Abstract:
A power mains distribution or breaker panel, and individual circuit breaker or relay therein having a circuit threacross providing a data path independent of the circuit breaker or relay operation. Alternate embodiments include circuits to control the data path and data path characteristics from data provided by either the line or load side of the power mains panel.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to data-over-power line (power mains) infrastructure, in particular, distribution or breaker panel systems having structures to provide data path continuity. 
     Data transmission over power mains (or any non-data wire medium) relies on the basic continuity of that medium on which to establish and maintain the data flow thereover. Once thought to obviate the need for data transfer because the connected equipment would be off, a circuit interrupted by an opened power mains circuit breaker or distribution panel relay would be acceptable. However, with the advent of devices having back-up power or passive devices connected to a power mains, there will still be a need for data transfer over a power mains circuit opened by a beaker or relay. Moreover, utility power load control makes potential data path interruption at peak data use more likely, exacerbating the need for data continuity over the power mains whether or not the equipment is powered by the circuit. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention provides a power mains distribution or breaker panel, and individual circuit breaker or relay therein having a circuit threacross providing a data path independent of the circuit breaker or relay operation. Alternate embodiments include circuits to control the data path and data path characteristics from data provided by either the line or load side of the power mains panel. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING 
       These and further features according to the present invention are better understood by reading the following Detailed Description, taken together with the Drawing, wherein: 
         FIG. 1  is an elevation view of a typical circuit breaker panel according to one embodiment of the present invention; and 
         FIG. 2  is a block diagram of a circuit breaker/relay module having a data bridge according to one embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     A typical power distribution or circuit breaker panel physical layout  50  is shown in  FIG. 1 , wherein a 2-phase line side power mains connection  52 , also called ‘street side’ connection, is shown entering the housing or box  54 , and the non-neutral power mains wires are connected to a panel main breaker  56 . A single phase or 3-phase implementation would have the corresponding number of main breakers, or omitted if that feature is provided elsewhere, e.g. with a cut-off switch or a breaker located in a distribution panel from which the power mains connection is supplied with power. The main breaker  56  may typically comprise a circuit breaker (or relay, controller, contactor, etc.)  60  for each phase of the power mains connection provided as is generally known in the art, and it may comprise a device controllable (open or closed state) by a signal from a control block as discussed below in reference to  FIG. 2 . 
     According to one embodiment of the present invention, a data coupler typically comprising a high-pass data filter  62  provides a data path parallel to the path provided by the (closed circuit) circuit breaker  60  and a substantially open circuit for the typically 50 or 60 Hz AC power control provided by the circuit breaker  60 . According to the present invention, the data filter  62  may reside external to the circuit breaker  60  or be connected to the distribution bus and/or the input  52  directly, or be internal to the circuit breaker  60 . 
     The mains power is then distributed from the circuit breaker  60  and the external data via data path filter  62  (or directly from the mains input  52  if the circuit breaker  60  is not provided) to a distribution bus  58  typically comprising an elongated conductive member, e.g.  58 A and  58 B for each phase of power to be distributed. A branch circuit  68  is connected to one (or more) phases through a corresponding circuit breaker  64  connected to a corresponding line-side phase as provided on one of the distribution bus member  58 A,  58 B. According to one embodiment of the present invention, a data coupler also comprising a data path filter  62  provides a parallel data path to a closed-circuit breaker, and the filter  62  data path remains active in the event that circuit breaker  64  becomes an open circuit to inhibit the flow of mains power. As above for the circuit breaker  60 , the data filter  66  may be external and juxtaposed to said breaker, or disposed within the structure of the breaker  60 , and may be connected to the distribution bus  58  and the branch circuit  68 . Thus, in the above embodiment according to the present invention, a data path is maintained independent of the state of circuit breakers interposed between a connection to a power source and to the branch circuits. 
     The structure and function of a circuit breaker (or relay, etc.) is discussed generally with regard to the implementation  70  which includes a circuit breaker (or relay, etc.)  72  connected between the line side  71  (power mains input) and the load side  73  to which various loads (not shown) are connected. According to one embodiment of the present invention, a parallel data path is provided with a data filter  74  connected to parallel the closed-circuit path provided by the circuit breaker (when in close-circuit state) and provide at least as good a circuit pat as that normally provided by a closed-circuit breaker. A further feature according to the present invention is to provide an enhanced data path than that normally provided by a circuit breaker which by design or accident provide significant data loss even when close-circuited for power at the power mains frequency. 
     Typical data filter  74  (or  66 ) comprises a band-pass of 1-50 MHz more or less, and may comprise a capacitor, and inductive link or a more complex circuit to provide the desired filter characteristic. A further feature according to the present invention includes a controllable and/or adjustable parameter data filter  74  (or  66 ) wherein filter parameters such as On/Off, band-pass or cut, high- and low-pass characteristics, equalization parameters, etc., and an optional control module  76  to provide control signals to the data filter  74 . Furthermore, the control module may itself receive data filter  74  control signals from either the line side connection  71  or the load side connection  73  for control of the data filter  74  operation and/or characteristics. Still further, the circuit breaker  72  can be selectively controlled (on/off) by the control module  76 . In the further alternative, the circuit breaker may comprise a switch including a solid-state and non-mechanical switch. 
     Further modifications and substitutions made by one of ordinary skill in the art are considered within the scope of the present invention which is not to be limited except by the claims which follow.