Power Line Communication Pre-Distortion for Interference Suppression

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Solution Overview

Problem

Power line communication systems face interference issues due to the reactive nature of electrical power lines, which causes distortion in communication signals, leading to coherent noise and amplitude modulation, making it difficult to maintain reliable data transmission in smart grid applications.

Innovation Solution

The method involves assessing characteristics of channel-induced modulation and applying pre-distortion to communication signals based on these characteristics to suppress interference, using a processor and memory system to implement this process.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If power line communication signals are transmitted over electrical power lines, then data transmission capability is provided, but channel-induced modulation and coherent noise are generated that distort the communication signals

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedata transmission capabilityVSAvoidchannel-induced modulation and coherent noise

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies pre-distortion to the communication signal before transmission over the power line. The pre-distortion is calculated based on assessed characteristics of the channel-induced modulation and is applied in advance to counteract the harmful effects that will occur during transmission, thereby eliminating the need for complex post-processing

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent converts the harmful channel-induced modulation into a beneficial pre-distortion correction. By assessing the characteristics of the channel-induced modulation and applying the opposite distortion beforehand, the system transforms the harmful reactive nature of the power line channel into a manageable and compensable effect

Inventive Principle:

Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

2Reliability

If pre-distortion is applied to counteract channel-induced modulation, then coherent noise and amplitude modulation are suppressed, but system complexity increases due to assessment and processing requirements

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesignal transmission reliabilityVSAvoidassessment and processing complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system uses the channel-induced modulation itself as the basis for generating the pre-distortion correction. By assessing the characteristics of the modulation that occurs during normal operation and using this information to create the correction, the system makes the harmful effect serve its own correction purpose

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the signal parameters by applying pre-distortion modulation to the communication signal. This involves modifying the amplitude and phase characteristics of the signal before transmission, which allows the system to compensate for the reactive nature of the power line channel and suppress coherent noise

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentUS9876516B2Suppression of interference in power and communications signals

Publication Date: 2018.01.23 TEXAS STATE UNIVERSITY

AI summary

A method of suppressing interference in a communication sent over a channel includes assessing characteristics of channel-induced distortion in a channel, and applying pre-distortion to a signal sent over the channel. The pre-distortion is based on the assessed characteristics of the channel-induced distortion.