Device and method for communicating data signals through multiple power line conductors

• US 20040227622A1
• Filed: 05/13/2003
• Published: 11/18/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 05/13/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Current Technologies LLC (Pattern Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Current Technologies LLC (Pattern Inc.)
• Inventors: Yaney, David Stanley, Giannini, Paul M.
• Granted Patent: US 7,075,414 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/310.01
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 2203/5441 Wireless systems or telephone
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 2203/5466 using three phases conductors
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 2203/5487 cables
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 3/54 Systems for transmission via power distribution lines
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 3/56 Circuits for coupling, blocking, or by-passing of signals

Abstract

The present invention provides a device for providing communications through power lines comprised of multiple conductors by transmitting the data signals through a plurality of the conductors. One embodiment of the present invention may be comprised of a transmit circuit communicatively coupled to a first energized conductor for applying a first voltage signal representing the data to the first energized conductor; the transmit circuit being communicatively coupled to a second energized conductor for applying a second voltage signal representing the data to the second energized conductor; and wherein the second voltage signal is opposite in polarity to said first voltage signal.

Claims

1. A device for communicating data through a power line cable comprised of a first energized conductor and a second energized conductor, the device comprising:

a first conductor coupled to the first energized conductor;

a second conductor coupled to the second energized conductor;

a first surge suppression circuit coupled to said first conductor;

a second surge suppression circuit coupled to said second conductor;

a first high pass filter coupled to said first conductor;

a second high pass filter coupled to said second conductor; and

a data signal source communicatively coupled to said first conductor and said second conductor to communicate data signals therethrough.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein said first high pass filter is comprised of a capacitor in series with said first conductor.

3. The device of claim 1, further comprising:

a first impedance having a first port coupled to said first conductor and a second port coupled to a ground; and

a second impedance having a first port coupled to said second conductor and a second port coupled to a ground.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein said data signal source is comprised of a transformer having a first winding and a seconding winding and wherein a first end of said second winding is communicatively coupled to said first conductor and said second end of said second winding is communicatively coupled to said second conductor.

5. The device of claim 1, wherein said data signal source differentially drives said first conductor and said second conductor.

6. The device of claim 1, wherein said data signal source applies a first voltage on said first conductor and applies a second voltage on said second conductor.

7. The device of claim 1, wherein said first voltage and said second voltage represent the same data and said second voltage is different from said first voltage.

8. The device of claim 7, wherein said second voltage is out of phase with said first voltage.

9. The device of claim 1, wherein said data signal source applies a first current on said first conductor and a second current on said second conductor.

10. The device of claim 9, wherein the second current is substantially the same magnitude and opposite in direct to said first current.

11. The device of claim 1, wherein the power line cable is comprised of a neutral conductor, the device further comprising a third conductor coupled to the neutral conductor.

12. The device of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of said first conductor and said second conductor form a twisted pair cable.

13. The device of claim 1, further comprising a common mode choke and wherein said first conductor and said second conductor traverse said common mode choke.

14. The device of claim 1, further comprising a power supply receiving power from said first conductor.

15. A method of communicating data through a power line cable comprised of a first energized conductor and a second energized conductor, the method comprising:

applying a first voltage signal representing the data to the first energized conductor;

applying a second voltage signal representing the data to the second energized conductor; and

wherein the second voltage signal is opposite in polarity to said first voltage signal.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the power line cable further comprises a neutral conductor and said first voltage signal and said second voltage signal are referenced to the neutral conductor.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein the data is communicated using Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing.

18. The method of claim 15, further comprising receiving the data from a medium voltage power line.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the data received from the medium voltage power is received inductively.

20. The method of claim 18, wherein the data received from the medium voltage power is received capacitively.

21. The method of claim 15, further comprising receiving the data wirelessly.

22. The method of claim 15, further comprising receiving the data via a fiber optic cable.

23. The method of claim 15, further comprising:

receiving a power signal from the power line cable; and

powering a circuit used to performing said applying steps.

24. The method of claim 15, further comprising receiving second data that is transmitted by applying a voltage to only one of the first and second energized conductor.

25. The method of claim 15, further comprising:

receiving the data in a first frequency range, and wherein

said first and second voltage signals are in a second frequency range different from the first frequency range.

26. The method of claim 15, wherein the power signals on the first and second energized conductors are substantially one hundred eighty degrees out of phase.

27. The method of claim 15, wherein the power signal on the first and second energized conductors has a voltage less than one thousand volts.

28. The method of claim 15, where said second voltage signal has substantially the same magnitude as said first voltage signal.

29. A device for communicating data through a power line cable comprised of a first energized conductor and a second energized conductor, the device comprising:

a transmit circuit communicatively coupled to the first energized conductor and the second energized conductor; and

wherein said transmit circuit is configured to differentially apply data signals representing the data to the first energized conductor and the second energized conductor.

30. The device of claim 29, wherein said transmit circuit is comprised of a transformer having a first winding and a seconding winding and wherein a first end of said second winding is communicatively coupled to said first energized conductor and said second end of said second winding is communicatively coupled to said second energized conductor.

31. The device of claim 29, further comprising a first modem communicatively coupled to said transmit circuit.

32. The device of claim 31, further comprising a second modem communicatively coupled to said first modem.

33. The device of claim 32, further comprising a router communicatively coupled to said first modem.

34. The device of claim 32, further comprising a medium voltage coupler in communication with said second modem and communicatively coupled to a medium power line.

35. The device of claim 34, wherein said medium voltage coupler employs inductive coupling.

36. The device of claim 34, wherein said medium voltage coupler employs capacitive coupling.

37. The device of claim 31, further comprising a router in communication with said first modem.

38. The device of claim 29, further comprising a processor in operative control of said transmit circuit.

39. The device of claim 29, wherein said transmit circuit is communicatively coupled to the first energized conductor via a first conductor and communicatively coupled to the second energized conductor via a second conductor;

and wherein said first and second conductors form a twisted pair.

40. The method of claim 29, wherein the power line cable is further comprised of a neutral conductor and said first voltage signal and said second voltage signal are referenced to the neutral conductor.

41. The device of claim 29, wherein the data is communicated using OFDM.

42. The device of claim 29, further comprising a coupler for communicatively coupling data to and from a medium voltage power line.

43. The device of claim 42, wherein said transmit circuit forms part of a data path bypassing a transformer.

44. The device of claim 43, wherein said coupler is an inductive coupler.

45. The device of claim 43, wherein said coupler is a capacitive coupler.

46. The device of claim 29, further comprising a wireless transceiver for receiving the data.

47. The device of claim 29, further comprising a fiber optic transceiver for receiving the data.

48. The device of claim 29, further comprising a power supply configured to receive power from the power line cable and provide power to said transmit circuit.

49. The device of claim 29, further comprising a receive circuit configured to receive data remotely transmitted by applying a voltage to only one of the first and second energized conductor.

50. The device of claim 49, wherein said receive circuit comprises a filter and an amplifier.

51. The device of claim 29, further comprising a frequency translation circuit for receiving the data in a first frequency range, and converting said data to a second frequency range different from the first frequency range.

52. The device of claim 29, wherein the first and second energized conductors carry power signals that are substantially one hundred eighty degrees out of phase.

53. The device of claim 29, wherein the first and second energized conductors carry power signals that have a voltage less than one thousand volts.

54. A method of communicating data through a power line cable comprised of a first energized conductor and a second energized conductor, the method comprising:

applying a first current signal representing the data to the first energized conductor;

applying a second current signal representing the data to the second energized conductor; and

wherein the second current signal is opposite in direct and substantially the same in magnitude as said first current signal.

55. A device for communicating data through a power line cable comprised of a first energized conductor and a second energized conductor, the power line cable communicatively coupled to an electrical distribution network infrastructure, the device comprising:

a coupler configured to be coupled to the electrical distribution network infrastructure;

said coupler comprising a transmit circuit communicatively coupled to the first energized conductor and the second energized conductor;

wherein said transmit circuit is configured to differentially apply data signals representing the data to the first energized conductor and the second energized conductor; and

a modem in communication with said coupler to communicate data through the external power lines.