Apparatus, systems and methods for power line carrier data communication to DC powered electronic device
First Claim
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.
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Accused Products
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.
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Citations
13 Claims
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1. A method for communicating information to a direct current (DC) powered electronic device, the method comprising:
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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.
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2. A method for communicating information to a direct current (DC) powered electronic device, the method comprising:
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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. - View Dependent Claims (5)
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3. A method for communicating information to a direct current (DC) powered electronic device, the method comprising:
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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. - View Dependent Claims (4)
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6. A method for communicating information to a direct current (DC) powered electronic device, the method comprising:
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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.
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7. A method for communicating information to a direct current (DC) powered electronic device, the method comprising:
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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. - View Dependent Claims (8)
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9. A direct current (DC) powered electronic system configured to receive alternating current (AC) power from an AC power wiring network, comprising:
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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. - View Dependent Claims (10)
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11. A direct current (DC) powered electronic system configured to receive alternating current (AC) power from an AC power wiring network, comprising:
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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.
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12. A direct current (DC) powered electronic system configured to receive alternating current (AC) power from an AC power wiring network, comprising:
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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.
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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:
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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.
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Specification