System for coupling a power line communication device to a power line network

Abstract

Coupling circuit for coupling a power line communication device to a power line network, including a first network port, a second network port, a third network port, a first modem port, a second modem port, a third modem port, a fourth modem port, a first transformer, a second transformer, a third transformer and at least two capacitors, the first transformer including a first network side winding including two terminals, a first modem side transmitter winding including two terminals, a first modem side receiver winding including two terminals and a center tap, extending from a midpoint between the two terminals of the first network side winding, the second transformer including a second network side winding including two terminals and a second modem side receiver winding including two terminals, the third transformer including a third network side winding including two terminals and a second modem side transmitter winding including two terminals.

1 . Coupling circuit for coupling a power line communication device to a power line network, comprising:
 a first network port, coupled with a first network line;   a second network port, coupled with a second network line;   a third network port, coupled with a third network line;   a first differential modem port;   a second differential modem port;   a third differential modem port;   a fourth differential modem port;   a first transformer, comprising:   a first network side winding, said first network side winding comprising two terminals;   a first modem side transmitter (TX) winding, said first modem side TX winding comprising two terminals;   a first modem side receiver (RX) winding, said first modem side RX winding comprising two terminals; and   a center tap, extending from a midpoint between said two terminals of said first network side winding,   said first modem side TX winding coupled with said first differential modem port, said first modem side RX winding coupled with said second differential modem port, a first one of said two terminals of said first network side winding coupled with said first network line and a second one of said two terminals of said first network side winding coupled with said second network line;   a second transformer, comprising:   a second network side winding, said second network side winding comprising two terminals; and   a second modem side RX winding, said second modem side RX winding comprising two terminals,   said second modem side RX winding coupled with said fourth differential modem port, a first one of said two terminals of said second network side winding coupled with said center tap and a second one of said two terminals of said second network side winding coupled with said third network line;   a third transformer, comprising:   a third network side winding, said third network side winding comprising two terminals; and   a second modem side TX winding, said second modem side TX winding comprising two terminals,   said second modem side TX winding coupled with said third differential modem port, a first one of said two terminals of said third network side winding coupled with said second network line and a second one of said two terminals of said third network side winding coupled with said third network line, and   at least two capacitors.   
     
     
         2 . The coupling circuit according to  claim 1 , wherein said first network line, said second network line and said third network line are coupled with said power line network and are selected from the list consisting of:
 said first network line being a phase line, said second network line being a neutral line and said third network line being a ground line;   said first network line being a phase line, said second network line being a ground line and said third network line being a neutral line;   said first network line being a neutral line, said second network line being a phase line and said third network line being a ground line;   said first network line being a neutral line, said second network line being a ground line and said third network line being a phase line;   said first network line being a ground line, said second network line being a neutral line and said third network line being a phase line; and   said first network line being a ground line, said second network line being a phase line and said third network line being a neutral line.   
     
     
         3 . The coupling circuit according to  claim 1 , wherein said first network line and said second network line form a network phase neutral (PN) interface, wherein said second network line and said third network line form a network neutral ground (NG) interface, wherein said network PN interface is balanced and wherein said network NG interface is balanced. 
     
     
         4 . The coupling circuit according to  claim 1 , wherein said first network line and said second network line form a network neutral phase (NP) interface, wherein said second network line and said third network line form a network phase ground (PG) interface, wherein said network NP interface is balanced and wherein said network PG interface is balanced. 
     
     
         5 . The coupling circuit according to  claim 1 , wherein a first one of said at least two capacitors is coupled between said first network port and a first one of said two terminals of said first network side winding and wherein a second one of said at least two capacitors is coupled between said second network port and said coupling of said third transformer with said second network line. 
     
     
         6 . The coupling circuit according to  claim 1 , wherein a first one of said at least two capacitors is coupled between said second network port and said coupling of said third transformer with said second network line and wherein a second one of said at least two capacitors is coupled between said third network port and said coupling of said third transformer with said third network line. 
     
     
         7 . The coupling circuit according to  claim 1 , wherein a first one of said at least two capacitors is coupled between said first network port and a first one of said two terminals of said first network side winding, wherein a second one of said at least two capacitors is coupled between said first one of said two terminals of said third network side winding and said second network line and wherein a third one of said at least two capacitors is coupled between said first one of said two terminals of said second network side winding and said center tap. 
     
     
         8 . The coupling circuit according to  claim 1 , wherein a first one of said at least two capacitors is coupled between said second network port and said coupling of said third transformer with said second network line, wherein a second one of said at least two capacitors is coupled between said first one of said two terminals of said third network side winding and said second network line and wherein a third one of said at least two capacitors is coupled between said first one of said two terminals of said second network side winding and said center tap. 
     
     
         9 . The coupling circuit according to  claim 1 , wherein a first one of said at least two capacitors is coupled between said first network port and a first one of said two terminals of said first network side winding, wherein a second one of said at least two capacitors is coupled between said second network port and said coupling of said third transformer with said second network line and wherein a third one of said at least two capacitors is coupled between said first one of said two terminals of said second network side winding and said center tap. 
     
     
         10 . Power line communication device comprising a coupling circuit according to  claim 1 . 
     
     
         11 . Coupling circuit for coupling a power line communication device to a power line network, comprising:
 a first network port, coupled with a first network line;   a second network port, coupled with a second network line;   a third network port, coupled with a third network line;   a first differential modem port;   a second differential modem port;   a third differential modem port;   a fourth differential modem port;   a first transformer, comprising:   a first network side winding, said first network side winding comprising two terminals;   a first modem side winding, said first modem side winding comprising two terminals; and   a center tap, extending from a midpoint between said two terminals of said first network side winding,   said first modem side winding coupled with said first differential modem port and with said second differential modem port, a first one of said two terminals of said first network side winding coupled with said first network line and a second one of said two terminals of said first network side winding coupled with said second network line, wherein one of said first and second differential modem ports is for transmitting at least one signal over said power line network and wherein the other one of said first and second differential modem ports is for receiving said at least one signal over said power line network;   a second transformer, comprising:   a second network side winding, said second network side winding comprising two terminals; and   a second modem side receiver (RX) winding, said second modem side RX winding comprising two terminals,   said second modem side RX winding coupled with said fourth differential modem port, a first one of said two terminals of said second network side winding coupled with said center tap and a second one of said two terminals of said second network side winding coupled with said third network line;   a third transformer, comprising:   a third network side winding, said third network side winding comprising two terminals; and   a second modem side transmitter (TX) winding, said second modem side TX winding comprising two terminals,   said second modem side TX winding coupled with said third differential modem port, a first one of said two terminals of said third network side winding coupled with said second network line and a second one of said two terminals of said third network side winding coupled with said third network line, and   at least two capacitors.   
     
     
         12 . The coupling circuit according to  claim 11 , wherein said first network line, said second network line and said third network line are coupled with said power line network and are selected from the list consisting of:
 said first network line being a phase line, said second network line being a neutral line and said third network line being a ground line;   said first network line being a phase line, said second network line being a ground line and said third network line being a neutral line;   said first network line being a neutral line, said second network line being a phase line and said third network line being a ground line;   said first network line being a neutral line, said second network line being a ground line and said third network line being a phase line;   said first network line being a ground line, said second network line being a neutral line and said third network line being a phase line; and   said first network line being a ground line, said second network line being a phase line and said third network line being a neutral line.   
     
     
         13 . Coupling circuit for coupling a power line communication device to a power line network, comprising:
 a first network port, coupled with a first network line;   a second network port, coupled with a second network line;   a third network port, coupled with a third network line;   a first differential modem port;   a second differential modem port;   a third differential modem port;   a fourth differential modem port;   a first transformer, comprising:   a first network side winding, said first network side winding comprising two terminals;   a first modem side transmitter (TX) winding, said first modem side TX winding comprising two terminals;   a first modem side receiver (RX) winding, said first modem side RX winding comprising two terminals; and   a center tap, extending from a midpoint of said first network side winding,   said first modem side TX winding coupled with said first differential modem port, said first modem side RX winding coupled with said second differential modem port, a first one of said two terminals of said first network side winding coupled with said first network line and a second one of said two terminals of said first network side winding coupled with said second network line;   a second transformer, comprising:   a second network side winding, said second network side winding comprising two terminals;   a second modem side TX winding, said second modem side TX winding comprising two terminals; and   a second modem side RX winding, said second modem side RX winding comprising two terminals,   said second modem side TX winding coupled with said third differential modem port, said second modem side RX winding coupled with said fourth differential modem port, a first one of said two terminals of said second network side winding coupled with said center tap and a second one of said two terminals of said second network side winding coupled with said third network line, and   at least two capacitors, coupled between at least any two of:   said midpoint of said first network side winding and said first one of said two terminals of said second network side winding;   a first one of said two terminals of said first network side winding and said first network port; and   a second one of said two terminals of said first network side winding and said second network port.   
     
     
         14 . The coupling circuit according to  claim 13 , wherein said first network line, said second network line and said third network line are coupled with said power line network and are selected from the list consisting of:
 said first network line being a phase line, said second network line being a neutral line and said third network line being a ground line;   said first network line being a phase line, said second network line being a ground line and said third network line being a neutral line;   said first network line being a neutral line, said second network line being a phase line and said third network line being a ground line;   said first network line being a neutral line, said second network line being a ground line and said third network line being a phase line;   said first network line being a ground line, said second network line being a neutral line and said third network line being a phase line; and   said first network line being a ground line, said second network line being a phase line and said third network line being a neutral line.   
     
     
         15 . The coupling circuit according to  claim 13 , wherein said first network line and said second network line form a network phase neutral (PN) interface and wherein said network PN interface is balanced. 
     
     
         16 . Power line communication device comprising a coupling circuit according to  claim 13 . 
     
     
         17 . Coupling circuit for coupling a power line communication device to a power line network, comprising:
 a first network port, coupled with a first network line;   a second network port, coupled with a second network line;   a third network port, coupled with a third network line;   a first differential modem port;   a second differential modem port;   a third differential modem port;   a fourth differential modem port;   a first transformer, comprising:   a first network side winding, said first network side winding comprising two terminals;   a first modem side winding, said first modem side winding comprising two terminals; and   a center tap, extending from a midpoint of said first network side winding,   said first modem side winding coupled with said first differential modem port and with said second differential modem port, a first one of said two terminals of said first network side winding coupled with said first network line and a second one of said two terminals of said first network side winding coupled with said second network line, wherein one of said first and second differential modem ports is for transmitting at least one signal over said power line network and wherein the other one of said first and second differential modem ports is for receiving said at least one signal over said power line network;   a second transformer, comprising:   a second network side winding, said second network side winding comprising two terminals; and   a second modem side winding, said second modem side winding comprising two terminals;   said second modem side winding coupled with said third differential modem port and with said fourth differential modem port, a first one of said two terminals of said second network side winding coupled with said center tap and a second one of said two terminals of said second network side winding coupled with said third network line, wherein one of said third and fourth differential modem ports is for transmitting at least one signal over said power line network and wherein the other one of said third and fourth differential modem ports is for receiving said at least one signal over said power line network; and   at least two capacitors, coupled between at least any two of:   said midpoint of said first network side winding and said first one of said two terminals of said second network side winding;   a first one of said two terminals of said first network side winding and said first network port; and   a second one of said two terminals of said first network side winding and said second network port.   
     
     
         18 . The coupling circuit according to  claim 17 , wherein said first network line, said second network line and said third network line are coupled with said power line network and are selected from the list consisting of:
 said first network line being a phase line, said second network line being a neutral line and said third network line being a ground line;   said first network line being a phase line, said second network line being a ground line and said third network line being a neutral line;   said first network line being a neutral line, said second network line being a phase line and said third network line being a ground line;   said first network line being a neutral line, said second network line being a ground line and said third network line being a phase line;   said first network line being a ground line, said second network line being a neutral line and said third network line being a phase line; and   said first network line being a ground line, said second network line being a phase line and said third network line being a neutral line.   
     
     
         19 . Coupling circuit for coupling a power line communication device to a power line network, comprising:
 a first network port, coupled with a first network line;   a second network port, coupled with a second network line;   a third network port, coupled with a third network line;   a first differential modem port;   a second differential modem port;   a third differential modem port;   a fourth differential modem port;   a first transformer, comprising:   a first network side winding, said first network side winding comprising two terminals;   a first modem side winding, said first modem side winding comprising two terminals; and   a center tap, extending from a midpoint of said first network side winding,   said first modem side winding coupled with said first differential modem port and with said second differential modem port, a first one of said two terminals of said first network side winding coupled with said first network line and a second one of said two terminals of said first network side winding coupled with said second network line, wherein one of said first and second differential modem ports is for transmitting at least one signal over said power line network and wherein the other one of said first and second differential modem ports is for receiving said at least one signal over said power line network;   a second transformer, comprising:   a second network side winding, said second network side winding comprising two terminals;   a second modem side transmitter (TX) winding, said second modem side TX winding comprising two terminals; and   a second modem side receiver (RX) winding, said second modem side RX winding comprising two terminals,   said second modem side TX winding coupled with said third differential modem port, said second modem side RX winding coupled with said fourth differential modem port, a first one of said two terminals of said second network side winding coupled with said center tap and a second one of said two terminals of said second network side winding coupled with said third network line, and   at least two capacitors, coupled between at least any two of:   said midpoint of said first network side winding and said first one of said two terminals of said second network side winding;   a first one of said two terminals of said first network side winding and said first network port; and   a second one of said two terminals of said first network side winding and said second network port.   
     
     
         20 . The coupling circuit according to  claim 19 , wherein said first network line, said second network line and said third network line are coupled with said power line network and are selected from the list consisting of:
 said first network line being a phase line, said second network line being a neutral line and said third network line being a ground line;   said first network line being a phase line, said second network line being a ground line and said third network line being a neutral line;   said first network line being a neutral line, said second network line being a phase line and said third network line being a ground line;   said first network line being a neutral line, said second network line being a ground line and said third network line being a phase line;   said first network line being a ground line, said second network line being a neutral line and said third network line being a phase line; and   said first network line being a ground line, said second network line being a phase line and said third network line being a neutral line.   
     
     
         21 . Coupling circuit for coupling a power line communication device to a power line network, comprising:
 a first network port, coupled with a first network line;   a second network port, coupled with a second network line;   a third network port, coupled with a third network line;   a first differential modem port;   a second differential modem port;   a third differential modem port;   a fourth differential modem port;   a first transformer, comprising:   a first network side winding, said first network side winding comprising two terminals;   a first modem side transmitter (TX) winding, said first modem side TX winding comprising two terminals;   a first modem side receiver (RX) winding, said first modem side RX winding comprising two terminals; and   a center tap, extending from a midpoint of said first network side winding,   said first modem side TX winding coupled with said first differential modem port, said first modem side RX winding coupled with said second differential modem port, a first one of said two terminals of said first network side winding coupled with said first network line and a second one of said two terminals of said first network side winding coupled with said second network line;   a second transformer, comprising:   a second network side winding, said second network side winding comprising two terminals; and   a second modem side winding, said second modem side winding comprising two terminals;   said second modem side winding coupled with said third differential modem port and with said fourth differential modem port, a first one of said two terminals of said second network side winding coupled with said center tap and a second one of said two terminals of said second network side winding coupled with said third network line, wherein one of said third and fourth differential modem ports is for transmitting at least one signal over said power line network and wherein the other one of said third and fourth differential modem ports is for receiving said at least one signal over said power line network; and   at least two capacitors, coupled between at least any two of:   said midpoint of said first network side winding and said first one of said two terminals of said second network side winding;   a first one of said two terminals of said first network side winding and said first network port; and   a second one of said two terminals of said first network side winding and said second network port.   
     
     
         22 . The coupling circuit according to  claim 21 , wherein said first network line, said second network line and said third network line are coupled with said power line network and are selected from the list consisting of:
 said first network line being a phase line, said second network line being a neutral line and said third network line being a ground line;   said first network line being a phase line, said second network line being a ground line and said third network line being a neutral line;   said first network line being a neutral line, said second network line being a phase line and said third network line being a ground line;   said first network line being a neutral line, said second network line being a ground line and said third network line being a phase line;   said first network line being a ground line, said second network line being a neutral line and said third network line being a phase line; and   said first network line being a ground line, said second network line being a phase line and said third network line being a neutral line.