Patent ID: 7636396
Filing Date: 2009-12-22
Classification: H04B,H04L

Abstract:
1. A method of testing a power line carrier pick-up coil while the pick-up coil is connected to an energized first power distribution bus in a power distribution network, the method comprising: creating a connection between a first pick-up coil to a power line carrier receiver to communicate analog signals conveyed by power line carrier from a power line carrier transmitter at a remote location over a first phase of the first power distribution bus; receiving analog signals at the first pick-up coil and conveying the analog signals to the power line carrier receiver; initiating a pick-up coil test to include testing of the first pick-up coil while the first power distribution bus remains energized; applying a set of at least two test inputs, each test input having a test frequency such that at least two different test frequencies are applied to the connection between the first pick-up coil and the power line carrier receiver and monitoring the response from the first pick-up coil on the connection between the first pick-up coil and the power line carrier receiver, the set of at least two different test frequencies including at least one closest test frequency that is the closest of the various test frequencies to an expected resonance frequency for the first pick-up coil; and comparing: