Power Line Modem MIMO Transmit Power Control

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Solution Overview

Problem

Power line communication systems face challenges in achieving high throughput while adhering to regulatory limits to avoid disturbances, particularly in influencing radio broadcasts and amateur radio transmissions.

Innovation Solution

A power line communication modem and system that utilize multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) schemes across different wire combinations, with a controller to adjust transmit power based on interference potential, employing delta, star, and T-style couplers to optimize power spectral density and minimize radiation, allowing for higher bandwidth and signal-to-noise ratios.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If MIMO schemes are used to increase bandwidth, then throughput is improved, but interference with radio broadcasts and amateur radio transmissions increases

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovethroughputVSAvoidinterference with radio broadcasts
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by assigning different transmit power levels to different wire combinations based on their specific radiation characteristics. The controller individually controls the transmit power for each wire combination (phase-neutral, phase-protective earth, neutral-protective earth) according to its interference potential, rather than applying a uniform power level across all combinations. This localized power control enables high throughput through MIMO while minimizing interference in specific frequency bands.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements dynamics by making the transmit power adaptive and controllable in real-time. The controller dynamically adjusts the transmit power for each wire combination based on detected interference conditions and regulatory requirements. This dynamic power control allows the system to optimize throughput when interference is low and reduce power when interference thresholds are approached, resolving the contradiction between productivity and harmful emissions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Reliability

If transmit power is increased to improve signal quality, then signal-to-noise ratio is improved, but radiation and interference increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesignal-to-noise ratioVSAvoidradiation
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by assigning different transmit power levels to different wire combinations based on their specific radiation characteristics. The controller individually controls the transmit power for each wire combination (phase-neutral, phase-protective earth, neutral-protective earth) according to its interference potential, rather than applying a uniform power level across all combinations. This localized power control enables high throughput through MIMO while minimizing interference in specific frequency bands.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The patent converts the potentially harmful effect of radiation into a beneficial outcome by using the knowledge of which wire combinations radiate more to strategically allocate power. Wire combinations with lower radiation potential are used for higher power transmission, while combinations with higher radiation potential are used for lower power transmission. This transforms the harmful radiation characteristic into a useful parameter for optimizing both signal quality and interference reduction simultaneously.

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

Data Source

PatentEP2525503B1Power line communication modem, power line communication system, power line communication method
Publication Date: 2018.03.07 SONY GROUP CORP
  • EP2525503B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP2525503B1 patent drawingFigure 3~6
  • EP2525503B1 patent drawingFigure 4~5

AI summary

A power line communication modem is provided, including a connection element configured to connect the power line communication modem to at least three wires of a power line network; a transmitter configured to transmit a first signal via a first combination of at least two wires of the at least three wires and to transmit a second signal via a second combination of at least two wires of the at least three wires; a controller adapted to individually control a transmit power of the first signal and the second signal. A corresponding power line communication system and a power line communication method are provided as well.