US 8,710,695 B2Granted

System and method for passing PLC signals from a first electrical line to a second electrical line

AssigneeAsoka USA Corporation

InventorsJiun-Sheuan Yang, Xia MingYao

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Abstract

In accordance with one embodiment of the present disclosure, a method may include receiving, at a first plug link device prong, a Powerline Communication (PLC) signal from a first main electrical line. The method may further include transferring the PLC signal from the first plug link device prong to a first plug link device electrical line. The method may also include passing the PLC signal from the first plug link device electrical line to a second plug link device electrical line. The method may also include transferring the PLC signal from the second plug link device electrical line to a second plug link device prong. The method may also include sending, from the second plug link device prong, the PLC signal to a second main electrical line.

Claims27

Dependent claims

A plug link device, comprising:

a first prong;
a first electrical line coupled to the first prong;
a second prong;
a second electrical line coupled to the second prong;
and
a first PLC interface coupled to the first electrical line, the first PLC interface configured to:
receive, from the first electrical line, a PLC signal in an Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing (OFDM) format;
and
transform the PLC signal into a layer 2 frame format;
a capacitor coupled to the first PLC interface, the capacitor operable to receive the PLC signal in the layer 2 frame format;
and
a second PLC interface coupled to the capacitor and the second electrical line, the second PLC interface operable to receive the PLC signal in the layer 2 frame format from the capacitor and return the PLC signal to the OFDM format before transmitting the PLC signal to the second electrical line, and
wherein transforming the PLC signal from the OFDM format to the layer 2 frame format or communication by the capacitor strengthens the PLC signal such that the PLC signal that is received from the second PLC interface at the second electrical line is stronger than the PLC signal that is received by the first PLC interface from the first electrical line.

10 more elements

A plug link device, comprising:

a first prong;
a first electrical line coupled to the first prong;
a second prong;
a second electrical line coupled to the second prong;
and
a first Powerline Communication (PLC) interface coupled to the first electrical line;
a second PLC interface coupled to the second electrical line;
and
a coupling device coupled to both the first electrical line and the second electrical line, wherein the coupling device is coupled to first electrical line and the second electrical line in-between the first PLC interface and the second PLC interface, and wherein the coupling device couples the first electrical line to the second electrical line, and
wherein the first PLC interface is operable to:
receive a PLC signal in a first format from the first electrical line;
transform the PLC signal from the first format to a second format;
and
send the PLC signal in the second format to the coupling device;
and
wherein the second PLC interface is operable to:
receive the PLC signal in the second format from the coupling device;
transform the PLC signal from the second format to the first format;
and
send the PLC signal in the first format to the second electrical line;
and
wherein transforming the PLC signal from the first format to the second format for communication by the coupling device strengthens the PLC signal such that the PLC signal that is sent by the second PLC interface to the second electrical line is stronger than the PLC signal that is received by the first PLC interface from the first electrical line.

19 more elements

A method, comprising:

receiving, at a first plug link device prong, a Powerline Communication (PLC) signal from a first main electrical line;
transferring the PLC signal from the first plug link device prong to a first plug link device electrical line;
passing the PLC signal in a first format from the first plug link device electrical line to a first PLC interface;
transforming, at the first PLC interface, the PLC signal from the first format to a second format;
passing the PLC signal in the second format from the first PLC interface to a coupling device;
passing the PLC signal in the second format from the coupling device to a second PLC interface;
transforming, at the second PLC interface, the PLC signal from the second format to the first format;
passing the PLC signal in the first format from the second PLC interface to the second plug link device electrical line;
transferring the PLC signal from the second plug link device electrical line to a second plug link device prong;
and
sending, from the second plug link device prong, the PLC signal to a second main electrical line, and
wherein transforming the PLC signal from the first format to the second format for communication by the coupling device strengthens the PLC signal such that the PLC signal that is sent by the second PLC interface to the second electrical line is stronger than the PLC signal that is received by the first PLC interface from the first electrical line.

9 more elements

A system, comprising:

a first main electrical line;
a first device coupled to the first main electrical line;
a second main electrical line;
a second device coupled to the second main electrical line;
a first plug link device prong coupled to the first main electrical line;
a first plug link device electrical line coupled to the first plug link device prong;
a second plug link device prong coupled to the second main electrical line;
a second plug link device electrical line coupled to the second plug link device prong;
and
a first PLC interface coupled to the first plug link device electrical line, the first PLC interface operable to:
receive a Powerline Communication (PLC) signal in a first format from the first plug link device electrical line;
and
transform the PLC signal from the first format to a second format;
a coupling device coupled to the first PLC interface, the coupling device operable to receive the PLC signal in the second format from the first PLC interface;
a second PLC interface coupled to the coupling device and the second plug link device electrical line, the second PLC interface operable to:
receive the PLC signal in the second format from the coupling device;
transform the PLC signal from the second format to the first format;
and
send the PLC signal in the first format to the second plug link device electrical line, and
wherein the coupling device is coupled to the first plug link device electrical line and the second plug link device electrical line in-between the first PLC interface and the second PLC interface, and
wherein transforming the PLC signal from the first format to the second format for communication by the coupling device strengthens the PLC signal such that the PLC signal that is sent by the second PLC interface to the second plug link device electrical line is stronger than the PLC signal that is received by the first PLC interface from the first plug link device electrical line.

18 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 12/832,858Filed 8 Jul 2010
Published: US 2012/0007422 A112 Jan 2012
Granted: 29 Apr 2014
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification4 codes

H04B 3/544
Systems for transmission via power distribution lines: setting up communications; Call and signalling arrangements
H04B 2203/5425
Methods of transmitting or receiving signals via power distribution lines: improving S/N by matching impedance, noise reduction, gain control
H04B 2203/5454
Applications for powerline communications: adapter and plugs
H04B
Transmission