Data communication over power lines
AssigneeHunt Technologies, Inc.
InventorsDamian G. Bonicatto, Verne J. Olson, Chad K. Wolter, Rolf J. Flen
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A system for receiving and processing signals received from a plurality of endpoints. Each endpoint includes an endpoint transmitter in electrical communication with a power distribution line within a power distribution system. The system comprises a power line coupler. A substation receiver is in electrical communication with the power line coupler. A substation circuit is in electrical communication with the substation transceiver. The substation circuit is configured to simultaneously demodulate signals received from the plurality of different endpoints.
Claims18
A system for receiving and processing signals received from a plurality of endpoints, each endpoint including an endpoint transmitter in electrical communication with a power distribution line within a power distribution system, the system comprising:
- a power line coupler;
- a substation transceiver in electrical communication with the power line coupler;
- and
- a substation circuit in electrical communication with the substation transceiver, the substation circuit configured to simultaneously demodulate signals received from the plurality of different endpoints wherein the substation circuit being configured to simultaneously demodulate the signals comprises the substation circuit being configured to:
- separate a channel on the power distribution line carrying the plurality of signals into sub-channels, and
- separate each of the sub-channels into sub-sub-channels, each of the sub-sub-channels being respectively assigned to different ones of the endpoints, each of the sub-sub-channels having a predetermined bandwidth.
A system for receiving and processing signals received from a plurality of endpoints, each endpoint including an endpoint transmitter in electrical communication with a power distribution line within a power distribution system, the system comprising:
- a power line coupler;
- a substation transceiver in electrical communication with the power line coupler;
- and
- a substation circuit in electrical communication with the substation transceiver, the substation circuit configured to simultaneously demodulate signals received from the plurality of different endpoints wherein the power line coupler is in electrical communication with a power distribution line within a power distribution system, the system further comprising one or more endpoints in electrical communication within the power distribution system, each endpoint including:
- an endpoint circuit configured to generate data;
- and
- an endpoint transceiver in electrical communication with the endpoint circuit and a power distribution line within the power distribution system, the endpoint transceiver configured to generate a signal embodying the signal, to modulate the data using frequency shift keying, and to transmit the modulated signal onto the power distribution line, the endpoint circuit including an automated meter reading device, the automated meter reading device being interfaced with an electrical meter, the data including a quantity of electrical power measured by the electrical meter.
A method of processing signals received from a plurality of endpoints over power distribution lines, the method comprising:
- obtaining a plurality of signals from a power distribution line, each signal corresponding to a different frequency bandwidth;
- and
- simultaneously demodulating the plurality signals wherein demodulating the plurality signals comprises,
- separating a channel carrying the plurality of signals into sub-channels, and
- separating each of the sub-channels into sub-sub-channels, each of the sub-sub-channels being assigned to different ones of downstream endpoint transceivers each respectively corresponding to ones of the plurality of endpoints, each of the sub-sub-channels having a predetermined bandwidth.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.