Dual transformer communication interface
First Claim
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1. An alternating current power line communication interface device comprising:
- communication interface circuitry including;
a first signal source configured to generate a first data encoded signal;
first signal conditioning circuitry connected to the first signal source for modifying the first data encoded signal;
a first transformer connected to the first signal conditioning circuitry and configured to receive and transform an output from the first signal conditioning circuitry at a primary winding, the primary winding having a secondary to primary winding ratio that is greater than one;
second signal conditioning circuitry connected to the first transformer for modifying an output from the first transformer;
a second transformer connected in series with the second signal conditioning circuitry to receive and transform an output from the second signal conditioning circuitry at a primary winding of the second transformer, the second transformer including a secondary winding electromagnetically coupled to the primary winding to provide an output signal, the second transformer having a secondary-to-primary winding ratio that is greater than one;
the first transformer and the second transformer configured to change a voltage of the first data encoded signal in a stepwise fashion; and
signal coupling circuitry coupled to the secondary winding of the second transformer, the signal coupling circuitry configured to couple the output signal to the alternating current power line.
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Abstract
A power line communication device comprises a plurality of transformers in series. These transformers are used to increase the voltage of a digitally encoded signal in a stepwise fashion prior to being coupled into a power line. While a transmit path includes at least a first transformer and a second transformer in series, a receive path may include only one of these two transformers. For example a receive path may include only the first transformer, or include the first transformer and a third transformer. The net ratio of voltage increase and decrease may be different in the transmit and receive paths.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. An alternating current power line communication interface device comprising:
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communication interface circuitry including; a first signal source configured to generate a first data encoded signal; first signal conditioning circuitry connected to the first signal source for modifying the first data encoded signal; a first transformer connected to the first signal conditioning circuitry and configured to receive and transform an output from the first signal conditioning circuitry at a primary winding, the primary winding having a secondary to primary winding ratio that is greater than one; second signal conditioning circuitry connected to the first transformer for modifying an output from the first transformer;
a second transformer connected in series with the second signal conditioning circuitry to receive and transform an output from the second signal conditioning circuitry at a primary winding of the second transformer, the second transformer including a secondary winding electromagnetically coupled to the primary winding to provide an output signal, the second transformer having a secondary-to-primary winding ratio that is greater than one;
the first transformer and the second transformer configured to change a voltage of the first data encoded signal in a stepwise fashion; andsignal coupling circuitry coupled to the secondary winding of the second transformer, the signal coupling circuitry configured to couple the output signal to the alternating current power line. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A communication interface device comprising:
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communication interface circuitry including; a transmit path between a signal source and an alternating current power line, the transmit path including at least a first transformer and series coupled second transformer with secondary-to-primary ratios greater than one, the transmit path including at least one line driver coupled to the first transformer; a receive path between the alternating current power line and a signal receiver, the receive path including at least the second transformer but not the first transformer, the signal source and signal receiver; and signal coupling circuitry configured to couple to a secondary winding of the second transformer to the alternating current power line. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17)
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18. A method of communicating a communications signal, the method comprising:
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before coupling to an AC Power line, generating a first data encoded communications signal; passing the first data encoded communications signal through a first transformer to increase a first voltage of the first data encoded communications signal to a second voltage level; passing the first data encoded communications signal at the second voltage level through a second transformer to further increase the second voltage level of the first data encoded communications signal to a third voltage level; and thereafter, coupling the first data encoded communications signal at the third voltage level to the AC power line via a signal coupler. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20)
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Specification