Coupling between power line and customer in power line communication system

• US 20030054793A1
• Filed: 08/15/2002
• Published: 03/20/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 08/17/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Arkados Incorporated (Iota Communications, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Arkados Incorporated (Iota Communications, Inc.)
• Inventors: Logvinov, Oleg, Manis, Constantine N., Durfee, Larry
• Granted Patent: US 7,286,812 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/402
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 2203/5441 Wireless systems or telephone
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 2203/547 via DC power distribution
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 2203/5483 using coupling circuits
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 3/56 Circuits for coupling, blocking, or by-passing of signals

Abstract

Apparatus for coupling communication signal modulated radio frequency signals between an electrical power distribution line and the electrical power wiring at a customer'"'"'s premises which includes a first transceiver for transmitting and receiving electromagnetic energy is inductively coupled to the distribution line and a second transceiver for receiving electromagnetic energy from, and transmitting electromagnetic energy to, the first transceiver. The second transceiver is coupled to the customer'"'"'s power wiring to receive communication signals from, and to supply communication signals to, the customer'"'"'s power wiring. The electrical power for the first transceiver can be supplied by inductive coupling to the power line and/or a battery, the battery being a back-up source when both inductive coupling and a battery are present.

Claims

1. A coupler for receiving modulated radio frequency signals from and supplying modulated radio frequency signals to an electrical cable having a conductor which transmits alternating current electrical power at a frequency which is low relative to the frequency of the radio frequency signals, the coupler comprising:

a transceiver for receiving the modulated radio frequency signals and transmitting modulated electromagnetic energy modulated to correspond to the modulated radio frequency signals and for receiving other modulated electromagnetic energy and transmitting radio frequency signals modulated to correspond to the other modulated electromagnetic energy;

an induction coil for coupling the transceiver to the conductor for supplying modulated radio frequency signals from the conductor to the transceiver and from the transceiver to the conductor; and

a power supply coupled to the transceiver for supplying electrical power to the transceiver.

2. A coupler as set forth in claim 1 wherein the electromagnetic energy is infra-red energy and the transceiver comprises an infra-red transmitter for transmitting the modulated electromagnetic energy and an infra-red receiver for receiving the other modulated electromagnetic energy.

3. A coupler as set forth in claim 1 wherein the induction coil has separable parts permitting placement of the coil around the electrical cable without interrupting the continuity of the cable.

4. A coupler as set forth in claim 2 wherein there is an enclosure for the induction coil and the enclosure has means for securing the enclosure to the cable.

5. A coupler as set forth in claim 1 wherein there is a further induction coil for coupling the conductor to the power supply for supplying alternating current electrical power from the conductor to the power supply.

6. A coupler as set forth in claim 5 wherein the further induction coil unit has separable parts permitting placement of the further coil around the electrical cable without interrupting the continuity of the cable.

7. A coupler as set forth in claim 6 wherein there is a common enclosure for the induction coil for coupling the transceiver to the conductor and for the further induction coil, and the enclosure has means for securing the enclosure to the cable.

8. In combination with the coupler of claim 1, a base unit comprising:

a transceiver for receiving the modulated electromagnetic energy transmitted by the coupler transceiver and for transmitting modulated electromagnetic energy modulated to correspond to the modulated electromagnetic energy received from the coupler transceiver and for receiving further modulated electromagnetic energy and transmitting the other modulated electromagnetic energy modulated to correspond to the modulation of the further electromagnetic energy to the coupler transceiver.

9. The combination as set forth in claim 8 wherein the electromagnetic energy transmitted by the receiver and the other modulated electromagnetic energy are infrared energy and the base unit transceiver comprises an infra-red transmitter for transmitting the other electromagnetic energy and infra-red receiver for receiving the electromagnetic energy transmitted by the coupler transceiver.

10. A power line communication system in which a first power line is coupled to a second power line by a transformer and modulated radio frequency communication signals are supplied to the first power line, both the first and the second power line transmitting alternating current at a frequency which is low relative to the frequency of the radio frequency signals, the system comprising:

conductive wiring at the premises of a customer coupled to the second power line for conveying electrical power;

processing apparatus at the premises coupled to the wiring for processing the communication signals and for supplying modulated communication signals;

coupling apparatus coupled to the first power line and to the wiring for supplying communication signals from the first power line to the processing apparatus and to the first power line from the processing apparatus, the coupling apparatus comprising;

a coupler including a first transceiver for receiving the communication signals from the first power line and transmitting electromagnetic energy modulated with the modulation of the communication signals and for receiving other electromagnetic energy modulated with the modulation of other modulated communication signals and transmitting modulated communication signals to the first power line;

a base unit spaced from the coupler including a second transceiver for receiving the modulated electromagnetic energy transmitted by the first transceiver and coupled to the wiring for transmitting to the wiring communication signals modulated with the modulation of the electromagnetic energy received from the first transceiver and coupled to the wiring for receiving modulated communication signals from the processing apparatus and transmitting to the first transceiver the other electromagnetic energy; and

an induction coil coupled to the first power line and to the first transceiver for supplying communication signals to the first power line and receiving communication signals from the first power line.

11. A system as set forth in claim 10 wherein the induction coil has separable parts permitting placement of the coil around the first power line without interrupting the continuity of the first power line.

12. A system as set forth in claim 10 wherein the electromagnetic energy is infra-red energy.

13. A system as set forth in claim 10 wherein the electromagnetic energy is radio frequency energy.

14. A system as set forth in claim 10 wherein the transmission medium for the electromagnetic energy is air.

15. A system as set forth in claim 10 further comprising an electromagnetic energy cable coupling the first and the second transceivers.

16. A system as set forth in claim 10 wherein the processing apparatus receives and transmits radio frequency communication signals and the second transceiver is coupled to the wiring by a radio frequency transmission apparatus.

17. A system as set forth in claim 16 wherein the transmission apparatus includes a cable for conveying radio frequency energy.

18. A system as set forth in claim 10 wherein the first transceiver includes electrical components and power supply for supplying electrical power to the components and wherein there is a further induction coil coupled to the power supply and to the first power line for supplying electrical power to the power supply.

19. A method for supplying modulated radio frequency communication signals to the wiring of a customer'"'"'s premises from an electrical power line which is coupled to the wiring through a transformer for providing electrical energy to the premises, the method comprising:

converting the communication signals to electromagnetic signals bearing the modulation with a converter coupled to the power line and a base unit; and

receiving the converted communication signals at the base unit space from the converter and converting the received signals to radio frequency communication signals and supplying the converted received signals to the wiring.

20. A method as set forth in claim 19 further comprising:

supplying modulated radio frequency communication signals supplied to the wiring at the premises to the base unit;

at the base unit, converting the signals received from the wiring to modulated electromagnetic energy and transmitting the converted signals to a receiver at the converter;

at the converter, converting the signals received from the base unit to modulated radio frequency communication signals and supplying converted base unit received signals to the power line.