# US 9,882,598 B2 · Communication systems adaptable to power line communications

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- Number: US 9,882,598 B2
- Document ID: US9882598B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 14/976,497
- Filed: 2015-12-21
- Published: 2017-03-23
- Granted: 2018-01-30
- Earliest claimed: 2015-09-23
- Assignees: SunPower Corporation
- Applicants: SunPower Corporation
- Inventors: Kelly Mekechuk; Jonathan David Williams; Dale Ari Herman
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9882598B2

## CPC

- H04B 1/40: Circuits
- H04B 1/0475: {with means for limiting noise, interference or distortion (H04B1/0483 takes precedence)}
- H04B 1/10: Means associated with receiver for limiting or suppressing noise or interference
- H04B 3/54: Systems for transmission via power distribution lines
- H04B 3/56: Circuits for coupling, blocking, or by-passing of signals
- H04B: TRANSMISSION

## Abstract

A communication system and method of operating the same that includes, in one embodiment, a transmit filter including a transmit filter capacitor, and a receive filter coupled to the transmit filter. The communication system also includes a switch, coupled to an auxiliary winding of a transformer and to the transmit filter capacitor, configured to alter an impedance of the transmit filter during a receive mode of operation of the communication system. In another embodiment, a transmitter is configured to receive an input data stream, and produce a control signal for a switch-mode power amplifier employing a predetermined data sequence selected by the input data stream thereto.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A communication system, comprising:
a transmit filter including a transmit filter capacitor;
a receive filter coupled to said transmit filter; and
a switch, coupled to an auxiliary winding of a transformer and to said transmit filter capacitor, configured to be open to alter an impedance of said transmit filter during a receive mode of operation of said communication system.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The communication system as recited in claim 1, wherein said receive filter is coupled to said transmit filter at a common circuit node.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The communication system as recited in claim 1, wherein said switch is coupled in parallel with said auxiliary winding of said transformer.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The communication system as recited in claim 1, further comprising a transceiver configured to provide a signal to control said switch.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The communication system as recited in claim 1, wherein said communication system is coupled to an alternating current power line.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The communication system as recited in claim 1, wherein said switch is formed with a pair of back-to-back metal-oxide semiconductor field-effect transistors.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The communication system as recited in claim 1, wherein said transformer is configured to galvanically isolate a power amplifier from a communication medium.

### Claim 8 (depends on 7)

The communication system as recited in claim 7, wherein said transmit filter comprises a transmit filter inductor coupled between an output of said power amplifier and a primary winding of said transformer.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The communication system as recited in claim 1, wherein said auxiliary winding of said transformer is a secondary winding and said transmit filter capacitor is coupled thereto.

### Claim 10

A method of operating a communication system, comprising:
filtering a signal to be transmitted with a transmit filter including a transmit filter capacitor during a transmit mode of operation of said communication system;
filtering a receive signal with a receive filter coupled to said transmit filter during a receive mode of operation of said communication system; and
altering an impedance of said transmit filter by opening a switch coupled to an auxiliary winding of a transformer and to said transmit filter capacitor during said receive mode of operation.

### Claim 11 (depends on 10)

The method as recited in claim 10, wherein said receive filter is coupled to said transmit filter at a common circuit node.

### Claim 12 (depends on 10)

The method as recited in claim 10, wherein said switch is coupled in parallel with said auxiliary winding of said transformer.

### Claim 13 (depends on 10)

The method as recited in claim 10, wherein altering said impedance of said transmit filter comprises providing a signal from a transceiver to control said switch.

### Claim 14 (depends on 10)

The method as recited in claim 10, wherein said communication system is coupled to an alternating current power line.

### Claim 15 (depends on 10)

The method as recited in claim 10, wherein said switch is formed with a pair of back-to-back metal-oxide semiconductor field-effect transistors.

### Claim 16 (depends on 10)

The method as recited in claim 10, wherein said transformer is configured to galvanically isolate a power amplifier from a communication medium.

### Claim 17 (depends on 16)

The method as recited in claim 16, wherein said transmit filter comprises a transmit filter inductor coupled between an output of said power amplifier and a primary winding of said transformer.

### Claim 18 (depends on 10)

The method as recited in claim 10, wherein said auxiliary winding of said transformer is a secondary winding and said transmit filter capacitor is coupled thereto.