second percent that is less than the nominal DC voltage value.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the predefined first percent and the predefined second percent have a same percent value.

6. A method for communicating information to a direct current (DC) powered electronic device, the method comprising:

receiving alternating current (AC) power with an AC information signal modulated thereon;

converting the received AC power to DC power, wherein the DC power is transmitted to the DC powered electronic device at a DC voltage defined by a nominal DC voltage value;

demodulating the received AC information signal to determine the information;

modulating the information onto the transmitted DC power as a DC information signal, wherein the information modulated onto the DC information signal comprises a series of first binary numbers and second binary numbers, wherein each first binary number is defined by a pull UP DC voltage and each second binary number is defined by a pull down DC voltage;

detecting, at the DC powered electronic device, a change in voltage of the transmitted DC power;

determining that the information has changed from the first binary number to the second binary number when a magnitude of the detected change in the voltage of the transmitted DC power is a decrease that is at least equal to a predefined amount; and

determining that the information has changed from the second binary number to the first binary number when a magnitude of the detected change in the voltage of the transmitted DC power is an increase that is at least equal to the predefined amount;

wherein modulating the information onto the transmitted DC power as the DC information signal comprises;

outputting the DC power at the pull up DC voltage,

wherein the pull up DC voltage corresponds to a first bit, and

wherein the pull up DC voltage is at least five percent greater than the nominal DC voltage value; and

outputting the DC power at the pull down DC voltage,

wherein the pull down DC voltage corresponds to a second bit, and

wherein the pull down DC voltage is at least five percent less than the nominal DC voltage value,

wherein the DC information signal corresponds to a series of the first bits and the second bits.

7. A method for communicating information to a direct current (DC) powered electronic device, the method comprising:

receiving alternating current (AC) power with an AC information signal modulated thereon;

converting the received AC power to DC power, wherein the DC power is transmitted to the DC powered electronic device;

demodulating the received AC information signal to determine the information;

modulating the information onto the transmitted DC power as a DC information signal, wherein the information modulated onto the DC information signal comprises a series of first binary numbers and second binary numbers, wherein each first binary number is defined by a pull UP DC voltage and each second binary number is defined by a pull down DC voltage;

detecting, at the DC powered electronic device, a change in voltage of the transmitted DC power;

determining that the information has changed from the first binary number to the second binary number when a magnitude of the detected change in the voltage of the transmitted DC power is a decrease that is at least equal to a predefined amount;

determining that the information has changed from the second binary number to the first binary number when a magnitude of the detected change in the voltage of the transmitted DC power is an increase that is at least equal to the predefined amount;

determining an identifier in the information modulated onto the DC information signal; and

comparing the identifier with a device identifier associated with the DC powered electronic device,

wherein a further determining that the information has changed occurs only when the identifier corresponds to the device identifier associated with the DC powered electronic device.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the further determining that the information has changed further comprises:

operating at least one component of the DC powered electronic device in accordance with the further determined information.

9. A direct current (DC) powered electronic system configured to receive alternating current (AC) power from an AC power wiring network, comprising:

a DC connector configured to transmit DC power;

a receptacle connector electrically coupled to the DC connector, and configured to electrically couple to a receptacle of the AC power wiring network, wherein the AC power includes an AC information signal modulated thereon, the receptacle connector comprising;

an AC to DC power converter configured to receive the AC power from the AC power wiring network, configured to convert the AC power into the DC power, and configured to transmit the DC power onto the DC connector;

an AC demodulator configured to detect the AC information signal, and configured to demodulate the AC information signal to determine information;

a DC modulator coupled to the AC demodulator, configured to modulate the information into a DC information signal onto the DC power transmitted from the AC to DC power converter, wherein the DC information signal comprises a series of first binary numbers and second binary numbers, and wherein each first binary number is defined by a pull up DC voltage and each second binary number is defined by a pull down DC voltage, and

a central processor unit (CPU) configured to determine an identifier in the demodulated information, wherein the CPU is configured to operate at least one of the AC demodulator and the DC modulator so that the information is modulated into the DC information signal only when the identifier corresponds to a device identifier associated with a DC powered electronic device, and

the DC powered electronic device coupled to the DC connector,

wherein the received DC power received from the receptacle connector over the DC connector powers at least a first component of the DC powered electronic device,

wherein the DC powered electronic device determines that the information has changed from the first binary number to the second binary number when a magnitude of a detected change in voltage of the transmitted DC power is a decrease that is at least equal to a predefined amount, and

wherein the DC powered electronic device determines that the information has changed from the second binary number to the first binary number when a magnitude of the detected change in the voltage of the transmitted DC power is an increase that is at least equal to the predefined amount.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the DC powered electronic device further comprises:

a DC demodulator configured to detect the DC information signal modulated onto the DC power received from the receptacle connector over the DC connector, and configured to demodulate the information from the DC information signal.

11. A direct current (DC) powered electronic system configured to receive alternating current (AC) power from an AC power wiring network, comprising:

a DC connector configured to transmit DC power;

a receptacle connector electrically coupled to the DC connector, and configured to electrically couple to a receptacle of the AC power wiring network, wherein the AC power includes an AC information signal modulated thereon, the receptacle connector comprising;

an AC to DC power converter configured to receive the AC power from the AC power wiring network, configured to convert the AC power into the DC power defined by a nominal DC voltage value, and configured to transmit the DC power onto the DC connector;

an AC demodulator configured to detect the AC information signal, and configured to demodulate the AC information signal to determine information;

a DC modulator coupled to the AC demodulator, configured to modulate the information into a DC information signal onto the DC power transmitted from the AC to DC power converter, wherein the DC information signal comprises a series of first binary numbers and second binary numbers, and wherein each first binary number is defined by a pull up DC voltage and each second binary number is defined by a pull down DC voltage, and

a DC powered electronic device coupled to the DC connector,

wherein the received DC power received from the receptacle connector over the DC connector powers at least a first component of the DC powered electronic device,

wherein the DC powered electronic device determines that the information has changed from the first binary number to the second binary number when a magnitude of a detected change in voltage of the transmitted DC power is a decrease that is at least equal to a predefined amount that is at least five percent of the nominal DC voltage value, and

wherein the DC powered electronic device determines that the information has changed from the second binary number to the first binary number when a magnitude of the detected change in the voltage of the transmitted DC power is an increase that is at least equal to the predefined amount that is at least five percent of the nominal DC voltage value,

wherein an amount of the change in DC voltage of the transmitted DC power is used to determine a percentage change in the DC voltage.

12. A direct current (DC) powered electronic system configured to receive alternating current (AC) power from an AC power wiring network, comprising:

a DC connector configured to transmit DC power;

a receptacle connector electrically coupled to the DC connector, and configured to electrically couple to a receptacle of the AC power wiring network, wherein the AC power includes an AC information signal modulated thereon, the receptacle connector comprising;

an AC to DC power converter configured to receive the AC power from the AC power wiring network, configured to convert the AC power into the DC power defined by a nominal DC voltage value, and configured to transmit the DC power onto the DC connector;

an AC demodulator configured to detect the AC information signal, and configured to demodulate the AC information signal to determine information;

a DC modulator coupled to the AC demodulator, configured to modulate the information into a DC information signal onto the DC power transmitted from the AC to DC power converter, wherein the DC information signal comprises a series of first binary numbers and second binary numbers, and wherein each first binary number is defined by a pull up DC voltage and each second binary number is defined by a pull down DC voltage; and

a DC powered electronic device coupled to the DC connector,

wherein the received DC power received from the receptacle connector over the DC connector powers at least a first component of the DC powered electronic device,

wherein the DC power is transmitted to the DC powered electronic device at the nominal DC voltage value,

wherein the pull up DC voltage is greater than the nominal DC voltage value,

wherein the pull down DC voltage is less than the nominal DC voltage value,

wherein the pull up DC voltage is a predefined first percent that is greater than the nominal DC voltage value, and

wherein the pull down DC voltage is a predefined second percent that is less than the nominal DC voltage value.

13. A direct current (DC) powered electronic device configured to operate on received direct current (DC) power based upon alternating current (AC) power received from an AC power wiring network, comprising:

a DC power bus configured to electrically couple to a DC connector and configured to receive DC power over the DC connector, wherein the DC connector is electrically coupled to a receptacle connector, and wherein the receptacle connector is configured to couple to a receptacle of the AC power wiring network;

a DC modulator coupled to at least one of the DC connector and an AC demodulator,

wherein a processor system, using the DC modulator, determines that information has changed from a first binary number to a second binary number when a magnitude of the detected change in voltage of the transmitted DC power is a decrease that is at least equal to a predefined amount, and

wherein the processor system, using the DC modulator determines that the information has changed from the second binary number to the first binary number when a magnitude of detected change in the voltage of the transmitted DC power is an increase that is at least equal to the predefined amount;

a data bus communicatively coupled to a DC demodulator and configured to receive the information demodulated from a DC information signal;

at least one component communicatively coupled to the data bus, wherein the information is configured to operate the at least one component, wherein the information is received by the at least one component from the data bus, and wherein DC power to operate the at least one component is received from the DC power bus; and

the processor system configured to determine an identifier included in the information demodulated from the DC information signal, configured to compare the identifier with a device identifier associated with the DC powered electronic device, and configured to only operate the at least one component when the identifier corresponds to the device identifier.