Abstract: An endpoint in a power distribution system includes a transmitter. The transmitter includes a transformer, a half-bridge driver, a first and second driver, and a resonant circuit. A primary winding from the transformer is coupled to a power distribution line, while the secondary winding is coupled to the transmitter. The half-bridge drive circuit selectively asserts drive signals. The resonant circuit has a natural resonant frequency in an audio frequency range. The half-bridge driver is arranged to selectively activate the first and second drivers such that the power-line is modulated with a square-wave signal at a frequency that is associated with encoded data. The half-bridge driver circuit can also be arranged to provide power to the transmitter, and to the endpoint.

Abstract: A system for bi-directional power distribution line communication. The system is configured for data communication with an endpoint transceiver located at a customer premise. The system comprises a time server in electrical communication with the transceiver, the time server configured to retrieve the time. A substation controller is in electrical communication with a power distribution line. The substation controller includes a transceiver and a programmable circuit. The programmable circuit includes a substation clock. The programmable circuit is programmed to periodically retrieve the time from the time server to calibrate the substation clock to the retrieved time, and to control the transceiver to transmit the time to the endpoint transceiver.