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US 12,567,537 B2Granted
Inductive power and communications bus
AssigneeBitstrata Systems Inc.
InventorsIan Robert Meier, Michael David Lockerbie
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Systems and methods for providing power to and support bidirectional communications between one or more devices by injecting an alternating current into a primary conductive loop. The devices inductively couple to the loop to receive power, receive data, and transmit data. The coupling may occur at any position along the loop by passing one wire of the primary loop through the physical opening in a magnetic circuit.
Claims16
A system for providing power and bidirectional communication, the system comprising:
- a conductive loop comprising a wire rope;
- one or more nodes configured to inductively couple with the conductive loop to receive power therefrom and conduct bidirectional communications thereover, wherein a coupling is possible at any unoccupied position along the conductive loop by passing the wire rope through a current transformer of a respective node;
- and
- a controller configured to inject alternating current into the conductive loop that is inductively coupled to each node, where the alternating current is received and converted to a working voltage by each respective node of the one or more nodes, the controller further configured to communicate data through the conductive loop with the one or more nodes, wherein the controller is configured to communicate data with each node by modulating a controller carrier, and each node of the one or more nodes may communicate data concurrently to the controller and to another node of the one or more nodes by modulating the controller carrier, injecting a modulated node carrier at a different frequency than the controller carrier, or modulating the controller carrier and injecting its own modulated node carrier.
1 more element
A system for providing power and bidirectional communication, the system comprising:
- a primary loop configured to provide power and bidirectional communications, the primary loop comprising a wire rope;
- an extension loop configured to provide power and bidirectional communications;
- a ferromagnetic toroid configured to couple the primary loop and the extension loop;
- a plurality of nodes each coupled to either the primary loop or the extension loop by a current transformer embedded in each respective node;
- and
- a controller coupled to the primary loop and configured to communicate with and provide power to each of the plurality of nodes though the primary loop or the primary loop and the extension loop, wherein the controller is configured to communicate data with each node by modulating a controller carrier, and each node of the plurality of nodes may communicate data concurrently to the controller and to another node of the plurality of nodes by modulating the controller carrier, injecting a modulated node carrier at a different frequency than the controller carrier, or modulating the controller carrier and injecting its own modulated node carrier.
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.