Low voltage control interface coupler for multipulse transmitter
AssigneeWatteco
InventorsPaul Bertrand, Michel Gaeta, Franck Hieramente
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A method for causing, in a power distribution network, an oscillation allowing data to be transmitted, includes connecting at least one capacitive load in series with a modulation circuit between two wires of the network. The amplitude modulation circuit includes at least one Zener diode and at least one switch. A short make pulse is applied to the switch such that it is conductive and short-circuits the Zener diode by modulating the amplitude of the network voltage. The duration of the make pulse is such that the amplitude modulation of the network voltage causes a response of the network in the form of a high-frequency oscillation of the network voltage.
Claims20
A method for causing, in a power distribution network, a signal allowing data to be transmitted, the method comprising:
- connecting, between two wires of the network, at least one capacitive load in series with a circuit for modulating the amplitude of a network voltage, the amplitude modulation circuit including at least one Zener diode in parallel with at least one switch;
- applying to the switch a pulsed data carrying control signal comprising short make pulses, such that the switch is conductive during the duration of each one of the make pulses and short-circuits the Zener diode, thereby modulating the amplitude of the network voltage;
- and
- setting the duration of the make pulses to be less than 130 nanoseconds and less than a time constant of the capacitive load to cause an oscillatory response of the network at a resonance frequency thereof in the form of a high-frequency oscillation of the network voltage.
A method for transmitting data via a power distribution network comprising:
- connecting, between two wires of the network, at least one capacitive load in series with a circuit for modulating the amplitude of a network voltage, the circuit for modulating the amplitude including at least one Zener diode in parallel with at least one switch;
- applying to the switch a data carrying pulsed control signal comprising short make pulses, such that the switch is conductive during the duration of each make pulse and short-circuits the Zener diode and thereby modulates the impedance of the network;
- and
- setting the duration of each make pulse less than 130 nanoseconds and less than a time constant of the capacitive load to cause an oscillatory response of the network at a resonant frequency thereof in the form of a high-frequency oscillation of the network voltage.
A device for transmitting data via a power distribution network, the device comprising:
- a coupler for modulating the amplitude of a voltage carried by a power distribution network in order to transmit data, the coupler comprising:
- first and second connection terminals to wires of the power distribution network;
- at least one capacitive load and a circuit for modulating the amplitude of a network voltage in series, connected between the first and second terminals, the amplitude modulation circuit including at least one Zener diode and at least one switch;
- a control input configured to apply, to the switch, a control signal controlling the closing and opening of the switch to short-circuit the Zener diode and modulate the amplitude of the network voltage;
- a driver circuit configured to apply to the coupler, a data carrying pulsed control signal comprising short make pulses, such that the switch of the coupler is conductive during the duration of each make pulse and short-circuits the Zener diode, the driver circuit being configured so that the duration of each make pulse is less than 130 nanoseconds and less than a time constant of the capacitive load to cause an oscillatory response of the network at a resonance frequency thereof in the form of a high frequency oscillation of the network voltage.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.