Patent Application
20110289336
The present invention relates to apparatus for providing back-up mains power or power mains conditioning while providing bidirectional data transmission over the power mains.
Devices which provide bidirectional data over power mains are operable only so long as the path of the power mains has sufficient fidelity in the range of signals that the apparatus or devices apply and receive their data signals, such as within the range of 2-10 MHz for items complying with the HomePlug™ standards and protocol. However, in many building applications, the path between power mains and data equipment passes through an Uninterruptable Power Supply (UPS) or a power line conditioner which degrades or completely interrupt the data signal path to make power mains devices which are intended to also pass data over the power main, e.g. power mains data transceivers, inoperable. Moreover, frequently the UPS devices and especially the power mains conditioning devices intentionally remove the passage of such frequencies with internal filtering to cover a broad range of expected interfering signals, or merely accidentally since prior UPS devices fail to appreciate the desirability of data transfer to the power mains.
The power mains data transfer system according to one embodiment of the present invention comprises a data transceiver, a first data path to the power mains over which a data path is maintained, and a second, power path connected to the UPS output and provides a connection from which data transceiver operating power is derived. Various further embodiments provide multiple data equipment data and/or power connections, and optional internal switching and filtering features.
Thus, according to the present invention, an apparatus is provided for reliable data transfer over power mains even when there is a data interruption, e.g. a UPS device, there along.
These and further features of the present invention will be better understood by reading the following Detailed Description together with the Drawing, wherein
A block diagram of an exemplary embodiment 50 of a data network enabled UPS device according to the present invention is shown in
A data path is provided between data equipment connectors 70, e.g. CAT-5 RJ-45 connectors or other suitable format and/or connector, and the power mains via connector 60, and is bidirectional in the exemplary embodiment, as provided by a data transceiver 72 connected to connectors 60 and 70. In the exemplary embodiment, the data transceiver 72 includes appropriate power mains interface and conditioning circuitry, e.g. a High-Pass Filter (HPF) 74 which passes data to or receives data from a Power Line Communication (PLC) engine which in turn passes data to or receives data from the equipment data connectors 70 according to data and signal format specifications currently known in the art and as may be provided in the future. Moreover, the HPF may also include or pass signals through additional circuitry (not shown) such as an Analog Front End (AFE) for further signal conversion or conditioning, and the PLC may also include or pass signals through further data circuitry (not shown) such as an ethernet switch to provide a desired routing of signals to a further plurality of data circuits via connectors 70.
A transceiver power supply (P/S) 78 receives power from the power provided to the back-up mains power connectors 52 which would include power derived from the back-up source 54 either via converter 56 or directly from the back-up source 54 via path 66. The power supply 78 transforms the received power into the appropriate voltage and currents necessary for the component elements of data transceiver 72. Alternately, the back-up source and/or the data transceiver are adapted to receive power directly from the back-up power source 54 without the power supply 78.
A second exemplary embodiment 80 of a data network enabled power mains (power line) conditioning device according to the present invention is shown in
A data path is provided between data equipment connectors 70, e.g. CAT-5 RJ-45 connectors or other suitable format and/or connector, and the power mains via connector 60, and is bidirectional in the exemplary embodiment, as provided by a data transceiver 72 connected to connectors 60 and 70. In the exemplary embodiment, the data transceiver 72 includes appropriate power mains interface and conditioning circuitry, e.g. a High-Pass Filter (HPF) 74 which passes data to or receives data from a Power Line Communication (PLC) engine which in turn passes data to or receives data from the equipment data connectors 70 according to data and signal format specifications currently known in the art and as may be provided in the future. Moreover, the HPF 74 may also include or pass signals through additional circuitry (not shown) such as an Analog Front End (AFE) for further signal conversion or conditioning, and the PLC 76 may also include or pass signals through further data circuitry (not shown) such as an ethernet switch to provide a desired routing of signals to a further plurality of data circuits via connectors 70.
In the embodiment 80, a transceiver power supply (P/S) 78 receives power from the power provided from the output of the line conditioner, or may alternately receive power from the mains power via connector 60. The power supply 78 transforms the received power into the appropriate voltage and currents necessary for the component elements of data transceiver 72.
Modifications and substitutions made by one of ordinary skill in the art are within the scope of the present invention which is not to be limited except by the claims which follow.
