TWACS transmitter and receiver
First Claim
1. In a two-way automatic communications system (TWACS) used by an electrical utility in which outbound messages are sent from the utility to a consumer and inbound messages are sent from the consumer to the utility, the respective outbound and inbound messages being sent and received over the utility'"'"'s power distribution system, a receiver for detecting the outbound messages, said receiver comprising:
- an analog filter component receiving the analog outbound signal including an outbound message to provide a filtered signal;
an A/D converter converting the filtered signal to a corresponding digitized signal and providing the corresponding digitized signal; and
a digital processor executing;
a digital preprocessor component receiving the corresponding digitized signal, preprocessing the received corresponding digitized signal to provide a preprocessed digital signal; and
a digital symbol determination component receiving the preprocessed digital signal and including a two-dimensional digital demodulating component for demodulating the received preprocessed digital signal to provide the outbound message wherein the symbol determination component comprises;
a digital preamble detector for receiving the preprocessed digital signal and providing a symbol synchronization signal and a weight vector w corresponding to the preprocessed digital signal; and
a digital symbol estimator component for receiving the preprocessed digital signal and for receiving the weight vector w to provide noise product signal which is;
(1) selectively sampled by the synchronization signal to provide a first dimension γ
1 of the outbound message, and(2) delayed by a one-half cycle multiple (z−
2) and selectively sampled by the synchronization signal to provide a second dimension γ
2 of the outbound message, wherein the first and second dimensions γ
1 and γ
2 provide the outbound message.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
As disclosed, a two-way automatic communications system (TWACS) and method are used by an electrical utility in which outbound messages are sent from the utility to a consumer and inbound messages are sent from the consumer to the utility. The respective outbound and inbound messages are sent and received over the utility'"'"'s power distribution system. A receiver including an analog filter component, an A/D converter and a digital processor detects the outbound messages. A substation transceiver is configured for sending analog outbound messages from the utility to a consumer. A transponder is configured for sending inbound messages to the transceiver from the consumer to the utility, the respective outbound and inbound messages being modulated on a mains signal of the utility'"'"'s power distribution system. The receiver in another form includes an analog filter component, a detecting circuit and a demodulator.
36 Citations
26 Claims
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1. In a two-way automatic communications system (TWACS) used by an electrical utility in which outbound messages are sent from the utility to a consumer and inbound messages are sent from the consumer to the utility, the respective outbound and inbound messages being sent and received over the utility'"'"'s power distribution system, a receiver for detecting the outbound messages, said receiver comprising:
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an analog filter component receiving the analog outbound signal including an outbound message to provide a filtered signal; an A/D converter converting the filtered signal to a corresponding digitized signal and providing the corresponding digitized signal; and a digital processor executing; a digital preprocessor component receiving the corresponding digitized signal, preprocessing the received corresponding digitized signal to provide a preprocessed digital signal; and a digital symbol determination component receiving the preprocessed digital signal and including a two-dimensional digital demodulating component for demodulating the received preprocessed digital signal to provide the outbound message wherein the symbol determination component comprises; a digital preamble detector for receiving the preprocessed digital signal and providing a symbol synchronization signal and a weight vector w corresponding to the preprocessed digital signal; and a digital symbol estimator component for receiving the preprocessed digital signal and for receiving the weight vector w to provide noise product signal which is; (1) selectively sampled by the synchronization signal to provide a first dimension γ
1 of the outbound message, and(2) delayed by a one-half cycle multiple (z−
2) and selectively sampled by the synchronization signal to provide a second dimension γ
2 of the outbound message, wherein the first and second dimensions γ
1 and γ
2 provide the outbound message. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. In a two-way automatic communications system (TWACS) used by an electrical utility in which outbound messages are sent from the utility to a consumer and inbound messages are sent from the consumer to the utility, the respective outbound and inbound messages being sent and received over the utility'"'"'s power distribution system, the respective outbound and inbound messages being modulated on a mains signal of the power distribution system, a receiver for detecting the outbound messages, said receiver comprising:
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an analog filter component receiving an outbound signal including an outbound message to provide a filtered signal including the outbound message; and a detecting circuit receiving the filtered signal including the outbound message to provide a corresponding signal including the outbound message; and a demodulator for demodulating the corresponding signal by detecting at least two modulations every two cycles of the mains signal by detecting a bit modulation at a zero crossing of the mains signal relative to a half-cycle delay of a bit modulation at a another zero crossing of the mains signal. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A two-way automatic communications system (TWACS) used by an electrical utility comprising:
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a substation transceiver configured for sending analog outbound messages from the utility to a consumer; a transponder configured for sending inbound messages to the transceiver from the consumer to the utility, the respective outbound and inbound messages being modulated on a mains signal of the utility'"'"'s power distribution system; and a receiver included in the transponder configured for enabling the detection of the outbound messages, said receiver comprising; an analog filter component receiving an outbound signal including an outbound message to provide a filtered signal including the outbound message; and a detecting circuit receiving the filtered signal including the outbound message to provide a corresponding signal including the outbound message; and a demodulator for demodulating the corresponding signal by detecting at least two modulations every two cycles of the mains signal by detecting a bit modulation at a zero crossing of the mains signal relative to a half-cycle delay of a bit modulation at a another zero crossing of the mains signal. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A two-way automatic communications system (TWACS) used by an electrical utility comprising:
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a substation transceiver configured for sending analog outbound messages from the utility to a consumer; a transponder configured for sending inbound messages to the transceiver from the consumer to the utility, the respective outbound and inbound messages being modulated on a mains signal of the utility'"'"'s power distribution system; and a receiver included in the transponder configured for enabling the detection of the outbound messages, said receiver comprising; an analog filter component receiving the analog outbound signal including an outbound message to provide a filtered signal; an A/D converter converting the filtered signal to a corresponding digitized signal and providing the corresponding digitized signal; and a digital processor executing; a digital preprocessor component receiving the corresponding digitized signal, preprocessing the received corresponding digitized signal to provide a preprocessed digital signal; and a digital symbol determination component receiving the preprocessed digital signal and a two-dimensional digital demodulating component for digitally demodulating the received preprocessed digital signal to provide the outbound message wherein the symbol determination component comprises; a digital preamble detector component for receiving the preprocessed digital signal and providing a symbol synchronization signal and a weight vector w corresponding to the preprocessed digital signal; and a digital symbol estimator component for receiving the preprocessed digital signal and for receiving the weight vector w to provide a noise product signal which is; (1) selectively sampled by the synchronization signal to provide a first dimension γ
1 of the outbound message, and(2) delaying by a one-half cycle multiple (z−
2) and selectively sampled by the synchronization signal to provide a second dimension γ
2 of the outbound message, wherein the first and second dimensions γ
1 and γ
2 provide the outbound message. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24)
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25. In a two-way automatic communications system (TWACS) used by an electrical utility in which analog outbound messages are sent from the utility to a consumer and inbound messages are sent from the consumer to the utility, the respective outbound and inbound messages being modulated on a mains signal of the utility'"'"'s power distribution system, a method for detecting the outbound messages comprising:
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receiving the analog outbound signal including an outbound message; converting the received analog outbound signal to a corresponding digitized signal; preprocessing the corresponding digitized signal to provide a preprocessed digital signal; and digitally demodulating the preprocessed digital signal in two dimensions to provide the outbound message wherein the demodulating comprises; receiving the preprocessed digital signal and providing a symbol synchronization signal and a weight vector w corresponding to the preprocessed digital signal; and receiving the preprocessed digital signal and receiving the weight vector to provide a noise product signal which is; (1 ) selectively sampled by the synchronization signal to provide a first dimension γ
1 of the outbound message, and(2 ) delayed by a one-half cycle multiple (z−
2) and selectively sampled by the synchronization signal to provide a second dimension γ
2 of the outbound message, wherein the first and second dimensions γ
1 and γ
2 provide the outbound message.
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26. In a two-way automatic communications system (TWACS) used by an electrical utility in which analog outbound messages are sent from the utility to a consumer and inbound messages are sent from the consumer to the utility, the respective outbound and inbound messages being modulated on a mains signal of the utility'"'"'s power distribution system, a method for detecting the outbound messages comprising:
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receiving an outbound signal including an outbound message to provide a filtered signal including the outbound message; and receiving the filtered signal including the outbound message to provide a corresponding signal including the outbound message; and demodulating the corresponding signal by detecting at least two modulations every two cycles of the mains signal wherein the demodulating comprises; receiving the preprocessed digital signal and providing a symbol synchronization signal and a weight vector w corresponding to the preprocessed digital signal; and receiving the preprocessed digital signal and receiving the weight vector to provide a noise product signal which is; (1) selectively sampled by the synchronization signal to provide a first dimension γ
1 of the outbound message, and(2) delayed by a one-half cycle multiple (z−
2) and selectively sampled by the synchronization signal to provide a second dimension γ
2 of the outbound message, wherein the first and second dimensions γ
1 and γ
2 provide the outbound message.
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Specification