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Patent US10340978


Issued 2019-07-02

Determination Of Instantaneous Impedance Of An Ac Power Line Used As A Transmission Line

There is provided a method and apparatus for determining the input impedance (ZL) of an AC transmission line used for Power Line Communications (PLC), using a transmitted data packet having a preamble portion. The method comprises, at the analog-front-end (AFE) of the AC transmission line, determining the current through the AFE and the AC transmission line during transmission of the preamble portion of the data packet and determining the voltage during transmission of the preamble portion of the data packet. The method further comprises calculating the total impedance (Zt) from the determined current and voltage. The total impedance (Zt) includes the input impedance (ZL) of the AC transmission line and the AFE impedance (ZAFE). Finally, the method includes determining the input impedance (ZL) of the AC transmission line from the total impedance (Zt).



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3 Independent Claims

  • 1. A method for determining input impedance (ZL) of an alternating current (AC) transmission line used for Power Line Communications (PLC), using a transmitted data packet having a preamble portion, the method comprising, the steps of: at an analog-front-end (AFE) of the AC transmission line, determining current through the AFE and the AC transmission line during transmission of the preamble portion of the data packet; at the AFE of the AC transmission line, determining voltage during transmission of the preamble portion of the data packet; from the determined current and voltage, calculating total impedance (Zt), the total impedance (Zt) including the input impedance (ZL) of the AC transmission line and AFE impedance (ZAFE); and determining the input impedance (ZL) of the AC transmission line from the total impedance (Zt).

  • 10. Apparatus for determining input impedance (ZL) of an alternating current (AC) transmission line used for Power Line Communications (PLC), using a transmitted data packet having a preamble portion, the apparatus comprising: a current sensor in an analog-front-end (AFE) of the AC transmission line for determining current through the AFE and the AC transmission line during transmission of the preamble portion of the data packet; a voltage sensor in the AFE of the AC transmission line for determining voltage during transmission of the preamble portion of the data packet; means for calculating, from the determined current and voltage, total impedance (Zt), the total impedance (Zt) including the input impedance (ZL) of the AC transmission line and AFE impedance (ZAFE); and means for determining the input impedance (ZL) of the AC transmission line from the total impedance (Zt).

  • 15. A method for determining input impedance (ZL) of an alternating current (AC) transmission line used for narrow band Power Line Communications (PLC), using a transmitted data packet having a preamble portion, the method comprising the steps of: a) determining voltage (V1) at an output of a power amplifier in an analog-front-end (AFE) of the AC transmission line, during transmission of the preamble portion of the data packet; b) determining voltage (V2) at an output of a passive component at the output of the power amplifier in the AFE of the AC transmission line, during transmission of the preamble portion of the data packet; c) using a difference between the voltages (V1, V2) determined at a) and b), and an impedance (ZREF) of the passive component, to determine current during transmission of the preamble portion of the data packet; d) storing the voltage (V1) determined at a) and the current determined at c) in memory; e) calculating total impedance (Zt) from the stored voltage (V1) determined at a) and the stored current determined at c), the total impedance (Zt) including the input impedance (ZL) of the AC transmission line and AFE impedance (ZAFE); and f) determining the input impedance (ZL) of the AC transmission line from the total impedance (Zt).