Control of the level of the signal produced by a transceiver coupled to a power distribution line
AssigneeSTMicroelectronics S.r.l.
InventorsGiuseppe Cantone, Roberto Cappelletti
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A method for controlling the level of a signal produced by a transceiver of digital data coupled to a power distribution line during a transmission phase is provided. The level of the signal output by the transceiver is regulated by comparing the current level of the output signal with a predetermined minimum threshold and a predetermined maximum threshold, reducing the current level when the maximum threshold is exceeded by reducing the gain, and switching to a voltage mode control of the output signal when the current level of the output signal becomes lower than the minimum threshold.
Claims32
A method of regulating an output signal level for a transmitter connected to a power distribution line, the method comprising:
- comparing a current of the output signal with a minimum current threshold and a maximum current threshold;
- reducing the current of the output signal when the maximum threshold is exceeded;
- and
- switching to a voltage control mode for controlling the output signal when the current of the output signal is lower than the minimum threshold.
A method of regulating an output signal level for a transceiver of digital information connected to a power distribution line during a transmission phase, the method comprising:
- comparing a current of the output signal with a minimum current threshold and a maximum current threshold;
- reducing the current of the output signal when the maximum threshold is exceeded by reducing a gain of the output signal;
- and
- switching to a voltage control mode for controlling the output signal when the current of the output signal is lower than the minimum threshold.
A device for regulating an output signal level for a transmitter connected to a power distribution line, the device comprising:
- a voltage amplifier receiving the signal and having a gain controlled by a control signal;
- a current amplifier coupled to an output of said voltage amplifier and delivering the signal to the transmission line;
- a current sensor connected to an output of said current amplifier;
- at least one first comparator for comparing a voltage on the current sensor with first predetermined high and low thresholds and providing first and second logic signals;
- and
- at least one second comparator for comparing a signal corresponding to an output voltage of said current amplifier with second predetermined high and low thresholds and providing third and fourth logic signals;
- and
- a control logic circuit receiving the first, second, third, and fourth logic signals and outputting the control signal.
A device for regulating an output level for a transmitter connected to a power distribution line, the device comprising:
- at least one comparator for comparing a current of the output signal with a minimum current threshold and a maximum current threshold;
- a circuit for reducing the current of the output signal when the maximum threshold is exceeded;
- and
- a controller for switching the device to a voltage control mode for controlling the output signal when the current of the output signal is lower than the minimum threshold.
A coupling interface for a transceiver of digital information coupled to a power distribution line for regulating the level of a signal to be transmitted on the power distribution line during a transmission phase, the coupling interface comprising:
- a voltage amplifier receiving the signal and having a gain controlled by a digital control signal;
- a current amplifier coupled to an output of said voltage amplifier and delivering the signal to be transmitted to the power distribution line;
- a current sensor connected in series to an output of said current amplifier;
- a first pair of comparators for comparing a voltage on the current sensor with a first pair of predetermined high and low thresholds and providing a first pair of first and second logic signals;
- a second pair of comparators for comparing a signal corresponding to an output voltage of said current amplifier with a second pair of predetermined high and low thresholds and providing a second pair of third and fourth logic signals;
- and
- a control logic circuit receiving the first and second pairs of logic signals and outputting the digital control signal.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.