Method and device for transmitting a signal using a transmission power mask

1. A method for transmitting a signal using a transmission power mask, comprising:

providing a signal transceiver, comprising: a signal processing module; a data transmission chain, coupled between said signal processing module and a coupling device, said data transmission chain comprising a protective resistor; and a data reception chain, coupled between said coupling device and said signal processing module;

measuring a reference voltage before said protective resistor;

measuring a test voltage after said protective resistor;

determining a transfer function from said reference voltage and said test voltage; and

adapting said transmission power mask according to said transfer function, to compensate for power lost during signal transmission.

2. The method according to claim 1 , wherein said data reception chain comprises a switch, comprising: a first input terminal, coupled to said data transmission chain between said signal processing module and said protective resistor; a second input terminal, coupled to said data transmission chain between said protective resistor and said coupling device; and a third input terminal, coupled to said coupling device; and a first output terminal;

wherein said measuring a reference voltage step comprises activating said first terminal to measure said reference voltage, and said measuring a test voltage step comprises deactivating said first terminal and activating said second terminal to measure said test voltage.

3. The method according to claim 2 , wherein said activating, deactivating, determining and adapting steps are performed at configurable predefined times.

4. The method according to claim 3 , wherein a plurality of transmission power masks are defined and selected periodically for use during signal transmission.

5. A signal transceiver using a transmission power mask via at least one physical link, comprising:

a digital signal processing module;

a data transmission chain, coupled between said digital signal processing module and a coupling device, said data transmission chain comprising a protective resistor;

a data reception chain, coupled between said coupling device and said digital signal processing module, said data reception chain comprising a switch, comprising:

a first input terminal, coupled to said data transmission chain between said digital signal processing module and said protective resistor;

a second input terminal, coupled to said data transmission chain between said protective resistor and said coupling device;

a third input terminal, coupled to said coupling device; and

a first output terminal;

wherein said digital signal processing module adapts said transmission power mask according to a transfer function relative to the impedance of the physical link to compensate for power lost during signal transmission.

6. The transceiver according to claim 5 , wherein said data transmission chain comprises:

a digital to analogue conversion module;

an anti-aliasing filter; and

an amplifier.

7. The transceiver according to claim 5 , wherein said data reception chain comprises:

a band filter;

a variable gain amplifier; and

an analogue to digital conversion module.

8. The transceiver according to claim 7 , wherein said

first output terminal is coupled to said data reception chain between said band filter and said digital signal processing module.

9. The transceiver according to claim 5 , further comprising a control module for controlling said switch to selectively enable said first input terminal, said second input terminal, or said third input terminal.

10. The transceiver according to claim 9 , wherein said control module engages with said digital signal processing module to determine voltages corresponding to said first input terminal, said second input terminal, and said third input terminal, and adapt said transmission power mask accordingly.

11. The transceiver according to claim 5 , wherein said coupling device couples to a power line, and said transceiver functions as a power line communication modem.

12. A method for transmitting a signal using a transmission power mask, comprising:

providing a data transmission chain, comprising: a digital signal processing module; a digital to analogue conversion module; an anti-aliasing filter; an amplifier; a protective resistor; and a coupling device;

performing an initialization step, comprising:

measuring a reference voltage at a first terminal of a constituent element of said data transmission chain;

measuring a test voltage at a second terminal of said constituent element of said data transmission chain; and

determining a transfer function relative to an impedance of said data transmission chain according to said reference voltage and said test voltage; and

adapting said transmission power mask according to said transfer function to compensate for power lost during signal transmission through said data transmission chain.