Power line network with multi-scheme communication
First Claim
1. An apparatus comprising:
- circuitry configured and arranged to convey information bycombining a plurality of different data streams, each of the plurality of different data streams respectively formatted according to different communication schemes used for conveying data symbols to certain endpoint circuits of a power-line communication network, to form a signal that represents a combination of the different data streams and corresponding communication schemes; and
converting the formed signal to a modulated signal that is modulated by modifying pulses of the formed signal, the pulse-modulation circuit configured and arranged to switch at a frequency which preserves integrity of the information by preserving the different data streams and their different communication schemes; and
a filter configured and arranged to filter the switching frequency from the modulated signal, whereby the apparatus couples the modulated signal, as filtered, to an injection transformer for presentation to the endpoint circuits.
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Abstract
In various embodiments, a power-line communication apparatus provides data over a power-line communication network by transmitting data symbols to endpoint circuits over a power line. The power-line communication apparatus includes a signal-processing circuit configured to combine a plurality of different data streams, each of the plurality of different data streams respectively formatted according to different communication schemes, to form a signal that represents a combination of the different data streams and corresponding communication schemes. Further, the power-line communication apparatus includes a pulse-modulation circuit configured to convert the signals, as combined, as a pulse-width modulated or a pulse-density modulated signal, the pulse-modulation circuit configured to switch at a frequency higher than frequencies of the different communication schemes. An output circuit can be configured to filter the switching frequency and to couple the data symbols to an injector transformer for presentation to the endpoint circuits.
67 Citations
19 Claims
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1. An apparatus comprising:
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circuitry configured and arranged to convey information by combining a plurality of different data streams, each of the plurality of different data streams respectively formatted according to different communication schemes used for conveying data symbols to certain endpoint circuits of a power-line communication network, to form a signal that represents a combination of the different data streams and corresponding communication schemes; and converting the formed signal to a modulated signal that is modulated by modifying pulses of the formed signal, the pulse-modulation circuit configured and arranged to switch at a frequency which preserves integrity of the information by preserving the different data streams and their different communication schemes; and a filter configured and arranged to filter the switching frequency from the modulated signal, whereby the apparatus couples the modulated signal, as filtered, to an injection transformer for presentation to the endpoint circuits. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A method for providing information over a power-line communication network by transmitting data symbols to endpoint circuits over power lines using a data communication channel, the method including:
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combining a plurality of different data streams to form a signal (“
formed signal”
) that represents a combination of the different data streams and corresponding communication schemes, each of the plurality of different data streams respectively formatted according to different communication schemes used for conveying data symbols to certain of the endpoint circuits, and each of the plurality of different data streams respectively corresponding to different carrier frequencies;converting the formed signal to a modulated signal using a modulation circuit configured and arranged to switch at a frequency which preserves integrity of the information by preserving the different data streams and their different communication schemes and more than the different carrier frequencies; filtering the switching frequency from the modulated signal and transmitting the filtered signal to at least one of three phase lines via an injection transformer for presentation to the endpoint circuits; and transmitting, using the injection transformer, the filtered signal to the endpoint circuits over power lines.
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Specification