Sensor nodes, apparatuses, and methods for wirelessly transmitting data to a power infrastructure
First Claim
1. An apparatus, comprising:
- a microcontroller comprising an oscillator and an input/output buffer, wherein the microcontroller is configured to process an electrical signal and the input/output buffer is configured to drive a digital signal;
a transmitter including the oscillator and the input/output buffer of the microcontroller, wherein the transmitter further includes;
a resonator coupled to the oscillator;
modulation circuitry coupled to the oscillator and resonator and configured to modulate an output of the oscillator responsive to a modulation signal based on the processed electrical signal;
an antenna coupled to the input/output buffer of the microcontroller for transmission of the data, wherein the antenna is configured to wirelessly couple an analog signal to a powerline; and
a resonant tank coupled to an output of the input/output buffer to provide the analog signal to the antenna.
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Abstract
Apparatuses, sensor nodes, systems and methods for modulating and transmitting sensor data wirelessly to an existing power line network are described. An apparatus may include a microcontroller having an oscillator and an input/output buffer. The microcontroller may process an electrical signal and the input/output buffer may drive a digital signal. The apparatus may include a transmitter utilizing the oscillator and the input/output buffer of the microcontroller. The transmitter may include a resonator coupled to the oscillator and modulation circuitry coupled to the oscillator and resonator. The resonator may modulate a frequency of the oscillator responsive to a modulation signal based on the processed electrical signal. The transmitter may further include an antenna coupled to the input/output buffer of the microcontroller for transmission of the data, and a resonant tank coupled to an output of the input/output buffer to provide an analog signal to the antenna.
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Citations
25 Claims
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1. An apparatus, comprising:
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a microcontroller comprising an oscillator and an input/output buffer, wherein the microcontroller is configured to process an electrical signal and the input/output buffer is configured to drive a digital signal; a transmitter including the oscillator and the input/output buffer of the microcontroller, wherein the transmitter further includes; a resonator coupled to the oscillator; modulation circuitry coupled to the oscillator and resonator and configured to modulate an output of the oscillator responsive to a modulation signal based on the processed electrical signal; an antenna coupled to the input/output buffer of the microcontroller for transmission of the data, wherein the antenna is configured to wirelessly couple an analog signal to a powerline; and a resonant tank coupled to an output of the input/output buffer to provide the analog signal to the antenna. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A non-transitory computer readable medium comprising instructions that, when executed by one or more processing units, cause the one or more processing units to:
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convert a data packet into pulse widths; convert the pulse widths into register values; configure a timer configuration register with a first set of register values of the register values, wherein a modulation signal is toggled responsive to completion of a first timer cycle at a timer, wherein the timer cycle is based on the first set of register values; receive an interrupt from the timer, wherein the timer is configured to provide the interrupt responsive to completion of a last timer cycle, wherein the last timer cycle is based on a last set of register values of the register values; and wake up the one or more processing units responsive to receiving the interrupt. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A method, comprising:
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converting, at a processor of a microcontroller, a data packet into pulse widths; converting the pulse widths into register values; configuring a timer configuration register of the microcontroller with a first set of register values of the register values; toggling a modulation signal at an output of the timer responsive to completion of a first timer cycle at a timer of the microcontroller, wherein the timer cycle is based on the first set of register values; providing, from the timer to the processor, an interrupt responsive to completion of a last timer cycle, wherein the last timer cycle is based on a last set of register values of the register values; and turning on the processor responsive to receiving the interrupt. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
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Specification