Power line outlet strip and method for powerline communications

• US 20070156927A1
• Filed: 01/03/2006
• Published: 07/05/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 01/03/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Asoka USA Corporation (Asoka)
• Original Assignee: Asoka USA Corporation (Asoka)
• Inventors: Chan, Tat
• Granted Patent: US 7,813,099 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/250
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 2203/5454 Adapter and plugs
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 3/54 Systems for transmission via power distribution lines
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 3/56 Circuits for coupling, blocking, or by-passing of signals
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 27/2601 Multicarrier modulation systems

Abstract

A powerstrip apparatus having powerline networking capability. The apparatus has a housing member, which an outer region and an inner region. An AC power line is coupled to the housing member. In a specific embodiment, the AC powerline includes a male connector device, e.g., two prong, three prong. The apparatus has a surge protector coupled to the AC power line. The surge protector is within a first portion of the inner region of the housing member. The apparatus has one or more AC power outlets coupled to the surge protector. The one or more AC power outlets is spatially disposed on a first portion of the outer region of the housing member. An on/off switch is coupled between the one or more AC power outlets and the surge protector. A power line device is coupled to the AC powerline. The power line device is adapted to process a data signal from the AC powerline in a first format to a second format. A switching power supply is coupled to the AC powerline. The switching power supply is adapted to convert an AC power signal into a DC signal for use with the power line device. The apparatus also has a first output port coupled to an first input/output of the PLC device and may also have an Nth output port coupled to a second input/output of the PLC device; where N is an integer greater than 1.

Claims

1. A powerstrip apparatus having powerline networking capability, the power strip apparatus comprising:

a housing member, the housing member including an outer region and an inner region;

an AC power line coupled to the housing member, the AC powerline including a male connector device;

a surge protector coupled to the AC power line, the surge protector within a first portion of the inner region of the housing member;

one or more AC power outlets coupled to the surge protector, the one or more AC power outlets being spatially disposed on a first portion of the outer region of the housing member;

an on/off switch coupled between the one or more AC power outlets and the surge protector;

a power line device coupled to the AC powerline, the power line device being adapted to process a data signal from the AC powerline in a first format to a second format;

a switching power supply coupled to the AC powerline, the switching power supply being adapted to convert an AC power signal into a DC signal for use with the power line device; and

a multi-port switch coupled to the power line device, the multi-port switch being adapted to couple to the data signal in the second format, the multiport switch having a first output and an Nth output, where N is an integer greater than 1.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the first port comprises an Ethernet port.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the first port comprises a VoIP port.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a noise cancellation filter coupled to the one or more AC outlets, the noise cancellation filter being adapted to remove high frequency noise of about 1 Mega-Hertz and greater.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a noise cancellation filter coupled to the one or more AC outlets, the noise cancellation filter being adapted to remove high frequency noise ranging from about 1 Mega-Hertz to about 20 Mega-Hertz, the high frequency noise being derived through the one or more AC outlets.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the surge protector comprises a transient voltage suppressor, the transient voltage suppressor being adapted to remove one or more electro-static discharge effects.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the first output and the second output are spatially disposed, respectively, on a third portion and a fourth portion of the out region of the housing member.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the outer region of the housing member is made of a rigid plastic material.

9. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the first format is an OFDM format.

10. A power strip apparatus having power line networking capability, the power strip apparatus comprising:

a housing member, the housing member including an outer region and an inner region;

an AC power line coupled to the housing member, the AC power line including a male connector device;

a surge protector coupled to the AC power line, the surge protector within a first portion of the inner region of the housing member;

one or more AC power outlets coupled to the surge protector, the one or more AC power outlets being spatially disposed on a first portion of the outer region of the housing member;

an on/off switch coupled between the one or more AC power outlets and the surge protector, the on/off switch being adapted to turn “

on”

or “

off”

the one or more AC power outlets;

a power line device coupled to the AC power line, the power line device being adapted to process a data signal from the AC power line in a first format to a second format;

a switching power supply coupled to the AC power line, the switching power supply being adapted to convert an AC power signal into a DC signal for use with the power line device; and

a first output port coupled to an first input/output of the PLC device; and

an Nth output port coupled to a second input/output of the PLC device;

where N is an integer greater than 1.

11. A method of using a power strip apparatus having power line networking capability, the method comprising:

providing a housing member, the housing member including an outer region and an inner region, the housing member also including an AC power line coupled to the housing member, the AC power line including a male connector device;

supplying AC power to the power line and through a surge protector coupled to the AC power line, the surge protector within a first portion of the inner region of the housing member;

transferring the AC power from the powerline after the surge protector to one or more AC power outlets coupled to the surge protector, the one or more AC power outlets being spatially disposed on a first portion of the outer region of the housing member;

transferring a data signal in a first format from the AC power line to a power line device coupled to the AC power line, the power line device being adapted to process the data signal from the AC power line in the first format to a second format;

transferring one or more first portions of the data signal in the second format to a first output port coupled to an first input/output of the PLC device; and

transferring one or more Nth portions of the data signal in the second format to an Nth output port coupled to a second input/output of the PLC device;

where N is an integer greater than 1.