Signal feedback circuit in power-line-communication systems
First Claim
1. A power-line-communication (PLC) apparatus comprising:
- a data-coupling circuit and a DC-isolation circuit, the data-coupling circuit and the DC-isolation circuit configured and arranged to communicate data over power lines in a system including a PLC collector circuit and power-line-coupled endpoint circuits, by coupling data to the power lines over the DC-isolation circuit; and
a feedback circuit and a power-tap circuit, the feedback circuit and the power-tap circuit configured and arranged to communicate with the DC-isolation circuit by providing a feedback signal, via the power-tap circuit, and by using the feedback signal to estimate an amount of at least one power parameter being coupled between the DC-isolation circuit and the power lines.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An apparatus is provided for data communication over power lines in a PLC system. The apparatus includes a data-coupling circuit configured to provide data to the power lines for transmission. The data-coupling circuit includes a DC-isolation circuit configured to isolate circuitry of the data-coupling circuit from the power lines. The apparatus also includes a feedback circuit connected to the DC-isolation circuit. The feedback circuit has a power-tap circuit on an endpoint side of the feedback circuit. The power-tap circuit is configured to indicate/estimate of an amount of power, current, and/or voltage provided from the data-coupling circuit through the DC-isolation circuit and to the power lines. Based on the feedback the signal, the strength of a transmitted may be adjusted (e.g., to maintain constant signal strength).
17 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A power-line-communication (PLC) apparatus comprising:
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a data-coupling circuit and a DC-isolation circuit, the data-coupling circuit and the DC-isolation circuit configured and arranged to communicate data over power lines in a system including a PLC collector circuit and power-line-coupled endpoint circuits, by coupling data to the power lines over the DC-isolation circuit; and a feedback circuit and a power-tap circuit, the feedback circuit and the power-tap circuit configured and arranged to communicate with the DC-isolation circuit by providing a feedback signal, via the power-tap circuit, and by using the feedback signal to estimate an amount of at least one power parameter being coupled between the DC-isolation circuit and the power lines. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A system comprising:
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a power-line-communication (PLC) collector circuit; one or more endpoint circuits configured and arranged to transmit data symbols over a plurality of data channels by data communication over power lines connected between the PLC collector circuit and said one or more endpoint circuits; and for each of the one or more endpoint circuits, a respective signal-processing circuit communicatively connected to or forming part of said one or more endpoint circuits, the signal-processing circuit including a data-coupling circuit and a DC-isolation circuit, the data-coupling circuit and the DC-isolation circuit configured and arranged to communicate data over power lines in a system including a PLC collector circuit and power-line-coupled endpoint circuits, by coupling data to the power lines over the DC-isolation circuit; and a feedback circuit and a power-tap circuit, the feedback circuit and the power-tap circuit configured and arranged to communicate with the DC-isolation circuit by providing a feedback signal, via the power-tap circuit, and by using the feedback signal to estimate an amount of at least one power parameter being coupled between the DC-isolation circuit and the power lines. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18)
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19. A method for power-line-communication (PLC) of data over power lines between a PLC collector circuit and its power-line-coupled endpoint circuits that measure power consumption at remotely-located facilities, the method comprising:
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using a DC-isolation data-coupling circuit, including a transformer, to isolate data-coupling circuitry relative to the power lines and using a feedback circuit having a current-feedback circuit or a voltage-feedback circuit configured for tapping or shunting power associated with the power transferred through the DC-isolation circuit; and using the current-feedback circuit and the voltage-feedback circuit to estimate or indicate at least one of an amount of current being coupled from the data-coupling circuit through the DC-isolation data-coupling circuit and to the power lines, and an amount of voltage applied from the data-coupling circuit through the DC-isolation data-coupling circuit and to the power lines. - View Dependent Claims (20)
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Specification