Method and apparatus for attaching power line communications to customer premises
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method and apparatus for modifying a three-phase power distribution network in a building in order to provide data communication by using a Power Line Carrier (PLC) signal to an approximate electrical central location point of the power distribution system remote from the data entry point of the building. A passive coupler device is attached to a centrally located service panel. The passive coupler receives the Power Line Carrier (PLC) signal from the remote entry point in the building and conditions the signal for entry at the service panel onto each phase of the three phase power distribution network.
38 Citations
59 Claims
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1-38. -38. (canceled)
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39. A system for interfacing a communication device with a multiple-phase power network residing in a building, wherein the multiple-phase power network includes multiple power wires with each power wire corresponding to a respective phase of the multiple-phase power network, and wherein the multiple-phase power network also includes a first service panel located within the building, the system comprising:
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an electronic network coupled to the communication device via a first interface, wherein the first interface does not include any power wire of the multiple-phase power network residing in the building;
wherein the electronic network includes one or more carrier current couplers each providing an electrical interface between the communication device and a respective power wire of the three-phase power network at the first service panel, and wherein the electronic network is configured to split a first communication signal received from the communication device and feed the split communication signal to each power wire of the multiple-phase power network at the first service panel through the one or more carrier current couplers such that the first communication signal can be effectively distributed throughout at least a portion of the building. - View Dependent Claims (40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 52, 59)
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49. A method for interfacing a communication device with a three-phase power network residing in a building, wherein the three-phase power network includes at least three power wires each corresponding to a respective phase of the three-phase power network, and wherein the three-phase power network also includes a first service panel located within the building, the method comprising:
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receiving a first communication signal from a communication device;
splitting the communication signal into three portions; and
feeding the portions of the split communication signal to each power wire of the three-phase power network at the first service panel such that the first communication signal can be effectively distributed throughout at least a portion of the building receiving at least one of the power wires. - View Dependent Claims (50, 51, 53)
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54. A system for interfacing a communication device with a three-phase power network residing in a building, wherein the three-phase power network includes at least three power wires each corresponding to a respective phase of the three-phase power network, the system comprising:
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an interface means for providing an electrical interface between the communication device and the three-phase power network;
wherein the interface means splits a first communication signal received from the communication device into three portions and simultaneously feeds the split communication signal to each power wire of the three-phase power network at a common location such that the first communication signal can be effectively distributed throughout at least a portion of the building receiving at least one of the power wires. - View Dependent Claims (55, 56, 57, 58)
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Specification