Communication methods and apparatus
First Claim
1. A method of communicating a microwave signal having a frequency of 1 GHz or higher using a cable comprising at least one conductor, the method comprising:
- positioning a transmit antenna at a transmission point on said cable at a distance from said cable to couple said microwave signal into said cable;
driving said transmit antenna with said microwave signal to induce onto said cable a propagating wave to propagate along said cable;
positioning a receive antenna to receive an electromagnetic signal generated by said propagating wave;
receiving a version of said microwave signal using said receive antenna.
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Accused Products
Abstract
This invention generally relates to methods and apparatus for radio frequency communications over mains power cabling and other wiring, in particular communications at microwave frequencies. Embodiments of the invention are particularly suitable for ultra wideband (UWB) communications. A method of communicating a microwave signal having a frequency of 1 GHz or higher using a cable comprising at least one conductor, the method comprising: positioning a transmit antenna at a transmission point on said cable at a distance from said cable to couple said microwave signal into said cable; driving said transmit antenna with said microwave signal to induce onto said cable a propagating wave to propagate along said cable; positioning a receive antenna to receive an electromagnetic signal generated by said propagating wave; receiving a version of said microwave signal using said receive antenna
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Citations
54 Claims
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1. A method of communicating a microwave signal having a frequency of 1 GHz or higher using a cable comprising at least one conductor, the method comprising:
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positioning a transmit antenna at a transmission point on said cable at a distance from said cable to couple said microwave signal into said cable;
driving said transmit antenna with said microwave signal to induce onto said cable a propagating wave to propagate along said cable;
positioning a receive antenna to receive an electromagnetic signal generated by said propagating wave;
receiving a version of said microwave signal using said receive antenna. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 43)
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15. A method of transmitting a radio frequency signal using a cable comprising at least one conductor, the method comprising:
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positioning a transmit antenna at a transmission point on said cable at a distance from said cable to couple said microwave signal into said cable;
driving said transmit antenna with said signal to induce onto said cable a propagating wave to propagate along said cable.
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16. A method of transmitting a radio frequency signal using a cable comprising a bundle of substantially electrically separate conductors, the method comprising:
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coupling said radio frequency signal to said conductors to drive said bundle of conductors with said rf signal such that each said conductor carries substantially the same signal; and
driving said bundle of conductors with said rf signal to generate a propagating rf signal associated with said cable. - View Dependent Claims (17)
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18. A radio frequency (rf) signal transmission system for transmitting a signal of at least 1 GHz guided by an electrical conductor, the system comprising:
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an electrical conductor for guiding said signal;
a transmit antenna positioned at a distance from said conductor to couple said microwave signal into said cable, said antenna being substantially resistively isolated from said conductor; and
an input, coupled to said transmit antenna, to receive said rf signal and to provide an rf drive corresponding to said signal to said antenna to launch a propagating wave corresponding to said signal on said electrical conductor. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35)
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36. An rf signal transmission system for transmitting an rf signal guided by one or more electrical conductors of an electrical cable, the rf signal having a frequency of 1 GHz or greater, the system comprising:
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a signal transducer to couple said rf signal into said electrical cable;
an input, coupled to said transducer to receive said rf signal and to provide an rf drive corresponding to said signal to said transducer to launch a propagating wave corresponding to said signal on said one or more conductors; and
means for making an electrical connection at a frequency of said rf signal to an effective ground for said propagating wave, said effective ground having an indirect connection to earth for said propagating wave, said indirect connection having an impedance at an average frequency of said signal of substantially equal to or less than the impedance of free space. - View Dependent Claims (37, 38, 39, 40, 41)
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42. An rf signal reception system for receiving a signal guided by one or more electrical conductors of an electrical cable, the signal having a frequency of greater than 1 GHz, the system comprising:
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a receive antenna for receiving said guided signal; and
means for making an electrical connection at a frequency of said rf signal to an effective ground for said guided signal, said effective ground having an indirect connection to earth for said propagating wave, said indirect connection having an impedance at an average frequency of said signal of substantially equal to or less than the impedance of free space.
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44. A method of distributing an ultrawideband (UWB) communications signal through a building, the method comprising:
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generating a UWB signal; and
coupling the UWB signal to at least one electrical conductor of a mains power supply circuit of the building to distribute the UWB signal. - View Dependent Claims (45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50)
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51. A data communications network configured to use the method of any preceding method claim.
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52. Apparatus for distributing an ultrawideband (UWB) communications signal through a building, the apparatus comprising:
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means for generating a UWB signal; and
means for coupling the UWB signal to at least one electrical conductor of a mains power supply circuit of the building to distribute the UWB signal. - View Dependent Claims (53, 54)
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Specification