Method and apparatus for providing inductive coupling and decoupling of high-frequency, high-bandwidth data signals directly on and off of a high voltage power line

• US 20030190110A1
• Filed: 05/02/2003
• Published: 10/09/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 02/14/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Paul A. Kline
• Original Assignee: Paul A. Kline
• Inventors: Kline, Paul A.
• Granted Patent: US 6,950,567 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 385/15
• CPC Class Codes: H02G 11/02 using take-up reel or drum
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 2203/5487 cables
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 3/56 Circuits for coupling, blocking, or by-passing of signals

Abstract

The present invention is drawn to an electrically “closed” method and apparatus for transmitting and receiving data signals over a high voltage power line. Inductive coupling is employed for coupling and decoupling the data signal directly on to and off of a single power line wire. An exemplary device includes a high frequency inductive coupling toroid for data signals, a second (50-60 Hz) inductive coupling toroid for providing power, signal conditioning electronics for the receive and transmit signal, a fiber optics interface for electrical isolation purposes, and a weather-proof enclosure. In a preferred embodiment, the toroids are hinged for ease of installation on a power line. A pair of such couplings on either side of a fiber-optic isolator can be used to bridge transformers.

Claims

1. A method for communicating high-frequency data signals through power lines comprising:

de-coupling first data signals representing first data from the power line by inductance;

conditioning the first data signals to provide the first data;

coupling the first data to a first end of a fiber optic cable;

receiving second data from the fiber optic cable;

conditioning the second data to form second data signals; and

coupling the second data signals to the power line by inductance.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of conditioning the first data signals comprises demodulating the first data signals.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the step of conditioning the second data comprises modulating at least one carrier signal with the second data.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein said step of de-coupling the first data signals from the power line employs a magnetically permeable core and a winding traversing through said core.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein said core is disposed substantially around the entire circumference of the power line and comprises a first portion and a second portion connected together, at least in part, via a hinge.

6. The method of claim 3, wherein said at least one carrier signal has a frequency greater than three megahertz.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein said first and second data signals are modulated using Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing (OFDM).

8. The method of claim 6, wherein said first and second data signals are comprised of broadband signals.

9. The method of claim 6, wherein said first data comprises telephony data.

10. The method of claim 6, wherein said first data comprises Internet data.

11. The method of claim 7, wherein said first data comprises telephony data.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein said first data comprises telephony data.

13. A method for communicating data over a power line, comprising:

receiving a first data signal comprising first data from the power line;

demodulating said first data signal;

transmitting said first data through a fiber optic cable;

receiving second data from the fiber optic cable;

modulating at least one carrier signal with the second data to provide a second data signal; and

transmitting said second data signal over the power line.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein said step of receiving said first data signal comprises coupling said first data signal from the power line using inductance.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein said step of transmitting said second data signal over the power line is comprised of coupling said modulated second data to the power line using inductance.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein said step of coupling is performed by a magnetically permeable core and a winding traversing through said core.

17. The method of claim 13, wherein the fiber optic cable forms at least part of a data path to the Internet.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the fiber optic cable forms at least part of a data path to a point of presence.

19. The method of claim 13, wherein said first data is transmitted to the Internet.

20. The method of claim 13, wherein said modulated second data is transmitted over the power line using an Internet Protocol.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein said first data is received from the power line in an Internet Protocol.

22. The method of claim 13, wherein said first data is telephony data.

23. The method of claim 21, wherein said first data is video data.

24. The method of claim 21, wherein said first data is power usage data.

25. The method of claim 13, wherein said second data is modulated using Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing (OFDM).

26. The method of claim 13, wherein said first data signals are comprised of broadband signals.

27. The method of claim 13, wherein said first data is transmitted through the fiber optic cable at a rate of at least ten megabits per second.

28. The method of claim 13, wherein said second data is transmitted at a rate of at least ten megabits per second over the power line.

29. The method of claim 13, further comprising receiving power from the power line via inductance.

30. The method of claim 29, wherein said step of receiving power is performed by a magnetically permeable core disposed substantially around the entire circumference of the power line and a winding traversing through said core.

31. The method of claim 13, wherein said at least one carrier signal has a frequency greater than three megahertz.

32. The method of claim 13, wherein said step of receiving said first data signal from the power line and said step of and transmitting said modulated second data over the power line comprises using a magnetically permeable core and a winding traversing through said core.

33. The method of claim 16, wherein said core is disposed substantially around the entire circumference of the power line and comprises a first portion and a second portion connected together, at least in part, via a hinge.

34. A device for communicating data signals over power lines, comprising:

a power line coupler;

a first modem in communication with the power line via said power line coupler; and

an isolator forming at least part of a data path between said first modem and the power line.

35. The device of claim 34, wherein said isolator is comprised of a dielectric.

36. The device of claim 35, wherein said isolator is comprised of a fiber optic cable.

37. The device of claim 34, wherein said isolator forms a part of the data path between said first modem and said coupler.

38. The device of claim 34, further comprising a power supply configured to receive power from the power line.

39. The device of claim 38, further comprising a transformer for receiving power from the power line for said power supply.

40. The device of claim 39, wherein said transformer is comprised of a magnetically permeable core disposed substantially around the entire circumference of the power line and a winding traversing through said core.

41. The device of claim 34, further comprising a second modem in communication with said first modem.

42. The device of claim 41, further comprising a router in communication with said first modem.

43. The device of claim 34, wherein said power line coupler comprises:

a magnetically permeable core; and

a winding traversing through said core.

44. The device of claim 37, wherein said core is disposed substantially around the entire circumference of the power line and comprises a first portion and a second portion connected together, at least in part, via a hinge.

45. The device of claim 41, further comprising a power supply configured to receive power from the power line.

46. The device of claim 45, further comprising a transformer for receiving power from the power line for said power supply.

47. The device of claim 34, further comprising a router in communication with said first modem.

48. The device of claim 42, where in said first modem is configured to communicate broadband data signals over the power lines.

49. The device of claim 48, wherein said first modem communicates data over the power line using Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing (OFDM).

50. The device of claim 34, where in said first modem is configured to communicate data at a data at least ten mega bits per second.

51. The device of claim 34, wherein said first modem is communicatively coupled to a plurality of user communication devices via the power lines.

52. The device of claim 34, wherein said plurality of user communication devices are disposed in a plurality of customer premises.

53. A device for communicating data signals over a medium voltage power line and a low voltage power line, comprising:

a power line coupler;

a first modem communicatively coupled to the medium voltage power line via said power line coupler;

a dielectric isolator forming at least part of a data path between said first modem and the medium voltage power line;

a second modem in communication with said first modem and the low voltage power line; and

a router in communication with said first modem and said second modem.

54. The device of claim 53, wherein said power line coupler comprises:

a magnetically permeable core disposed substantially around the entire circumference of the power line; and

a winding traversing through said core.

55. A device for communicating data signals over power lines, comprising:

a power line coupler;

a first modem in communication with the power line via said power line coupler; and

a wireless transceiver in communication with said first modem.

56. The device of claim 55, further comprising an isolator forming at least part of a data path between said first modem and the power line.

57. The device of claim 56, wherein said isolator is comprised of a dielectric.

58. The device of claim 57, wherein said isolator is comprised of a fiber optic cable.

59. The device of claim 55, wherein said power line coupler employs inductance to communicate data signals via the power line.

60. The device of claim 59, wherein said power line coupler comprises:

a magnetically permeable core; and

a winding traversing through said core.

61. The device of claim 60, wherein said core is disposed substantially around the entire circumference of the power line and comprises a first portion and a second portion connected together, at least in part, via a hinge.

62. The device of claim 55, wherein said wireless transceiver is configured to wirelessly communicate Internet data.

63. The device of claim 55, wherein said wireless transceiver is configured to wirelessly communicate voice data.

64. A method for communicating high-frequency data signals through power lines comprising:

de-coupling first data signals representing first data from the power line by inductance;

conditioning the first data signals to provide the first data; and

coupling the first data to a first end of a fiber optic cable.

65. The method of claim 64, further comprising:

receiving second data from the fiber optic cable;

conditioning the second data to form second data signals; and

coupling the second data signals to the power line by inductance.

66. The method of claim 64, wherein the step of conditioning the first data signals comprises demodulating the first data signals.

67. The method of claim 66, wherein the step of conditioning the second data comprises modulating at least one carrier signal with the second data.

68. The method of claim 67, wherein said step of de-coupling the first data signals from the power line employs a magnetically permeable core and a winding traversing through said core.

69. The method of claim 68, wherein said core is disposed substantially around the entire circumference of the power line and comprises a first portion and a second portion connected together, at least in part, via a hinge.

70. The method of claim 67, wherein said at least one carrier signal has a frequency greater than three megahertz.

71. The method of claim 70, wherein said first and second data signals are modulated using Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing (OFDM).

72. The method of claim 70, wherein said first and second data signals are comprised of broadband signals.

73. The method of claim 70, wherein said first data comprises telephony data.

74. The method of claim 70, wherein said first data comprises Internet data.

75. The method of claim 70, wherein said first data comprises telephony data.

76. The method of claim 64, wherein said first data comprises telephony data.

77. A power line communication network for communicating data signals over a medium voltage power line and a low voltage power line, comprising:

a bridge communication device comprising

a first coupler;

a first modem communicatively coupled to the medium voltage power line via said first coupler;

a second modem in communication with said first modem and the low voltage power line; and

a backhaul device comprising;

a second coupler; and

a third modem communicatively coupled to the medium voltage power line via said second coupler for communications with said second modem;

78. The device of claim 77, wherein said bridge device further comprises a router in communication with said first modem and said second modem.

79. The device of claim 77, wherein said second coupler comprises:

a magnetically permeable core; and

a winding traversing through said core.

80. The device of claim 79, wherein said core is disposed substantially around the entire circumference of the power line and comprises a first portion and a second portion connected together, at least in part, via a hinge.

81. The device of claim 77, further comprising a power supply configured to receive power.

82. The device of claim 77, wherein said first modem is configured to communicate broadband data signals over the power lines.

83. The device of claim 77, wherein said second modem communicates with said third modem data over the power line using OFDM.

84. The device of claim 77, wherein said second modem and said third modem communicate data at a data rate of at least ten mega bits per second.

85. The device of claim 77, wherein said backhaul device comprises a communication interface for communicating data with a point of presence.

86. A method of communicating data signals over a medium voltage power line and a low voltage power line, comprising:

at a bridge communication device;

receiving a data packet from the low voltage power line;

conditioning said data packet;

transmitting said data packet over the medium voltage power line;

at a backhaul device;

receiving said data packet from said bridge communication device;

conditioning said received data packet; and

transmitting said data packet to a point of presence.

87. The method of claim 86, at said bridge device further comprising prioritizing data packets.

88. The method of claim 86, wherein data packets are transmitted over the medium voltage power line by said bridge device as a broadband data signal.

89. The method of claim 86, wherein data packets are transmitted over the medium voltage power line by said bridge device using OFDM.

90. The method of claim 86, wherein data packets are transmitted over the medium voltage power line by said bridge device at a data rate of at least ten mega bits per second.

91. The method of claim 86, wherein said step of conditioning of said data packet at said bridge comprises modulating said data packet.