POWERLINE COMMUNICATION SYSTEM AND METHOD USING COUPLER DESIGN FOR ADDITIONAL USERS

• US 20070127591A1
• Filed: 02/02/2007
• Published: 06/07/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 11/12/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Asoka USA Corporation (Asoka)
• Original Assignee: Asoka USA Corporation (Asoka)
• Inventors: Mu, Songly, Chan, Tat
• Granted Patent: US 7,426,581 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 375/296
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 2203/5408 using protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 2203/5441 Wireless systems or telephone
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 2203/5445 Local network
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 2203/5466 using three phases conductors
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 2203/5483 using coupling circuits
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 3/54 Systems for transmission via power distribution lines
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 3/542 the information being in digital form
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 3/544 Setting up communications; Call and signalling arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 3/56 Circuits for coupling, blocking, or by-passing of signals
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 25/0272 Arrangements for coupling to multiple lines, e.g. for differential transmission
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 27/2601 Multicarrier modulation systems

Abstract

A powerline network system. The system includes a power transformer device at a public utility facility. The system has a powerline box coupled to the transformer device. In a preferred embodiment, the powerline box comprises at least three lines including a first phase, a second phase, and a third phase. The first phase, the second phase, and the third phase are derived from the power transformer device. The system has a powerline coupler coupled to the first phase, the second phase, and the third phase and a multichannel data communication device coupled to the powerline coupler. In a preferred embodiment, the multichannel data communication device includes N channels, whereupon N is an integer greater than 8. The system has a first capacitor and a second capacitor coupled to the first phase and a first length of wiring between the first capacitor and the second capacitor. Preferably, the first length of wire is inductively coupled to one or more power line communication devices. The system has a third capacitor and a fourth capacitor coupled to the second phase and a second length of wiring between the third capacitor and the fourth capacitor. Preferably, the second length of wiring is inductively coupled to one or more power line communication devices. The system has a fifth capacitor and a sixth capacitor coupled to the third phase and a third length of wiring between the fifth capacitor and the sixth capacitor. Preferably, the third length of wiring is inductively coupled to one or more powerline communication devices.

Claims

1. A powerline network device comprising:

a power transformer device at a public utility facility;

a powerline box coupled to the transformer device, the powerline box comprising at least three lines including a first phase, a second phase, and a third phase, the first phase, the second phase, and the third phase being derived from the power transformer device;

a powerline coupler coupled to the first phase, the second phase, and the third phase;

a multichannel data communication device coupled to the powerline coupler, the multichannel data communication device including N channels, whereupon N is an integer greater than 8, the multichannel data communication device providing data communication signals to the first phase, the second phase, and the third phase through the powerline coupler.

2. The device of claim 1 wherein N is 24.

3. The device of claim 1 wherein N is 16.

4. The device of claim 1 wherein the power transformer device is from a public utility.

5. The device of claim 4 wherein the power transformer device comprises a first output for the first phase, a second output for the second phase, and a third output for the third phase.

6. The device of claim 1 wherein the powerline coupler comprises a capacitive coupling using capacitors (not short out circuit).

7. The device of claim 1 wherein the powerline coupler comprises a first capacitor and a second capacitor and a length of wiring between the first capacitor and the second capacitor.

8. The device of claim 7 wherein the length of wiring is coupled to a core device, the core device inductively coupling the length of wiring to a powerline communication device, the powerline communication device being coupled to a computing device.

9. The device of claim 1 wherein the multichannel data communication device comprises:

a powerline chipset, the powerline chipset being adapted to convert a data signal from a first format to a second format; and

a VLAN device coupled to the powerline chipset, the VLAN device including the N channels.

10. A powerline network device comprising:

a power transformer device at a public utility facility;

a powerline box coupled to the transformer device, the powerline box comprising at least three lines including a first phase, a second phase, and a third phase, the first phase, the second phase, and the third phase being derived from the power transformer device;

a powerline coupler coupled to the first phase, the second phase, and the third phase;

a multichannel data communication device coupled to the powerline coupler, the multichannel data communication device including N channels, whereupon N is an integer greater than 8;

a first capacitor and a second capacitor being coupled to the first phase and a first length of wiring between the first capacitor and the second capacitor being inductively coupled to one or more powerline communication devices;

a third capacitor and a fourth capacitor being coupled to the second phase and a second length of wiring between the third capacitor and the fourth capacitor being inductively coupled to one or more powerline communication devices; and

a fifth capacitor and a sixth capacitor being coupled to the third phase and a third length of wiring between the fifth capacitor and the sixth capacitor being inductively coupled to one or more powerline communication devices.

11. A powerline network system for building area networking comprising:

a multichannel data communication device comprising at least N channels;

a powerline coupler coupled to each of the N channels;

a first powerline panel box comprising a first phase, a second phase, and a third phase;

a second powerline panel box comprising a first phase, a second phase, and a third phase;

an AC coupling device coupled between the first powerline panel box and the second powerline panel box, the AC coupling device comprising;

a first capacitor coupling a first phase of the first powerline panel box to a first phase of the second powerline panel box;

a second capacitor coupling a second phase of the first powerline panel box to a second phase of the second powerline panel box;

a third capacitor coupling a third phase of the first powerline panel box to a third phase of the second powerline panel box;

a first powerline network coupled to the first phase, the second phase, and the third phase of the first powerline panel;

a second powerline network coupled to the first phase, the second phase, and the third phase of the second powerline panel;

a first set of channels derived from the N channels in the first powerline network; and

a second set of channels derived from the N channels in the second powerline network.

12. The system of claim 11 wherein the first powerline panel box is within about 4 feet from the second powerline panel box.

13. The system of claim 11 wherein the first capacitor, the second capacitor, and the third capacitor are each characterized by a capacitance of about 0.1 microfarads.

14. The system of claim 11 wherein the AC coupling device coupling the first powerline panel box and the second powerline power box using a first breaker switch coupled to the first phase, a second breaker switch coupled to the second phase, and a third breaker switch coupled to the third phase.

15. The system of claim 11 further comprising a first fuse coupled to the first capacitor, a second fuse coupled to the second capacitor, and a third fuse coupled to the third capacitor of respective first phase, second phase, and third phase of the first powerline panel.

16. The system of claim 11 wherein a first transformer provides the first phase, the second phase, and the third phase of the first powerline box.

17. The system of claim 11 wherein a second transformer provides the first phase, the second phase, and the third phase of the second powerline box.

18. The system of claim 11 further comprising a first surge protection device coupled to the first capacitor, a second surge protection device coupled to the second capacitor, and a third surge protection device coupled to the third capacitor of the first powerline panel box.

19. The system of claim 11 wherein each of the surge protection device is a diode, transient voltage suppressor (TVS), zener diode, MOV, and varistor.

20. The system of claim 11 wherein the AC coupling device is provided in a module.

21. A method for converting a first electrical wiring distribution in a first portion of a building structure and a second electrical wiring distribution in a second portion of the building structure into a first powerline communication network and a second powerline communication network, the method comprising:

installing a multichannel data communication device comprising at least N channels within a portion of a building structure, the multichannel communication device comprising a powerline coupler coupled to each of the N channels;

installing an AC coupling device between a first powerline panel box comprising a first phase, a second phase, and a third phase and a second powerline panel box comprising a first phase, a second phase, and a third phase, the AC coupling device being coupled between the first powerline panel box and the second powerline panel box, the AC coupling device comprising;

a first capacitor coupling a first phase of the first powerline panel box to a first phase of the second powerline panel box;

a second capacitor coupling a second phase of the first powerline panel box to a second phase of the second powerline panel box;

a third capacitor coupling a third phase of the first powerline panel box to a third phase of the second powerline panel box;

initiating operation of the multichannel communication device to provide transfer of data signals in a first format to a second format;

forming a first powerline network coupled to the first phase, the second phase, and the third phase of the first powerline panel; and

forming a second powerline network coupled to the first phase, the second phase, and the third phase of the second powerline panel.