Abstract:
A 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 input/output 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 an interruption in the mains&#39; data integrity, e.g. via a UPS device, there along.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    The present invention relates to apparatus for data transmission over media having a non-data function, in particular bidirectional data transmission over power mains having a data blocking element, e.g. a UPS device therein. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    Devices exist which provide bidirectional data over power mains (e.g. building infrastructure AC power wall outlets and wiring providing the power to them) such as described in copending application Ser. No. 10/871,361, incorporated by reference. The apparatus describe therein, as well as other devices, 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 1-50 MHz. various data-over power line standards and protocol, i.e. HomePlug, Universal Powerline Association (UPA). However, in many building applications, the path between power mains and data equipment passes through an Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS) which intentionally, such as with internal filtering, or accidentally degrades the data signal path to make power mains devices which are intended to pass data over the power main, e.g. power mains data transceivers, inoperable. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    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. 
         [0004]    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 or another form of data blocking element, there along. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING 
         [0005]    These and further features of the present invention will be better understood by reading the following Detailed Description together with the Drawing, wherein 
           [0006]      FIG. 1  is a block diagram of one embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0007]      FIG. 2  is a more detailed block diagram of an alternate embodiment of the present invention; and 
           [0008]      FIG. 3  is a more detailed block diagram of a further alternate embodiment of the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS 
       [0009]    The embodiment  50  of  FIG. 1  broadly shows a source of data, e.g. an internet protocol camera  52  having a digitized output (and optionally also receiving digital control signals) connected to a Power Line Communication (PLC) engine or transceiver  56  via CAT5 (or equivalent) cable  54 , the camera  52  may also be adapted to receive operating power over the CAT5 connection from the transceiver. The transceiver  56  communicates the source data to another device (not shown) over the AC Power Mains  60  (or other media not originally intended to pass data thereover, via a signal path connected to the mains  60 , such as an AC power cord  58  plugged into a wall outlet. The transceiver comprises a data engine configured to provide the source equipment data in a format compatible and accessible to the other device, e.g. the protocol described in the HomePlug™ Power Alliance, Inc. “White Paper”, document number HPAVWP-050818, or equivalent or analogous protocol or format, and may provide “Ethernet Over Power line” (EOP) structure and/or functionality as defined by various IEEE or other standards. Additionally, the Transceiver  56  may optionally provide power to the data source  52  connected thereto, and may provide “power over Ethernet” (POE) structure and/or functionality. 
         [0010]    Often the data environment has insufficient power line or mains reliability or quality, and incorporates an Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS)  62  having an input connected to the mains socket  60  by a power cord,  64 . The UPS  62  typically has several outlets to which powered equipment (e.g. a computer  70  and the transceiver  56 ) are connected by appropriate power cables,  66  and  68 . In the embodiment  50  of  FIG. 1 , the transceiver  56  has a further equipment data connection to which the computer  70  is connected via data path  72 , typically, but not necessarily comprising a bidirectional data path. 
         [0011]    The embodiment  100  of  FIG. 2  provides additional features and details of an exemplary embodiment. The power line or mains  60  is shown with outlets  80 A and  80 B disposed there along, and may include separate branch circuits having a common junction with sufficient data signal coupling to maintain acceptable fidelity of data transmission there over in the signal range of interest for the protocol or format of the transceiver ( 106 &amp; 108 , or  56  of  FIG. 1 ). 
         [0012]    A connection is made between a bidirectional high pass filter (HPF)  104  and the mains outlet  80 A via connector  102 , wherein the HPF  104  removes much if not all of the AC power (and other low frequency) signals leaving the path intact for signals corresponding to the data signals applied there over. The other side of the HPF  104  is connected to an analog front end (AFE)  106  which applies the digital signal generated by the transmitter portion of the PLC transceiver  108  to the mains  60  as a suitably conditioned signal, and provides a suitably conditioned (e.g. amplified/attenuated, shaped, etc.) return path from the mains  60  to the receiver portion of the PLC transceiver  108 . The PLC transceiver  108  can communicate directly with connected data equipment (not shown) connected to jack  112 A or other suitable connector, or may be connected to multiple other data equipment (also not shown) by jacks  112 B- 112 D via a data switch  110  or equivalent. 
         [0013]    In the embodiment  100  of  FIG. 2 , a further feature provides the injection of power onto the connected data equipment from a power supply  120 , which also powers the HPF  104  (if necessary), the AFE  106 , the PLC transceiver  108  and the Switch  110 . One exemplary embodiment includes a power source injector circuit  114  to provide the appropriate power, and an isolation circuit  116  typically including an isolation transformer or equivalent, to pass the data between the connected data equipment and the switch  110  and the power flowing to the data equipment, while preventing the supplied power from improperly flowing to the switch  110 . The power supply  120  is itself powered from the mains outlet  80 B via a UPS  62  and power cord  122  directly, or via an optional low pass filter  126 , or optionally via a switch  124  which is operator selectable to receive power from mains outlet  80 A or UPS  62 . In the event of a mains failure, the UPS assumes the function of the mains by providing a mains-like AC output to which the data equipment (not shown) and the power supply  120  is typically connected. However, in the event that the UPS start-up and transition is sufficiently erratic as to cause the power supply output to excessively fluctuate or diminish, a further feature according to the present invention provides a battery (or other source of power) to be sent to the circuits otherwise powered by the power supply, as illustrated in an form by diodes  132  and  134  which exemplify a switching or steering of the powering of the circuits from power supply  120  to the battery (or equivalent)  130  and back again as the power supply once again resumes its nominal power output. Other switching or steering circuits are also applicable herein by one skilled in the art and according to the teaching of the present invention. 
         [0014]    A further feature of the present invention provides one or more mains AC outlets ( 140 A- 140 D) from the UPS  62  via cord  122 , or optionally selectably from either the mains outlet  80 A (before the UPS  62 ) or after the UPS  62  according to operator selection by switch  124 . In an alternate embodiment, the switch  124  is automatically controlled with according to a power sense circuit  128  which connects the outlets ( 140 A- 140 D) to the mains  60  before the UPS according to a power sense signal provided when the mains before the UPS does in fact have mains power thereon. Moreover, the mains power to each outlet ( 140 A- 140 D) is filtered by a corresponding low pass filter (LPF)  142 A- 142 D. In addition, a transient or other power mains conditioning filter  136  and/or a circuit breaker  138  (or fuse) may be serially connected between the mains (or UPS output) and the outlets ( 140 A- 140 D) or optional corresponding LPF  142 A- 142 D, and may optionally feed the LPF  126  or directly the power supply  120 . 
         [0015]    A further alternate embodiment  150  of the present invention is shown in  FIG. 3 , wherein local transceiver power is derived from the connected equipment (which provide power over the connections to the present embodiment and remain powered via the UPS  62 , battery backup or other source, not shown) via the connectors  112 A- 112 D and power isolators  116 A- 116 D which provide a data path between the ethernet switch  110  and the respective connector without the power appearing at the switch  110 , while connecting a power path to a Power Over Ethernet (POE) power device receptor  152  which abstracts some ‘raw’ power from the connections  112 A- 112 D to be sent through power supply  120 , or optionally directly to the local transceiver loads (e.g. HPF  104 , AFE  106 , PLC Engine  108 , Quad Ethernet Switch  110 ) via a suitable power switching or steering device, shown by an exemplary diode  154 . Thus, the embodiment  150  of provides power to the local transceiver loads when mains  60  power fails and the power supply  120  and/or the optional battery  130  provide no or insufficient power. If the internal transceiver loads are different from or require conditioning or regulation, the power received from the connectors  112 A- 112 D via the isolators  116 A- 116 D are accordingly converted or processed by the POE receptor  152  and/or power supply  120 . The AC power receptacles  140 A- 140 D are shown connected via optional LPFs  142 A- 142 D to the mains power outlet  80 A via connector  102 . Although shown without some of the feature, e.g. the connection to the UPS  62  directly or via the controlled switch  124 , of the embodiment  100  of  FIG. 2 , such features may be added entirely or in part according to the teaching of the present invention by one of ordinary skill in the art. 
         [0016]    Alternate embodiments foresee the application of the features of the present invention to systems including a power line conditioner (not shown) and/or other devices in place of or in addition to (serially inserted) the connection between the cord  122  and the outlet  80 B. Moreover, the outlets  140 A- 140 D may be co-located with the connectors  112 A- 112 D or separated. Alternate data signal splitting/combining/multiplexing apparatus may be substituted for the switch  112 , as may the number of connections and data paths to data equipment be changed in number and type according to one of ordinary skill and the teaching of the present invention. Also, the present invention includes embodiments having 1-way data transfers, i.e. the transceiver is a data transfer device comprising one of a data receiver and a data transmitter. Furthermore, components, terms and standards provided in the exemplary embodiments herein, e.g. RJ45, CAT5, Ethernet, etc. are not limiting, and may be read to also include future standards, terms and components. Further 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 that follow.