Multi-port impedance matching technique for power line communications

A computer-aided methodology for designing multiport broadband impedance matching circuits (BIM) to be connected at powerline communication (PLC) networks is presented in order to provide gain equalization and mitigation of the effects of low-impedance loads among transmitter and receivers in a wide frequency range. The design is achieved in successive steps by means of the Vector Fitting method, a rational parametric approximation of the driving impedances, and a nonlinear optimization through a novel Meta Particle Swarm Optimization (MPSO). Special attention is given to the application of such devices on board of yachts, where the use of PLCs could dramatically reduce weights and costs. Preliminary results confirm the efficiency of the proposed approach.