Power line communication system and method of using the same

• US 20040246107A1
• Filed: 07/02/2004
• Published: 12/09/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 02/14/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Current Technologies LLC (Pattern Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Current Technologies LLC (Pattern Inc.)
• Inventors: Kline, Paul A.
• Granted Patent: US 7,187,276 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/310.01
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4246 Bidirectionally operating package structures
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/483 Installation of aerial type
• 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 fiber optic isolator of the present invention transports data signals between high voltage power lines and a communications interface device, bypassing a step down transformer to low voltage power. The communication interface device includes a low voltage power line as well as telecommunications and wireless interfaces. The signals are coupled and de-coupled off of a high voltage power line by a power line coupler. The fiber optic isolator gets the signals (in light form) and transports them to and from the communications interface device. This insulates the system from current flow between the high voltage power lines and the communications interface.

Claims

1. A system for providing communications over an electric power system having a medium voltage power line, a plurality of customer power lines each extending to a customer residence, and a plurality of transformers coupling the medium voltage power line to the customer power lines, the system comprising:

a plurality of transformer bypass devices wherein each said transformer bypass device is communicatively coupled to the medium voltage power line and at least one customer power line to provide a data path bypassing one of said plurality of transformers; and

an aggregation device communicatively coupled to said plurality of transformer bypass devices via the medium voltage power line and forming a portion of a data path between the medium voltage power line and a point of presence.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein said aggregation device comprises:

a first modem communicatively coupled to the medium voltage power line; and

a first coupling device forming at least part of a data path between said first modem and the medium voltage power line, and wherein said first coupling device is comprised of a magnetically permeable toroid.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein said transformer bypass devices each comprise a second modem communicatively coupled to the medium voltage power line and a second coupling device forming at least part of a data path between said second modem and the medium voltage power line, and wherein said second coupling device is comprised of a magnetically permeable toroid.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein said aggregation device is in communication with the point of presence, at least in part, via an optical fiber.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein said aggregation device is in communication with the point of presence, at least in part, via a wireless link.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein each of said first transformer bypass devices, comprise:

a first modem communicatively coupled to the plurality of customer power lines; and

a second modem communicatively coupled to the medium voltage power line and said first modem.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein each of said transformer bypass devices further comprise:

a first coupling device forming at least part of a data path between said second modem and the medium voltage power line, and wherein said first coupling device is comprised of a magnetically permeable toroid.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein each of said transformer bypass devices further comprise a data router in communication with said first modem and said second modem.

9. The system of claim 7, wherein said aggregation device comprises:

a third modem communicatively coupled to the medium voltage power line and in communication with said second modem; and

a second coupling device forming at least part of a data path between said third modem and the medium voltage power line, wherein said first coupling device is comprised of a second magnetically permeable toroid.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein said second modem and said third modem communicate telephony data.

11. The system of claim 9, wherein said second modem and said third modem communicate using Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing.

12. The system of claim 8, wherein said data router is configured to prioritize transmission of data received from the customer power lines.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein said transformer bypass device communicates telephony data.

14. The system of claim 6, wherein said first modem communicates using Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing.

15. The system of claim 8, wherein said transformer bypass device communicates Internet data.

16. The system of claim 8, wherein said transformer bypass device communicates video data.

17. A transformer bypass device providing a communication path around a transformer between a medium voltage power line and a communication device, comprising:

a first modem in communication with the communication device;

a second modem in communication with said first modem and communicatively coupled to the medium voltage power line; and

a coupling device forming at least part of a data path between said second modem and the medium voltage power line wherein said coupling device is comprised of a magnetically permeable toroid; and

a data router in communication with said first modem and said second modem configured to prioritize data packets received from the plurality of communication devices for transmission on the medium voltage power line, wherein said first modem is communicatively coupled to a plurality of low voltage power lines, and wherein said first modem is in communication with a plurality of communication devices via the plurality of low voltage power lines.

18. The device of claim 17, further comprising a fiber optic isolation device disposed between said second modem and the medium voltage power line.

19. The device of claim 17, wherein said coupling device further comprises a winding communicatively coupled to said toroid.

20. The device of claim 17, wherein said second modem uses Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing.

21. The device of claim 20, wherein said first modem uses Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing.

22. The device of claim 17, wherein said first modem is a wireless modem for providing a communication link with the communication device that is at least partially wireless.

23. The device of claim 17, wherein said second modem uses Code Division Multiple Access.

24. The device of claim 17, wherein said first modem uses Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing.

25. A communication device for providing data communications through a medium voltage power line, comprising:

a communication interface providing at least part of a communication path between the medium voltage power line and a point of presence;

a modem in communication with said communication interface and in communication with the medium voltage power line; and

a coupling device forming at least part of a data path between said modem and the medium voltage power line wherein said coupling device is comprised of a magnetically permeable toroid.

26. The device of claim 25, wherein said communication interface is a fiber optic interface.

27. The device of claim 25, wherein said communication interface is a wireless interface.

28. The device of claim 25, wherein said modem uses Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing.

29. A transformer bypass device providing a data communication path between a first power line and communication device, comprising:

a first modem forming part of the data communication path;

a second modem in communication with said first modem, communicatively coupled to the second power line, and forming part of the data communication path; and

a coupling device forming at least part of the data communication path between said second modem and the second power line; and

an isolation device forming part of the data communication path.

30. The device of claim 29, wherein said coupling device is comprised of a magnetically permeable toroid.

31. The device of claim 30, wherein said coupling device is further comprised of a winding in communication with said magnetically permeable toroid.

32. The device of claim 29, wherein said isolation device is light conducting communication medium.

33. The device of claim 30, wherein said coupling device forms part of said isolation device.

34. The device of claim 29, wherein said first modem is a wireless modem.