Coupling broadband modems to power lines

• US 20020171535A1
• Filed: 02/25/2002
• Published: 11/21/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 03/29/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ericsson, Inc. (Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson)
• Original Assignee: Ambient S A
• Inventors: Cern, Yehuda
• Granted Patent: US 6,809,633 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/310.07
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 2203/5466 using three phases conductors
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 2203/5479 using repeaters
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 2203/5483 using coupling circuits
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 2203/5491 using filtering and bypassing
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 3/56 Circuits for coupling, blocking, or by-passing of signals

Abstract

A method and system are given for a coupling a data signal over a power distribution system. An inductive signal coupler has two windings. The first winding is in series with a line conductor of the power distribution system. A capacitor is connected between the first line conductor and a second line conductor of the distribution system such that the capacitor presents a high impedance to a power signal and a low impedance to a data signal. A communication device is connected to the second winding so that a data signal can be coupled between the communication device and the distribution system.

Claims

1. A method for coupling a data signal over a power distribution system, the method comprising:

installing an inductive signal coupler on a transformer secondary line conductor of a power distribution system adjacent to a secondary winding of a distribution transformer; and

connecting a communication device to the inductive signal coupler so that a data signal can be coupled between the communication device and the power distribution system.

2. A method according to claim 1, wherein the installing an inductive signal coupler further places the coupler adjacent to the secondary winding of the distribution transformer within {fraction (1/10)} wavelength of a highest used frequency of the data signal.

3. A method according to claim 1, further comprising:

connecting a capacitor across two terminals of the transformer secondary winding such that the capacitor presents a high impedance to a power signal and a low impedance to a data signal.

4. A method according to claim 1, wherein the transformer secondary line conductor is a neutral conductor.

5. A method according to claim 1, wherein the communication device is a spread-spectrum modem.

6. A method according to claim 1, wherein the inductive signal coupler includes a split magnetic core clamped over the transformer secondary line conductor, and an inductive winding is wound over the core so that a portion of the transformer secondary line conductor within the core couples the data signal.

7. A data signal system for a coupling a data signal over a power distribution system, the signal system comprising:

an inductive signal coupler installed on a transformer secondary line conductor of a power distribution system adjacent to a distribution transformer; and

a communication device connected to the inductive signal coupler so that a data signal can be coupled between the communication device and the power distribution system.

8. A signal system according to claim 7, wherein the inductive signal coupler is installed adjacent to the secondary winding of the distribution transformer within {fraction (1/10)} wavelength of a highest used frequency of the data signal.

9. A signal system according to claim 7, further comprising:

a capacitor across two terminals of the transformer secondary winding such that the capacitor presents a high impedance to a power signal and a low impedance to a data signal; and

10. A signal system according to claim 7, wherein the first line conductor is a neutral conductor.

11. A signal system according to claim 7, wherein the communication device is a spread-spectrum modem.

12. A signal system according to claim 7, wherein the inductive signal coupler includes a split magnetic core clamped over the transformer secondary line conductor, and an inductive winding is wound over the core so that a portion of the transformer secondary line conductor within the core couples the data signal.

14. A method according to claim 13, wherein the first line conductor is a neutral conductor.

15. A method according to claim 11, wherein the communication device is a spread-spectrum modem.

16. A method according to claim 11, wherein the inductive signal coupler includes a split magnetic core clamped over the first line conductor.

17. A method according to claim 11, wherein the distribution system includes a distribution transformer and the inductive signal coupler is connected adjacent to a secondary winding of the transformer within {fraction (1/10)} wavelength of a highest used frequency of the data signal.

19. A signal system according to claim 16, wherein the first line conductor is a neutral conductor.

20. A signal system according to claim 16, wherein the communication device is a spread-spectrum modem.

21. A signal system according to claim 16, wherein the inductive signal coupler includes a split magnetic core clamped over the first line conductor.

22. A signal system according to claim 16, wherein the distribution system includes a distribution transformer and the inductive signal coupler is connected adjacent to a secondary winding of the transformer within {fraction (1/10)} wavelength of a highest used frequency of the data signal.

24. A method according to claim 21, wherein operatively connecting includes connecting a signal amplifier between the first inductive coupler and the second inductive coupler.

25. A method according to claim 21, wherein operatively connecting includes connecting a data router between the first inductive coupler and the second inductive coupler for selectively routing a data signal between the first inductive coupler and the second inductive coupler.

26. A method according to claim 23, wherein the second inductive coupler is one of a plurality of inductive couplers downstream of the node, and wherein the data router selectively routes data signals between the first inductive coupler and the plurality of inductive couplers.

28. A data signal system according to claim 25, wherein a signal amplifier operably connects the first inductive coupler and the second inductive coupler.

29. A data signal system according to claim 25, wherein a data router operably connects the first inductive coupler and the second inductive coupler to selectively route a data signal between the first inductive coupler and the second inductive coupler.

30. A data signal system according to claim 27, wherein the second inductive coupler is one of a plurality of inductive couplers downstream of the node, and wherein the data router selectively routes data signals between the first inductive coupler and the plurality of inductive couplers.

13. A method for coupling a data signal over a power distribution system, the method comprising:

connecting a series inductance coupler to a first line conductor of a power distribution system;

connecting a shunt capacitance coupler between the first line conductor and a second line conductor; and

providing a communication device having parallel first and second interfaces, one interface being connected to the inductance coupler and the other interface being connected to the capacitance coupler, to enable coupling of a data signal between the communication device and the power distribution system.

18. A data signal system for coupling a data signal over a power distribution system, the signal system comprising:

a series inductance coupler connected to a first line conductor of a power distribution system;

a shunt capacitive coupler connected between the first line conductor and a second line conductor; and

a communication device having parallel first and second interfaces, the first interface being connected to one coupler and the second interface being connected to the other coupler, to enable coupling of a data signal between the communication device and the power distribution system.

23. A method for coupling a data signal across a low impedance node of a power distribution system, the method comprising:

connecting a capacitor in parallel with a low impedance node of a power distribution system, the capacitor presenting a high impedance to a power signal and a low impedance to a data signal;

connecting a first inductive coupler in series with a line conductor, upstream of the node;

connecting a second inductive coupler in series with the line conductor, downstream of the node; and

operatively connecting the first inductive coupler and the second inductive coupler to couple the data signal across the node.

27. A data signal system for coupling a data signal across a low impedance node of a power distribution system, the signal system comprising:

a capacitor connected in parallel with a low impedance node of a power distribution system, and presenting a high impedance to a power signal and a low impedance to a data signal;

a first inductive coupler connected in series with a line conductor, upstream of the node; and

a second inductive coupler connected in series with the line conductor, downstream of the node;

wherein the first inductive coupler and the second inductive coupler are operably connected to couple the data signal across the node.