Ultra-wideband communication through a power grid

• US 20040218688A1
• Filed: 02/10/2004
• Published: 11/04/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 06/21/2002
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Intellectual Ventures Holding 73 LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Original Assignee: Intellectual Ventures Holding 73 LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Inventors: Moore, Steve, Santhoff, John
• Application Number:
  US10/775,484
• Publication Number:
  US 20040218688A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 375/295
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/7163 using impulse radio
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/71632 Signal aspects H04B1/7172 and H04B1/7176 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/719 Interference-related aspects
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 10/25751 Optical arrangements for CATV or video distribution adaptations of television systems for optical transmission H04N7/22
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 2001/6908 using time hopping
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 2203/5416 by adding signals to the wave form of the power source
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 2203/5437 Wired telephone
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 2203/5441 Wireless systems or telephone
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 2203/5445 Local network
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 2203/545 Audio/video application, e.g. interphone
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 2203/5491 using filtering and bypassing
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 3/542 the information being in digital form
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/78 CATV [Community Antenna Television] systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2801 Broadband local area networks

Abstract

Apparatus and methods of transmitting a plurality of ultra-wideband pulses through an electric power grid are provided. One embodiment comprises an ultra-wideband device structured to transmit a plurality of ultra-wideband pulses through the power grid and an ultra-wideband receiver structured to receive the plurality of ultra-wideband pulses from the power grid. Another embodiment of the present invention comprises a bridging system structured to transfer ultra-wideband pulses around power grid devices. This Abstract is provided for the sole purpose of complying with the Abstract requirement rules that allow a reader to quickly ascertain the subject matter of the disclosure contained herein. This Abstract is submitted with the explicit understanding that it will not be used to interpret or to limit the scope or the meaning of the claims.

Claims

1. An ultra-wideband communication system for a power grid, comprising:

an ultra-wideband transmitter structured to transmit an ultra-wideband signal through the power grid; and

an ultra-wideband receiver structured to receive the ultra-wideband signal from the power grid.

2. The ultra-wideband communication system of claim 1, wherein the ultra-wideband signal comprises a pulse of electromagnetic energy having a duration that can range between about 10 picoseconds to about 10 milliseconds.

3. The ultra-wideband communication system of claim 1, wherein the ultra-wideband signal comprises a pulse of electromagnetic energy having a duration that can range between about 10 picoseconds to about 10 milliseconds and a power that can range between about +30 power decibels to about −

60 power decibels, as measured at a single frequency.

4. The ultra-wideband communication system of claim 1, further comprising at least two ultra-wideband bridges structured to selectively receive and transmit the ultra-wideband signal around a transformer.

5. The ultra-wideband communication system of claim 1, further comprising at least two ultra-wideband bridges, with each ultra-wideband bridge comprising an ultra-wideband pulse modulator and an ultra-wideband pulse demodulator.

6. The ultra-wideband communication system of claim 1, wherein the power grid comprises:

a power plant structured to generate electricity;

a transmission substation;

a distribution substation;

a residential transformer; and

a power line structured to transmit electricity from the power plant to each of the transmission substation, distribution substation and the residential transformer.

7. The ultra-wideband communication system of claim 6, further comprising:

at least two ultra-wideband bridges positioned adjacent to each of the transmission substation, the distribution substation, and the residential transformer; and

wherein the at least two ultra-wideband bridges are structured to selectively receive and transmit the ultra-wideband signal around the transmission substation, the distribution substation, and the residential transformer.

8. The ultra-wideband communication system of claim 1, further comprising:

means for adjusting the ultra-wideband signal to optimize transmission of the ultra-wideband signal through the power grid.

9. A method of transmitting a plurality of ultra-wideband pulses through a power grid, the method comprising the steps of:

introducing the plurality of ultra-wideband pulses into a power line;

receiving the plurality of ultra-wideband pulses from the power line at a first ultra-wideband device located adjacent to a power grid transformer; and

transmitting the plurality of ultra-wideband pulses from the first ultra-wideband device to a second ultra-wideband device, so that the plurality of ultra-wideband pulses go around the power grid transformer.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising the step of:

re-introducing the plurality of ultra-wideband pulses into the power line subsequent to going around the power grid transformer.

11. The method of claim 9, further comprising the steps of:

repeating the steps of receiving and transmitting so that the plurality of ultra-wideband pulses go around selected power grid transformers; and

repeating the steps of re-introducing the plurality of ultra-wideband pulses into the power line subsequent to going around the selected power grid transformers.

12. The method of claim 9, wherein each of the plurality of ultra-wideband pulses comprise a pulse of electromagnetic energy having a duration that can range between about 10 picoseconds to about 10 milliseconds.

13. The method of claim 9, wherein each of the plurality of ultra-wideband pulses comprise a pulse of electromagnetic energy having a duration that can range between about 10 picoseconds to about 10 milliseconds and a power that can range between about +30 power decibels to about −

60 power decibels, as measured at a single frequency.

14. A method of transmitting a plurality of ultra-wideband pulses through a power grid, the method comprising the steps of:

means for introducing the plurality of ultra-wideband pulses into a power line;

means for receiving the plurality of ultra-wideband pulses from the power line at a first ultra-wideband device located adjacent to a power grid transformer; and

means for transmitting the plurality of ultra-wideband pulses from the first ultra-wideband device to a second ultra-wideband device, so that the plurality of ultra-wideband pulses go around the power grid transformer.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising the step of:

means for re-introducing the plurality of ultra-wideband pulses into the power line subsequent to going around the power grid transformer.

16. The method of claim 14, further comprising the steps of:

means for repeating the steps of receiving and transmitting so that the plurality of ultra-wideband pulses go around selected power grid transformers; and

means for repeating the steps of re-introducing the plurality of ultra-wideband pulses into the power line subsequent to going around the selected power grid transformers.

17. An ultra-wideband bridging system, comprising:

at least two ultra-wideband devices positioned adjacent to a power grid apparatus, the at least two ultra-wideband devices structured to selectively receive and transmit a plurality of ultra-wideband pulses so that the power grid apparatus is bypassed.

18. The ultra-wideband bridging system of claim 17, wherein the power grid apparatus is selected from a group consisting of:

a transmission substation, a distribution substation, an industrial substation, a pad transformer, a pole transformer, and a residential transformer.

19. The ultra-wideband bridging system of claim 17, wherein the each of the at least two ultra-wideband devices comprises an ultra-wideband modulator, an ultra-wideband demodulator, and a coupler structured to selectively receive and transmit the plurality of ultra-wideband pulses through a power line.

20. The ultra-wideband bridging system of claim 17, wherein each of the plurality of ultra-wideband pulses comprise a pulse of electromagnetic energy having a duration that can range between about 10 picoseconds to about 10 milliseconds.

21. The ultra-wideband bridging system of claim 17, wherein each of the plurality of ultra-wideband pulses comprise a pulse of electromagnetic energy having a duration that can range between about 10 picoseconds to about 10 milliseconds and a power that can range between about +30 power decibels to about −

60 power decibels, as measured at a single frequency.