DUAL-CHANNEL RECEIVER FOR POWERLINE COMMUNICATIONS

• US 20130094596A1
• Filed: 10/18/2011
• Published: 04/18/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 10/18/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Itron, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Itron, Inc.
• Inventors: Borisov, Vladimir, Chiummiento, Philippe
• Granted Patent: US 8,737,493 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 375/257
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 2203/5458 Monitor sensor; Alarm systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 2203/5495 having measurements and testing channel
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 3/546 Combination of signalling, telemetering, protection circuits for remote indication of supply or distribution network condition H02J13/00

Abstract

The presently disclosed subject matter relates to powerline communications (PLC) in an advanced metering infrastructure (AMI) environment. A communications signal is applied to a power line by a PLC transmitting device. A receiver is provided that evaluates communications signals based on the power coupled to the power line by the transmitting device. In one present embodiment, PLC signal voltage and current levels are multiplied together to evaluate signal power to reproduce received PLC signals.

Claims

1. A dual-channel power line communications (PLC) receiver, comprising:

a first sensor configured to sense a first characteristic of a signal produced in a power line by a PLC transmitter and to provide a first signal representative thereof;

a second sensor configured to sense a second characteristic of the signal produced in a power line by the PLC transmitter and to provide a second signal representative thereof; and

a processor configured to combine the first signal and the second signal to produce an output signal representative of a received PLC signal.

2. A receiver as in claim 1, wherein:

said first characteristic comprises a signal voltage level; and

said second characteristic comprises a signal current level.

3. A receiver as in claim 1, wherein said first sensor comprises a transformer having a first winding configured to be coupled to a power line with which said receiver is associated.

4. A receiver as in claim 1, wherein said second sensor comprises an inline current sensor.

5. A receiver as in claim 1, wherein said processor is configured to multiply said first and second signals together.

6. A receiver as in claim 1, wherein:

said first characteristic comprises a signal voltage level, and said first sensor comprises a transformer having a first winding configured to be coupled to a power line with which said receiver is associated;

said second characteristic comprises a signal current level, and said second sensor comprises an inline current sensor; and

said processor is configured to multiply said first and second signals together.

7. A method for receiving power line communications (PLC) signals applied to a power line, comprising:

concurrently monitoring two PLC signal characteristics associated with a power line;

evaluating the PLC signal power level produced within the power line; and

producing signals indicative of the PLC signals.

8. A method as in claim 7, wherein such two signal characteristics correspond to a signal voltage and a signal current.

9. A method as in claim 7, wherein:

such producing comprises producing two signals respectively indicative of the two PLC signal characteristics; and

such evaluating comprises multiplying such two signals together.

10. A method as in claim 7, wherein one of the signal characteristics corresponds to one of a signal voltage and a signal current, and the other of the signal characteristics corresponds to a line impedance at the signal frequency.

11. An advanced metering infrastructure (AMI), comprising:

a power line infrastructure configured to transport alternating current from a source to a user location by way of at least one power line;

a source of powerline communications (PLC) signals coupled to said at least one power line; and

a communications receiver coupled to said power line, said communications receiver being configured to evaluate the power level of PLC signals applied to the at least one power line based on two concurrently monitored characteristics to reproduce the PLC signals coupled to said at least one power line.

12. An advanced metering infrastructure as in claim 11, wherein said receiver is configured to evaluate said power level based on signal voltage and current levels associated with said at least one power line.

13. An advanced metering infrastructure as in claim 11, wherein said receiver comprises a dual-channel receiver with a first channel comprising a high-impedance PLC receiver configured to sense a signal voltage between the power line mains, and with a second channel configured as a low-impedance current sensor to sense a signal representing the signal current through the associated at least one power line.