System and method for reducing radiation when distributing broadband communication signals over power lines

• US 20050194838A1
• Filed: 03/03/2004
• Published: 09/08/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 03/03/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Fox Entertainment Group, Inc. (The Walt Disney Company)
• Original Assignee: Evans Wetmore
• Inventors: Wetmore, Evans
• Granted Patent: US 7,088,232 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 307/3
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 3/56 Circuits for coupling, blocking, or by-passing of signals

Abstract

A system for decreasing high frequency (HF) radiation emission in a power line comprises a first transmitter configured to transmit a utility power signal over the power line. A second transmitter transmits a high frequency communication signal over the power line so as to provide a combined utility and high frequency signal. A plurality of modulators, each of which provides a differential output signal to at least two phases of the power line such that the same high frequency data signal is transmitted via at least two phases of the power transmission line in an out-of-phase arrangement.

Claims

1. A system for decreasing high frequency (HF) radiation emission in a power line comprising:

a first transmitter configured to transmit a utility power signal over said power line;

a second transmitter configured to transmit a high frequency communication signal over said power line so as to provide a combined utility and high frequency signal over said power line; and

a plurality of modulators, each of which providing a differential output signal to at least two phases of said power line such that the same high frequency data signal is transmitted via at least said two phases of the power transmission line in an out-of-phase arrangement.

2. The invention in accordance with claim 1 wherein said plurality of modulators further comprise a first, second, and third modulators, wherein said first modulator is coupled to a first and third phase of said power line, and said second modulator is coupled to said first and a second phase of the power line, and said third modulator is coupled to said second and third phase of power line, and each of said modulators generates a first and second high frequency data signal substantially 180 degrees out-of-phase with respect to each other.

3. The system in accordance with claim 2, wherein each of said modulators is coupled to a corresponding phase line via a capacitance.

4. The system in accordance with claim 1 wherein at least one of said phase lines is the neutral phase of the power line.

5. The system in accordance with claim 1 wherein each of said modulators further comprises an amplifier having an in-phase output port and an out-of phase output port, said in-phase output port coupled to one phase of said power line.

6. The system in accordance with claim 5, wherein said out-of-phase output port is coupled to a second amplifier, an output port of said second amplifier is coupled to a second phase of said power line.

7. The system in accordance with claim 6, wherein said out-of-phase output port is coupled to said second amplifier via an infra red link.

8. The system in accordance with claim 6, wherein said out-of-phase output port is coupled to said second amplifier via a fiber optic link.

9. The system in accordance with claim 6, wherein said out-of-phase output port is coupled to said second amplifier via a radio link.

10. The system in accordance with clam 6, wherein said out-of-phase output port is coupled to said second amplifier via a wire link.

11. A system for decreasing high frequency (HF) radiation emission in a power line comprising:

a first transmitter configured to transmit a utility power signal over said power line;

a second transmitter configured to transmit a high frequency communication signal over said power line so as to provide a combined utility and high frequency signal over said power line; and

a plurality of modulators, each of which providing an output signal to a corresponding phase of said power line, wherein the same high frequency data signal is transmitted via at least two phases of the power line in an out-of-phase arrangement.

12. The system in accordance with claim 11, wherein said at least two phases of the power line is coupled to a first and a second modulator, phase locked to each other at substantially 180 degrees.

13. The system in accordance with claim 12, wherein said modulators provide the high frequency communication signal via an inductor.

14. The system in accordance with claim 12, wherein one of said phase lines is a neutral phase of the power line.

15. The system in accordance with claim 12, further comprising a data signal source configured to provide a data signal to at least two of said modulators, each of said modulators further coupled to a local oscillator so as to modulate said data signal to said high frequency data signal, wherein said local oscillators are locked to each other at substantially 180 degrees.

16. The system in accordance with claim 15 further comprising a master oscillator coupled to each of said local oscillators, wherein a first local oscillator is locked in phase with said master oscillator and a second local oscillator is locked out-of-phase with said master oscillator.

17. The system in accordance with claim 12 wherein said first and second modulators communicate together via a wireless connection.

18. The system in accordance with claim 17, wherein said first and second modulators communicate data relating to phase locking arrangement between each other.

19. The system in accordance with claim 17 wherein said wireless connection is a radio link.

20. The system in accordance with claim 17 wherein said wireless connection is an infra red link.

21. A method for decreasing high frequency (HF) radiation emission in a power line comprising the steps of:

transmitting a utility power signal over said power line; and

transmitting a high frequency communication signal via a balanced arrangement such that the same high frequency data signal is transmitted via at least two of the phases of the power line in an out-of-phase arrangement.

22. The method in accordance with claim 21, wherein step of transmitting a high frequency signal further comprises the step of maintaining said out-of-phase arrangement at substantially 180 degrees.

23. The method in accordance with claim 21 further comprising the step of providing said high frequency data signal to a first and a second phase of said power line, in an out-of-phase arrangement, providing a second high frequency data signal to said first and a third phase of said power line, and providing a third high frequency data signal to said second and third phase of said power line.

24. The method in accordance with claim 21 wherein one of said at least two phases of the power line is a neutral line.

25. The method in accordance with claim 21 further comprising the step of feeding each of said phases via a capacitance.

26. The method in accordance with claim 21 further comprising the step of feeding each of said phases via an inductance.