Power line communication device and method
US7796025B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Mar 27, 2006 |
| Grant date | Sep 14, 2010 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Apr 23, 2029 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH04B2203/5479
- WIPO fieldTelecommunications
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A power line communication device configured to facilitate communications over a low voltage power line between a downstream user device and an external power line communication device is provided. In one embodiment, the device may include a communication module configured to communicate over a low voltage power line and a controller configured to control the module. The controller is configured to operate the module in a first configuration in which all repeating is disabled; and a second configuration wherein upstream repeating is enabled and downstream repeating is disabled. The controller may transition from the first configuration to the second configuration in response to a command received via the low voltage power line or upon determining that a triggering event has been detected such as an unacceptable data rate, error rate, or noise detection. In some embodiments, the device may form part of a utility meter and also transmit utility data to the power line communication device.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.