Patent ID: 7007305
Filing Date: 2006-02-28
Classification: H04B

Abstract:
1. Control apparatus for improving the reliability of two-way communication between two or more signaling devices in a power line carrier communication network of the type including a power distribution conductor for distributing AC supply voltage to one or more loads, a transmitter coupled to the power distribution conductor for modulating the AC supply voltage with control data signals at a power line carrier modulation frequency, and a receiver coupled to the power distribution conductor for recovering the control data signals and using the control data signals to apply AC power to one or more of the loads, the control apparatus comprising, in combination: a blocking filter including an input terminal for receiving AC supply voltage from an AC power source and an output terminal for delivering filtered AC supply voltage to a power distribution conductor while substantially attenuating the passage of high frequency signals between the input and output terminals of the blocking filter, the blocking filter including a filter circuit that provides low signal attenuation from DC through the power distribution frequency of the AC supply voltage up to a cutoff frequency, and provides high signal attenuation above the cutoff frequency; and a signal repeater circuit connectable to the power distribution conductor on the output of the blocking filter for recovering control data signals from modulated AC supply voltage and repeating the control data signals at an amplified voltage level on the power distribution conductor.