Resonant Transceiver for Power Line Communications
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current power line communications systems face challenges in maintaining adequate data transmission rates and operational efficiency due to increased electrical usage demands, requiring extensive equipment and often causing undesirable side effects, such as signal degradation and customer annoyance.
Innovation Solution
A point-to-point communications system utilizing transceivers with resonant transmitters and receivers that generate and receive dampened sinusoidal waveforms, employing modulation techniques like OOK, PSK, QAM, and CDMA, which reduces equipment needs and heat dissipation, enabling higher data transmission rates and improved signal clarity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If conventional power line communications systems are used to meet increased data transmission demands, then information throughput is maintained, but system complexity increases requiring routers, repeaters, and boosters spaced throughout the network
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and eliminates the need for intermediate equipment (routers, repeaters, boosters) by implementing a direct point-to-point communication system where transceivers communicate directly over the power distribution network without requiring additional signal regeneration or routing infrastructure
Solution Approach 2:
The power distribution network lines serve dual functions: delivering electrical power and transmitting communication signals directly between transceivers, eliminating the need for separate communication infrastructure and reducing overall system complexity
2Reliability
If routers, repeaters, and boosters are installed throughout the network to maintain signal levels, then data transmission reliability is improved, but installation and maintenance costs increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the need for intermediate signal regeneration equipment by using the power distribution network's inherent signal propagation characteristics to maintain reliable communication over extended distances without requiring additional hardware installations
Solution Approach 2:
The system utilizes the existing power distribution infrastructure to automatically carry communication signals without requiring active maintenance or intervention from intermediate devices, reducing both installation and ongoing maintenance costs
3Productivity
If conventional communication systems operate at high data transmission rates, then information throughput is improved, but undesirable side effects occur causing customer annoyance
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs resonant oscillation at specific frequencies to transmit communication signals, utilizing the natural resonant properties of the power distribution network to achieve high data transmission rates while minimizing electromagnetic interference and other harmful side effects that cause customer annoyance
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The system achieves higher data transmission rates, eliminates unwanted side effects, and reduces installation and maintenance costs by using fewer equipment components, while maintaining signal quality across multiple voltage levels without additional equipment, enhancing security and operational efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
The transmitter portion of a transceiver comprises a resonant transmitter having a capacitor and inductor whose values enable the transmitter to generate a dampened sinusoidal waveform of a predetermined frequency
Data Source
AI summary
A point-to-point communications system (20) for transmitting messages from any location (A) within a power distribution system or network (10) to any other location (B) within the network. A transceiver (12) at the one location includes a transmitter (X) that impresses a waveform (WR) on a waveform (WG) propagated by the network to supply power throughout the network. The transmitter is a resonant transmitter that includes a reactive load (13) which is selectively connected to and disconnected from the power distribution network. A controller (16) controls operation of the transmitter to connect and disconnect the reactive load from the network so to impress on the propagated waveform a dampened sinusoidal waveform whose characteristics represent information conveyed over the power distribution system. A receiver (Yn) at the other location receives and demodulates the dampened sinusoidal waveform to extract therefrom the information being conveyed by it.