Methods and systems for neutral-to-ground communication
AssigneeGeneral Electric Company
InventorsScott C. Evans, John E. Hershey
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A method of distributing wide band data using a neutral-to-ground circuit within an electrical wiring installation includes modifying a load center with an interface module which interfaces to the neutral-to-ground circuit and configuring the interface module to compensate for varying impedance within the neutral-to-ground circuit to improve data transmission characteristics. Multiple embodiments are included within the method for compensation of varying impedance including channel sounding, spectral waterfilling, and communications using spread spectrum techniques, for example, frequency hopping and direct sequencing techniques.
Claims42
A method of distributing wide band data using a neutral-to-ground circuit, said method comprising the steps of:
- modifying a load center by coupling an interface module to the neutral-to-ground circuit;
- and
- configuring the interface module to compensate for varying impedance within the neutral-to-ground circuit by assessing a data rate capacity of the neutral-to-ground circuit as a data channel, and establishing a signaling rate for data transmission and reception.
An interface module configured to interface with a neutral-to-ground circuit within the electrical wiring of a structure, for wide band data communications along the wiring, and further configured to interface to the wiring at or near a load center for the wiring, said interface module comprising:
- one of a variable or fixed impedance source coupled to the neutral-to-ground circuit;
- a coupling to the neutral-to-ground circuit;
- a modulator/demodulator configured for formatting transmitted and received data and interfaced to said coupling;
- a sounder configured to generate impulses for transmission onto the neutral-to-ground circuit and interfaced to said modulator/demodulator;
- a calculation device configured to determine an amount of impedance to be added to the neutral-to-ground circuit based upon a response received from said sounder and interfaced to said sounder and said variable or fixed impedance;
- an input/output signaling port interfaced to said calculation device;
- and
- an input/output data port interfaced to said modulator/demodulator.
A data transmission system configured for the transmission of wide band data across an electrical wiring installation, said system comprising:
- at least one neutral-to-ground circuit configured as a data channel;
- a load center where neutral and ground are electrically connected;
- an interface module configured to interface with said neutral-to-ground circuit, at or near said load center, and configured to couple one of a variable or fixed impedance source to the neutral-to-ground circuit, wherein said interface module is configured to send a short pulse having a spectral occupancy equal to the highest signaling bandwidth available to a modulator/demodulator within said interface module onto said neutral-to-ground circuit;
- and
- an external controller.
A method of distributing wide band data using a neutral-to-ground circuit, said method comprising the steps of:
- modifying a load center by coupling an interface module to the neutral-to-ground circuit;
- and
- configuring the interface module to compensate for varying impedance within the neutral-to-ground circuit, comprising the step of:
- adjusting a variable impedance within the interface module to a value which improves the neutral-to-ground circuits impedance characteristics as a data carrier, wherein said step of adjusting a variable impedance within the interface module further comprises the step of maximizing a function of neutral-to-ground circuit impedance as a function of variable impedance.
A method of distributing wide band data using a neutral-to-ground circuit, said method comprising the steps of:
- modifying a load center by coupling an interface module to the neutral-to-ground circuit;
- and
- configuring the interface module to compensate for varying impedance within the neutral-to-ground circuit comprising the step of:
- switching in a fixed impedance within the interface module that accommodates numerous communication carriers or bands of communication frequencies.
A data transmission system configured for the transmission of wide band data across an electrical wiring installation, said system comprising:
- at least one neutral-to-ground circuit configured as a data channel;
- a load center where neutral and ground are electrically connected;
- an interface module configured to:
- (a) interface with said neutral-to-ground circuit, at or near said load center;
- (b) couple one of a variable or fixed impedance source to the neutral-to-ground circuit;
- (c) adjust an impedance coupled to said neutral-to-ground circuit within said interface module to a value which improves the neutral-to-ground circuits impedance characteristics as a data carrier;
- and
- (d) maximize a function of neutral-to-ground circuit impedance as a function of input impedance values;
- and
- an external controller.
A data transmission system configured for the transmission of wide band data across an electrical wiring installation, said system comprising:
- at least one neutral-to-ground circuit configured as a data channel;
- a load center where neutral and ground are electrically connected;
- an interface module configured to:
- (a) interface with said neutral-to-ground circuit, at or near said load center;
- (b) couple one of a variable or fixed impedance source to the neutral-to-ground circuit;
- and
- (c) switch in a fixed impedance within said interface module that accommodates numerous communication carriers or bands of communication frequencies;
- and
- an external controller.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.