A power-line communication system using pulse transmission on the AC line

摘要

The system includes a pulse transmitter having a hot terminal which is couplable to the hot wire of the alternating current source and a reference terminal which is connected to either the earth ground or the neutral wire of the alternating current source. The pulse transmitter includes a shunt circuit which is coupled between the hot terminal and the reference terminal. When the shunt circuit is conductive a current having an amplitude and a duration flows from the hot terminal to the reference terminal, the shunt circuit limits the amplitude and the duration of the current. The current is of sufficient amplitude to cause a pulse in the alternating current voltage. A predetermined sequential pattern of pulses in the alternating current voltage corresponds to a predetermined message. The system also includes at least one receiver which detects pulses in the alternating current voltage and translates a predetermined sequential pattern of pulses in the alternating current voltage into a corresponding predetermined message.