Patent · US Expired

Receiver for a distribution network power line carrier communication system

US4355303A · kind A · utility

43Cited by
8References
20Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateApr 9, 1981
Grant dateOct 19, 1982
Priority date
Expiry dateApr 9, 2001

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
  • CPC primaryH04B2203/5491
  • WIPO fieldTelecommunications
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

A receiver for a distribution network power line carrier communication system is magnetically coupled to a distribution power line. A carrier signal, phase-shift keyed modulated by an information signal and carried by the distribution power line, is thereby coupled to the receiver circuitry. A first receiver amplification circuit includes an automatic gain control circuit, to prevent saturation of the receiver electronics, and a feedback circuit to determine the gain. The automatic gain control circuit utilizes a field effect transistor which cooperates with the amplifier's feedback circuit to modify the gain. The drain source resistance of the field effect transistor is varied in accord with the magnitude of the received noise or modulated carrier signal to lower the amplifier's gain when excessive positive or negative noise or modulated carrier signal peaks are encountered. The modulated carrier signal is then processed through several filter stages and further amplified. Finally, the information signal is removed from the modulated carrier by a phase shift keyed demodulator. The information is available for input to a remote device which is responsive thereto for performing any …

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.