Power line communication transmitter with amplifier circuit
First Claim
1. A transmitter circuit configured and arranged to communicate over power distribution lines that carry power using alternating current (AC) that operates at a power-line frequency, the transmitter circuit comprising:
- an amplifier circuit configured and arranged to;
receive a first data signal in the form of a carrier wave that is modulated to represent data bits; and
convert the first data signal to a pulse density modulation (PDM) encoded signal using high frequency pulses that introduce high frequency components;
a low-pass filter configured and arranged to filter the high frequency components of the PDM encoded signal to produce a second data signal, such that the second data signal is an amplification of the first data signal; and
a coupling circuit configured and arranged to communicatively couple the second data signal from the low-pass filter to the power distribution lines and to filter the power-line frequency.
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Accused Products
Abstract
In one embodiment, a transmitter circuit is provided for data transmission from endpoint devices to collector devices over power distribution lines. The transmitter includes an amplifier circuit configured to receive and convert a first data signal to a pulse density modulation (PDM) encoded signal using high frequency pulses that introduce high frequency components. A low-pass filter of the transmitter is configured to filter the high frequency components of the PDM encoded signal to produce a second data signal, which is an amplification of the first data signal. A coupling circuit of the transmitter is configured to communicatively couple the second data signal from the low-pass filter to the power distribution lines. The coupling circuit filters the frequency of the AC and prevents high voltage of the power distribution lines from damaging the transmitter.
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Citations
22 Claims
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1. A transmitter circuit configured and arranged to communicate over power distribution lines that carry power using alternating current (AC) that operates at a power-line frequency, the transmitter circuit comprising:
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an amplifier circuit configured and arranged to; receive a first data signal in the form of a carrier wave that is modulated to represent data bits; and convert the first data signal to a pulse density modulation (PDM) encoded signal using high frequency pulses that introduce high frequency components; a low-pass filter configured and arranged to filter the high frequency components of the PDM encoded signal to produce a second data signal, such that the second data signal is an amplification of the first data signal; and a coupling circuit configured and arranged to communicatively couple the second data signal from the low-pass filter to the power distribution lines and to filter the power-line frequency. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 20, 21, 22)
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14. A method for communicating data over power distribution lines that carry power using alternating current (AC) that operates at a power-line frequency, the method comprising:
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using a processing circuit configured and arranged to amplify a first data signal by performing operations including; converting the first data signal to a pulse density modulation (PDM) encoded signal; and filtering high frequency components of the PDM encoded signal to produce a second data signal, the second data signal being an amplification of the first data signal; communicating the second data signal from the processing circuit to the power distribution lines; filtering the power-line frequency between the power distribution lines and the processing circuit; selecting one of a plurality of carrier frequencies; modulating a carrier signal, having the selected one of the plurality of carrier frequencies, to encode data bits to produce the first data signal; sensing current provided to the power distribution lines by the second data signal; and adjusting a gain of the amplification of the first data signal as a function of the sensed current and the selected one of the plurality of carrier frequencies. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19)
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15. A method for communicating data over power distribution lines that carry power using alternating current (AC) that operates at a power-line frequency, the method comprising:
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using a processing circuit configured and arranged to amplify a first data signal by performing operations including; converting the first data signal to a pulse density modulation (PDM) encoded signal; and filtering high frequency components of the PDM encoded signal to produce a second data signal, the second data signal being an amplification of the first data signal; communicating the second data signal from the processing circuit to the power distribution lines; and filtering the power-line frequency between the power distribution lines and the processing circuit, wherein; the second data signal is a differential signal having a first differential component and a second differential component; and the processing circuit is configured to; convert the first signal into a first PDM encoded signal and a second PDM encoded signal; and filter high frequency components of the first and second PDM encoded signals to produce the respective first and second differential components of the second data signal.
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Specification