Title of Invention | A PROCESS FOR COMPENSATING A MAGNETIC FIELD IN A COUPLING UNIT |
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Abstract | The invention relates to a device and method for low-frequency magnetic field compensation in an inductive signal coupling unit. According to the invention, the coupling unit comprises a ferromagnetic core (30) which surrounds a conductor through which a low-frequency current (1) flows, in order to inject a high-frequency signal therein. The invention is characterised in that it consists in detecting the current (1) flowing through the conductor or the magnetic field (3) generated in the coupling unit, producing a supply current from the value obtained during the aforementioned detection process and injecting the supply current produced in the coupling unit via a low pass filter (9), in order to generate a magnetic field (4) that is equal, but in the opposite direction to that produced by the current (1) from the conductor in the above-mentioned coupling unit, such as to prevent saturation of the magnetic core (30) without adding insertion losses. In general, the invention can be used for communication systems that require the injection of a radiofrequency signal in a conductor and, in particular, in systems using the electrical network as a transmission means. |
Full Text | OBJECT OF THE INVENTION The present invention, as stated in the heading to this descriptive specification, relates to a process and a device that allow to compensate the low frequency- magnetic field which is produced in an inductive coupling unit. The invention is preferably applicable for injecting high frequency signals on the electricity grid by means of an inductive coupling unit, and its object is to minimize the insertion loss of a high frequency signal on the electricity grid, to which end it avoids the effect of magnetic saturation which occurs in the inductive coupling unit. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION In telecommunications systems, once the signal has been produced in the transmitter it is necessary to inject it into the transmission medium, in order that it reachs the receiver. The way of carrying out the injection depends mainly on the transmission medium employed. In the case of injecting signals onto the electricity grid, this can be carried out with inductive coupling units which are usually constituted by current transformers which are placed around the power conductors in which it is desired to induce the signal. In these cases the operation is based on the principle that currents which vary in time generate magnetic fields which vary in time and viceversa. In other words, the radiofrequency (RF) current it is desired to inject, produces a variable magnetic field (in time, and therefore a magnetic flux also variable in time) inside the ferromagnetic core of the coupling unit and, besides, the variation of magnetic flux around a conductor, induces therein a current proportional to this variation. Based on this principle, it is possible to induce signals between conductors enclosed by the same magnetic core. Because there are high electric currents circulating through the power conductors, and therefore, the magnetic field strength around the cables is very high, the problem arises that if a ferromagnetic core is placed around the cables, the magnetic core can become saturated and unusable for carrying out the function of signal injection. In the state of the art it is known that this effect can be overcome by including an air gap in the magnetic circuit so that the reluctance of the magnetic circuit is considerably increased and the magnetic flux is decreased dramatically. This implies an increase in the insertion loss of the signal, which is not desirable in communication applications, wherein the loss signifies an effective reduction in the range of the communications system. To counteract this effect the usual practice is to lengthen the coupling unit in order to try to cover more flux, but this makes the coupling unit more bulky and more expensive, which is not desirable; ,and all this while seeking a compromise solution between size, air gap, and insertion loss. The present invention allows the inductive coupling to be carried out without saturation of the ferromagnetic core taking place and without additional insertion loss occurring. DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION To avoid the drawbacks indicated in the foregoing paragraphs, the invention comprises a process for compensating the low frequency magnetic field in an inductive signal coupling unit, wherein the coupling unit comprises a magnetic core which surrounds a conductor through which a low frequency current is circulating in order to inject a high frequency signal therein. The process of the invention is characterised in that it foresees a selective detection of the current which is circulating through the conductor or of the magnetic field produced in the coupling unit, in order to obtain thereafter a compensating current based on the value obtained in the detection performed, said injection current being produced with an external source, by the actual equipment which wishes to transmit the high frequency signal over the grid or automatically by induction on a winding around the coupler. Subsequently the injection of the compensating current obtained in the coupling unit is produced through a low pass filter which offers a high impedance to the high frequency signal it is desired to inject. The action of injecting the compensating current results in that, in the inductive coupling unit, a magnetic field is produced equal and opposite to that produced by the current which is circulating through the conductor, whereby saturation is avoided in the magnetic core of the inductive coupling unit without adding insertion loss for the desired signal it is to transmit, and maximum efficiency is obtained. The invention has been specially conceived to send high frequency signals over the electricity grid in which a low frequency current is circulating. In one embodiment of the invention the detection of the magnetic field is carried out in the ferromagnetic core of the inductive signal coupling unit. The magnetic field detected is compared with a reference signal in order to obtain the compensating current, so that the signal of the measure of the magnetic field is maintained practically equal to the reference signal, wherein said reference signal lies between 0 and a value such that the coupling unit is prevented from becoming saturated, that is, the signal inside the ferromagnetic core of the coupling unit never surpasses the maximum flux density it is capable of withstanding. In another embodiment of the invention, the detection is achieved by measuring the current which is circulating in the electricity grid. The injection of the compensating current obtained, is carried out by means of a compensation winding which is applied on the ferromagnetic core of the inductive signal coupling unit through a low pass filter which offers a high impedance for the high frequency signals it is desired to inject. In an embodiment of the invention the measurement of the current which is circulating through the conductor is carried out by means of a winding arranged on a ferromagnetic core which is independent of the inductive signal coupling unit. The invention also foresees that the detection, the obtaining of the compensating current, and the injection of said current are carried out simultaneously by locating a winding with a single winding around a double core which forms the ferromagnetic core of the coupling unit. The invention also refers to a low frequency magnetic field compensating device in an inductive signal coupling unit which works according to the aforementioned process. To this end the device of the invention comprises a detector which is selectively constituted by a current detector which is circulating through the conductor or by a detector of the magnetic field produced in the coupling unit. Moreover the device of the invention comprises a control module by means of which a compensating current is calculated and produced, based on the value obtained in the detector. The current produced by the control module is injected in the conductor by means of a compensation winding arranged on the ferromagnetic core of the coupling unit, and through a filter offering high impedance to high frequencies which prevents the high frequency signal to be injected from being affected by the injection of the compensating current. The injection of the compensating current produces a magnetic field in the ferromagnetic core, equal and opposite to that produced by the current which is circulating through the conductor, so that saturation is avoided of the magnetic core of the inductive coupling unit, whereby insertion loss is not added and the maximum efficiency is obtained in the transmission of the signals over the electricity grid. In an embodiment of the invention the detector is constituted by means of a device for measuring the magnetic field inside the ferromagnetic core of the coupling unit. The signal provided by the detector is compared with a reference signal, which preferably is zero, and is applied to the control module so that the latter generates the compensating current to obtain a signal from the detector equal to the reference signal. The injection of the current produced by the control module is carried out through a low pass filter and by means of a compensation winding which is arranged around the ferromagnetic core of the inductive signal coupling unit. The device of the invention also foresees that it comprises a single winding around a double core which constitutes the ferromagnetic core of the coupling unit in order to carry out simultaneously the detection, the obtaining of the compensating current and the injection of said current. Next, to assist in a better understanding of this descriptive specification and being an integral part thereof, some figures are appended wherein by way of illustration and not restrictively, the object of the invention has been represented. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES Figure 1 illustrates a schematic form of an inductive coupler of the state of the art in which the problem of saturation of the ferrite core arises. Figure 2 illustrates a circuit diagram of a device carrying out magnetic field detection in order to inject the compensating current in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. Figure 3 illustrates a perspective view of the device in which the current is measured in the conductor and the compensating current is automatically injected in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. Figure 4 illustrates a perspective view of the device in which the current is measured in the cable and the compensating current is injected automatically in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention. Figure 5 illustrates a perspective view of the device, as in the case of previous figure, in which the current is measured in the conductor and the compensating current is automatically injected in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention. Figure 6 illustrates a perspective view of the device, in which the detection, the obtaining of the compensating current and the injection of said current are carried out simultaneously by means of a single winding in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention. DESCRIPTION OF SOME EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION A description is made below of several embodiments of the invention, making reference to the numbering adopted in the figures. The embodiments of the invention refer to the injection of a specific signal onto a conductor of the electricity grid, over which a low frequency current 1 is circulating, and onto which conductor a high frequency signal is desired to be injected. Based on figure 1 a generic description is provided of the problem presented in the state of the art. The employ of inductive couplers is known for injecting a determined signal onto a conductor through which a current 1 is circulating. To this end the inductive coupler is constituted by a ferromagnetic core 3 0 arranged around the conductor onto which one desires to inject the signal, and in which is included a winding 31 to which a current 2 is applied that produces a magnetic field 4 in the ferromagnetic core 30, which induces a current in the conductor. This device has the drawback that the current 1 which is circulating through the conductor also produces a magnetic field 3 in the ferromagnetic core 30, so that if said magnetic field 3 is high, saturation of the ferromagnetic core 30 occurs, whereby the current 2 is unable to increase the value of the magnetic field and hence no current is induced in the conductor, and therefore the desired signal is not injected. To overcome this drawback, an embodiment is shown in figure 2 wherein a Hall-effect sensor 5 is mounted on the ferromagnetic core 30, which sensor requires an external power supply in order to be able to work (not shown in the figure). In this case the current 1 which is circulating through the conductor likewise produces a magnetic field 3 in the ferromagnetic core 30, which is detected by the sensor 5, the signal obtained being applied to a low pass filter 6 which smoothes the obtained signal. The detected and filtered signal has been referred to with the number 20, which signal is applied to a comparator 32 which in turn receives a reference signal 21, and which moreover is connected to a control module 7, which calculates and generates a compensating current to maintain the signal 2 0 equal to the value of the reference signal 21. The compensating current is applied through a power stage 8 and a radiofrequency choke 9 to a winding 33 arranged on the ferromagnetic core 30, producing in the latter a magnetic field 4 equal and opposite to the field 3 produced by the current 1, so that a compensation of the magnetic field 3 occurs, so that the ferromagnetic core 3 0 is not saturated, whereby the current 2 is induced in the conductor without additional insertion loss. By means of the radiofrequency chokes 9 low pass filters are obtained which impede the passage of the high frequencies produced by the signal to be injected. In another embodiment of the invention, as shown in figure 3, the current 1 which circulates through the conductor is obtained by means of an external ferromagnetic core 11 on which a coil 34 has been arranged wherein, from the magnetic field produce by current 1 in the ferromagnetic core 11, said current 1 is produced in the coil 34, this current 1 being applied, through the radiofrequency choke 9 to the winding 33, the compensation of the magnetic field being produced in the manner described for the example in the previous figure. Lastly in figures 4 and 5 other examples are shown for compensation of the magnetic field 3 produced by current 1. Thus, in the example of figure 4 the employ is foreseen of two inductive couplers constituted by a double ferromagnetic core 16 and 17 that form the ferromagnetic core 30. The ferromagnetic core 16 is a power transformer, not suitable for radiofrequency, that is, it has a very high magnetic permeability at low frequencies and very low at high frequencies; whilst the ferromagnetic core 17 is suitable for radiofrequency; that is, it has a very low magnetic permeability at low frequency and very high at high frequency. In this case the detection and obtaining of the compensating current is carried out simultaneously by locating a winding around the double ring of the coupler. The magnetic induction, produced by the current which is passing through the cable, is detected by the winding and produces therein the current which later serves to perform the compensation. To this end, n coils are mounted which act as radiofrequency chokes 18 and which enclose both ferromagnetic cores 16 and 17, a smaller nominal current being achieved in each winding 19, so that said current carries out the desired compensation of the magnetic field induced by the current 1 which is circulating through the conductor. In this way the magnetic field 3 is only induced in the ferromagnetic core 16 and the magnetic field 4 in the ferromagnetic core 17 preventing the aforesaid saturation from taking place. In figure 5 an alternative embodiment is shown in which n windings are mounted short-circuited by means of a radiofrequency choke 15. This case is equivalent to the previous one, but it has the advantage of reducing the number of choke coils necessary to carry out the compensation. In figure 6 another alternative embodiment is shown of a device which implements the process of the invention. In this device a single winding 35 is used around the double ferromagnetic core 16 and 17 that forms the ferromagnetic core 30 of the coupling unit. This case is similar to that presented in figure 5, but with the advantage of reducing the number of windings and without having to use choke coils for the compensation. By means of said winding 3 5 the detection and obtaining of the compensating current are carried out simultaneously. Moreover, and because the winding has a high impedance at low frequencies and has a low impedance at high frequencies, the injection of the compensating current is carried out simultaneously by mounting said winding 35, whereby a low cost solution is obtained. We claim: 1. A process for compensating a magnetic field (3) in a coupling unit, the coupling unit is arranged around a conductor, current (1) in the conductor produces the magnetic field (3), and the process is characterized in that the process comprises: detecting the magnetic field (3) in a ferromagnetic core (16 and 17) of the coupling unit to obtain a signal; generating a compensating current based on the signal; and injecting the compensating current through a low pass filter (9 or 18) and into at least one winding (19 or 35) on the ferromagnetic core (16 and 17) to generate a magnetic field (4) and compensate the magnetic field (3), wherein the low pass filter (9 or 18) is in series with the at least one winding (19 or 35) on the ferromagnetic core (16 and 17), and wherein the at least one winding (19 or 35) detects the magnetic field (3). 2. The process as claimed in claim 1, wherein: the low pass filter (9) provides impedance to a high frequency signal produced by the magnetic field (4); and the magnetic field (4) is equal to and opposite the magnetic field (3). 3. The process as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a signal winding (2) on the ferromagnetic core (16 and 17), wherein the signal winding (2) injects a signal in the ferromagnetic core (16 and 17), and wherein the signal injected in the ferromagnetic core (16 and 17) induces a current in the conductor. 4. The process as claimed in claim 1, further comprising filtering the signal obtained from the detecting of the magnetic field (3) to generate a filtered signal (20). 5. The process as claimed in claim 4, further comprising generating the compensating current to maintain the filtered signal (20) equal to a value of a reference signal (21). 6. The process as claimed in claim 5, further comprising selecting the reference signal (21) to prevent flux density of the ferromagnetic core (16 and 17) from surpassing a maximum flux density of the ferromagnetic core (16 and 17). 7. The process as claimed in claim 1, wherein the ferromagnetic core (16 and 17) is a double magnetic core and comprises a ferromagnetic core (16) and a ferromagnetic core (17). 8. The process as claimed in claim 7, wherein: the ferromagnetic core (16) is a power transformer with a magnetic permeability that is high at low frequencies and low at high frequencies; and the ferromagnetic core (17) has a magnetic permeability that is low at high frequencies and high at low frequencies. 9. The process as claimed in claim 1, wherein the injecting of the compensating current is performed simultaneously with the detecting of the magnetic field (3). 10. The process as claimed in claim 1, wherein: the at least one winding (19) comprises n coils mounted on the ferromagnetic core (16 and 17), where n is an integer greater than 1; and the n coils perform as radio frequency chokes (18). 11. The process as claimed in claim 1, wherein: the at least one winding comprises only a single winding (35); and the ferromagnetic core (16 and 17) is a double magnetic core and comprises a ferromagnetic core 16 and a ferromagnetic core 17. J ABSTRACT "A PROCESS FOR COMPENSATING A MAGNETIC FIELD IN A COUPLING UNIT" The invention relates to a device and method for low-frequency magnetic field compensation in an inductive signal coupling unit. According to the invention, the coupling unit comprises a ferromagnetic core (30) which surrounds a conductor through which a low-frequency current (1) flows, in order to inject a high-frequency signal therein. The invention is characterised in that it consists in detecting the current (1) flowing through the conductor or the magnetic field (3) generated in the coupling unit, producing a supply current from the value obtained during the aforementioned detection process and injecting the supply current produced in the coupling unit via a low pass filter (9), in order to generate a magnetic field (4) that is equal, but in the opposite direction to that produced by the current (1) from the conductor in the above-mentioned coupling unit, such as to prevent saturation of the magnetic core (30) without adding insertion losses. In general, the invention can be used for communication systems that require the injection of a radiofrequency signal in a conductor and, in particular, in systems using the electrical network as a transmission means. |
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1928-KOLNP-2004-(15-12-2011)-AMANDED CLAIMS.pdf
1928-KOLNP-2004-(15-12-2011)-AMANDED PAGES OF SPECIFICATION.pdf
1928-KOLNP-2004-(15-12-2011)-CORRESPONDENCE.pdf
1928-KOLNP-2004-(15-12-2011)-OTHERS.pdf
1928-KOLNP-2004-(15-12-2011)-PA.pdf
1928-KOLNP-2004-(18-11-2011)-ASSIGNMENT.pdf
1928-KOLNP-2004-(18-11-2011)-CORRESPONDENCE.pdf
1928-KOLNP-2004-ABSTRACT-1.1.pdf
1928-KOLNP-2004-AMANDED CLAIMS.pdf
1928-KOLNP-2004-ASSIGNMENT 1.1.pdf
1928-kolnp-2004-assignment.pdf
1928-KOLNP-2004-ASSIGNMENT1.2.pdf
1928-KOLNP-2004-CANCELLED COPY.pdf
1928-KOLNP-2004-CORRESPONDENCE 1.1.pdf
1928-KOLNP-2004-CORRESPONDENCE 1.2.pdf
1928-KOLNP-2004-CORRESPONDENCE-1.3.pdf
1928-kolnp-2004-correspondence.pdf
1928-KOLNP-2004-CORRESPONDENCE1.4.pdf
1928-KOLNP-2004-DESCRIPTION (COMPLETE)-1.1.pdf
1928-kolnp-2004-description (complete).pdf
1928-KOLNP-2004-DRAWINGS-1.1.pdf
1928-KOLNP-2004-EXAMINATION REPORT.pdf
1928-KOLNP-2004-FORM 1 1.1.pdf
1928-KOLNP-2004-FORM 1-1.2.pdf
1928-KOLNP-2004-FORM 13-1.1.pdf
1928-KOLNP-2004-FORM 13-1.2.pdf
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1928-KOLNP-2004-FORM 3-1.1.pdf
1928-KOLNP-2004-FORM 6-1.1.pdf
1928-KOLNP-2004-GRANTED-ABSTRACT.pdf
1928-KOLNP-2004-GRANTED-CLAIMS.pdf
1928-KOLNP-2004-GRANTED-DESCRIPTION (COMPLETE).pdf
1928-KOLNP-2004-GRANTED-DRAWINGS.pdf
1928-KOLNP-2004-GRANTED-FORM 1.pdf
1928-KOLNP-2004-GRANTED-FORM 2.pdf
1928-KOLNP-2004-GRANTED-FORM 3.pdf
1928-KOLNP-2004-GRANTED-SPECIFICATION-COMPLETE.pdf
1928-kolnp-2004-international preliminary examination report.pdf
1928-KOLNP-2004-INTERNATIONAL PUBLICATION-1.1.pdf
1928-kolnp-2004-international publication.pdf
1928-KOLNP-2004-INTERNATIONAL SEARCH REPORT & OTHERS.pdf
1928-kolnp-2004-international search report.pdf
1928-KOLNP-2004-OTHERS-1.1.pdf
1928-kolnp-2004-pct priority document notification.pdf
1928-kolnp-2004-pct request form.pdf
1928-KOLNP-2004-PETITION UNDER RULE 137-1.1.pdf
1928-KOLNP-2004-PETITION UNDER RULE 137.pdf
1928-KOLNP-2004-REPLY TO EXAMINATION REPORT.pdf
1928-kolnp-2004-specification.pdf
1928-KOLNP-2004-TRANSLATED COPY OF PRIORITY DOCUMENT-1.1.pdf
1928-kolnp-2004-translated copy of priority document.pdf
Patent Number | 255590 | |||||||||
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Indian Patent Application Number | 1928/KOLNP/2004 | |||||||||
PG Journal Number | 10/2013 | |||||||||
Publication Date | 08-Mar-2013 | |||||||||
Grant Date | 06-Mar-2013 | |||||||||
Date of Filing | 15-Dec-2004 | |||||||||
Name of Patentee | MARVELL HISPANIA, S.L. | |||||||||
Applicant Address | PLAZA DE PABLO RUIZ PICASO, NUMBER 1, TORRE PICASO, 38TH FLOOR, MADRID, SPAIN | |||||||||
Inventors:
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PCT International Classification Number | H04B 3/56,G05F 7/00 | |||||||||
PCT International Application Number | PCT/ES2003/00283 | |||||||||
PCT International Filing date | 2003-06-11 | |||||||||
PCT Conventions:
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