Patent ID: 7688183

Claim:
A powerline pulse position modulated system communication method for remotely controlling a load, comprising the steps of: providing a transmitting controller with a connection to the powerline; said transmitting controller incorporating a transmission circuit including a switch in series with a capacitor in series with an optional inductor, said switch, capacitor and inductor connected or coupled to line and neutral of the powerline in a single or three phase system or to a first and a second phase line in a three phase system; sensing zero voltage crossing time in the powerline; sensing a load control command causing the creation of a powerline control message consisting of one or more data pulses placed in predetermined signal timing positions related to the zero voltage crossing time; each of said pulses generated by the discharging of a said capacitor by said switch in a half cycle of the powerline that is opposite in polarity and following a half cycle in which said capacitor finished charging; providing a receiving controller with a connection to the powerline; sensing by said receiving controller the zero voltage crossing time in the powerline; sensing by said receiving controller the one or more data pulses; and actuating the load depending upon in which of said predetermined signal timing positions the data pulses occurred.