US4563650A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Power line communication receiver with dual threshold signal interrogation capability
Assignee: ABB Inc USA
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Filing: 1984-01-13
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Granted: 1986-01-07
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Expires: 2004-01-13
Abstract
Abstract A dual threshold is used in a coherent phase shift keyed demodulator to distinguish situations in which an incoming carrier signal is expected from those open ended conditions when a receiver is active, but when an incoming signal is not imminently expected. The use of a lower threshold permits more rapid detection and demodulation of a valid carrier signal by utilizing a standard which is less strict to determine the presence of a valid carrier signal when an incoming carrier signal is expected.
Inventors
- 👤 Theodore H. York
- 👤 James V. Faulkner, Jr.
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-06 04:35
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04L; H04L27/00; H04L27/18; H04L27/22; H04L27/233; H04L27/2335; H04L27/2337
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim
99 words
A demodulator apparatus for demodulating incoming phase shift key carrier signals having digital data symbols modulated thereon, said apparatus comprising: means for generating a plurality of phase signals, each of said phase signals being representative of the phase of a preselected one of a plurality of overlapping portions of said incoming carrier signals; means for comparing each of said phase signals with a preselected threshold magnitude; means for selecting said preselected threshold magnitude from a plurality of alternative threshold magnitudes; and means for generating a Carrier Detect signal when one of said phase signals exceeds said preselected threshold magnitude.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
99 words
A demodulator apparatus for demodulating incoming phase shift key carrier signals having digital data symbols modulated thereon, said apparatus comprising: means for generating a plurality of phase signals, each of said phase signals being representative of the phase of a preselected one of a plurality of overlapping portions of said incoming carrier signals; means for comparing each of said phase signals with a preselected threshold magnitude; means for selecting said preselected threshold magnitude from a plurality of alternative threshold magnitudes; and means for generating a Carrier Detect signal when one of said phase signals exceeds said preselected threshold magnitude.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
31 words
The demodulator of claim 1, wherein: said selecting means is cooperatively associated with a means for determining the existence of an expectation of an imminent occurrence of said incoming carrier signal.
Claim 4
Independent Claim
90 words
A method for demodulating incoming phase shift keyed carrier signals having digital data symbols modulated thereon, said method comprising: generating a plurality of phase signals, each of said phase signals being representative of the phase of a preselected one of a plurality of overlapping portions of said incoming carrier signals; comparing each of said phase signals with a preselected threshold magnitude; selecting said preselected threshold magnitude from a plurality of alternative threshold magnitudes; and generating a carrier detect signal when one of said phase signals exceeds said preselected threshold magnitude.
Claim 5
Independent Claim
90 words
A method for demodulating incoming phase shift keyed carrier signals having digital data symbols modulated thereon, said method comprising: generating a plurality of phase signals, each of said phase signals being representative of the phase of a preselected one of a plurality of overlapping portions of said incoming carrier signals; comparing each of said phase signals with a preselected threshold magnitude; selecting said preselected threshold magnitude from a plurality of alternative threshold magnitudes; and generating a carrier detect signal when one of said phase signals exceeds said preselected threshold magnitude.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method of claim 3, further comprising: determining the existence of an expectation of an imminent occurrence of said incoming carrier signals; and using the results of said determining step in said selecting step.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
185 words
Demodulator apparatus for demodulating incoming phase shift keyed carrier signals modulated with digital data, said apparatus comprising: means for deriving a first signal representative of the phase of one of said incoming phase-modulated carrier signals; reference means for establishing a phase reference signal from said incoming carrier signals; phase detector means for producing an output signal representative of the phase difference between said first signal and said phase reference signal; means for reproducing the modulated digital data from said output signals; means for producing a phase angle vector signal representative of the phase of a predetermined segment of said one of said incoming phase modulated carrier signals, said first signal comprising a vector sum of a plurality of said phase angle vector signals; means for choosing one of a plurality of threshold magnitudes; means for comparing said one chosen threshold magnitude with said reference signal; means for determining the existence of an expectation of an imminent occurrence of said incoming carrier signals; and said choosing means being functionally dependent on a signal from said determining means which is representative of the existence of said expectation.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
185 words
Demodulator apparatus for demodulating incoming phase shift keyed carrier signals modulated with digital data, said apparatus comprising: means for deriving a first signal representative of the phase of one of said incoming phase-modulated carrier signals; reference means for establishing a phase reference signal from said incoming carrier signals; phase detector means for producing an output signal representative of the phase difference between said first signal and said phase reference signal; means for reproducing the modulated digital data from said output signals; means for producing a phase angle vector signal representative of the phase of a predetermined segment of said one of said incoming phase modulated carrier signals, said first signal comprising a vector sum of a plurality of said phase angle vector signals; means for choosing one of a plurality of threshold magnitudes; means for comparing said one chosen threshold magnitude with said reference signal; means for determining the existence of an expectation of an imminent occurrence of said incoming carrier signals; and said choosing means being functionally dependent on a signal from said determining means which is representative of the existence of said expectation.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
189 words
A method for demodulating phase shift keyed carrier signals modulated with digital data by assuming any of N permissible phase states, said method comprising: deriving a first signal representative of an incoming phase modulated carrier signal; producing an output signal representative of the difference in phase between said first signal and a preexisting value of a reference signal; reproducing the modulated digital data from said output signal; generating an updated value of said reference signal by converting said first signal to an intermediate reference signal and integrating said intermediate reference signal with a previous value of said reference signal; producing a phase angle vector signal representative of the phase of a predetermined segment of said incoming carrier signal and forming said first signal as the vector sum of a plurality of said phase angle vector signals; selecting one of a plurality of alternative threshold values based on the existence or nonexistence of an expectation of an imminently incoming carrier signal for comparison with said reference signal; determining the existence of an expectation of an imminently incoming carrier signal; using the results of said determining step in said selecting step.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
189 words
A method for demodulating phase shift keyed carrier signals modulated with digital data by assuming any of N permissible phase states, said method comprising: deriving a first signal representative of an incoming phase modulated carrier signal; producing an output signal representative of the difference in phase between said first signal and a preexisting value of a reference signal; reproducing the modulated digital data from said output signal; generating an updated value of said reference signal by converting said first signal to an intermediate reference signal and integrating said intermediate reference signal with a previous value of said reference signal; producing a phase angle vector signal representative of the phase of a predetermined segment of said incoming carrier signal and forming said first signal as the vector sum of a plurality of said phase angle vector signals; selecting one of a plurality of alternative threshold values based on the existence or nonexistence of an expectation of an imminently incoming carrier signal for comparison with said reference signal; determining the existence of an expectation of an imminently incoming carrier signal; using the results of said determining step in said selecting step.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
146 words
A demodulator apparatus for phase shift keyed carrier signals having binary base band data symbols modulated thereon, said apparatus comprising: first means for generating a plurality of phase vector signals representative of the phase of overlapping portions of incoming carrier signals, each of said overlapping portions extending over a time period equal to a data symbol interval; second means connected to said phase vector signal generating means for generating a Carrier Detect signal indicative of the presence of the desired incoming carrier signal for use by associated message decode circuits; means for comparing each of said plurality of phase vector signals with a chosen threshold value; means for selecting said chosen threshold value from a plurality of alternative threshold values; means for determining the existence of an expectation of an incoming carrier signal, said selecting means being functionally dependent on a signal from said determining means.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
146 words
A demodulator apparatus for phase shift keyed carrier signals having binary base band data symbols modulated thereon, said apparatus comprising: first means for generating a plurality of phase vector signals representative of the phase of overlapping portions of incoming carrier signals, each of said overlapping portions extending over a time period equal to a data symbol interval; second means connected to said phase vector signal generating means for generating a Carrier Detect signal indicative of the presence of the desired incoming carrier signal for use by associated message decode circuits; means for comparing each of said plurality of phase vector signals with a chosen threshold value; means for selecting said chosen threshold value from a plurality of alternative threshold values; means for determining the existence of an expectation of an incoming carrier signal, said selecting means being functionally dependent on a signal from said determining means.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
15 words
The demodulator apparatus of claim 7, wherein: said demodulator apparatus is incorporated in a repeater.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
18 words
The demodulator apparatus of claim 7, wherein: said demodulator apparatus comprises a plurality of instructions in a microcomputer.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1989-01-06 | 1989-07-08 | 1990-01-07 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1993-01-06 | 1993-07-08 | 1994-01-07 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1997-01-06 | 1997-07-08 | 1998-01-07 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |