Power Line Coupling Device and Method

• US 20090002094A1
• Filed: 06/26/2007
• Published: 01/01/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 06/26/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Chemtron Research LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Original Assignee: Current Technologies LLC (Pattern Inc.)
• Inventors: Radtke, William O.
• Granted Patent: US 7,795,994 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 333/132
• 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 3/56 Circuits for coupling, blocking, or by-passing of signals

Abstract

A power line coupler for communicating data signals over a power distribution system having a first and second overhead energized medium voltage power line conductors is provided. In one embodiment, the coupler includes a first lightening arrestor having a first end and a second end, wherein the first end of the first arrestor is connected to the first power line conductor. The coupler further includes a first high frequency impedance having a first end connected to the second end of the first lightening arrestor and the first impedance having a second end connected to a neutral conductor of the power line distribution system. The coupler may further include a second lightening arrestor having a first end and a second end, wherein the first end of the second arrestor is connected to the second power line conductor. The coupler further including a second high frequency impedance having a first end connected to the second end of the second lightening arrestor and a second end connected to the neutral conductor. The first high frequency impedance and the second high frequency impedance may each comprise an air core coil that forms an inductor. The coupler may further include a balun having a first winding and a second winding, wherein the first winding is coupled to a communication device, and wherein the second winding has a first end connected to the first end of the first high frequency impedance and a second end connected to the first end of the second high frequency impedance.

Claims

1. A power line coupler configured to couple communication signals between a communication device having a first terminal and a second terminal and a power distribution system having a first and a second overhead energized power line conductor, and a neutral conductor, comprising:

a first capacitor having a first end and a second end;

wherein said first end of said first capacitor is connected to the first power line conductor;

wherein said second end of said first capacitor is configured to be communicatively coupled to the first terminal of the communication device;

a second capacitor having a first end and a second end;

wherein said first end of said second capacitor is connected to the second power line conductor; and

wherein said second end of said second capacitor is configured to be communicatively coupled to the second terminal of the communication device.

2. The coupler of claim 1, further comprising:

a first high frequency impedance having a first end connected to said second end of said first capacitor, said first high frequency impedance having a second end connected to the neutral conductor;

a second high frequency impedance having a first end connected to said second end of said second capacitor, said second high frequency impedance having a second end connected to the neutral conductor.

3. The coupler of claim 2, wherein said second end of said first impedance and said second end of said second impedance are connected to the neutral conductor via a common conductor.

4. The coupler of claim 2, wherein said first high frequency impedance and said second high frequency impedance each comprise an air core inductor.

5. The coupler of claim 4, wherein said first capacitor comprises a first lightening arrestor and said second capacitor comprises a second lightening arrestor.

6. The coupler of claim 2, wherein said first high frequency impedance and said second high frequency impedance each comprise a spiral conductor.

7. The coupler of claim 2, wherein said first capacitor comprises a first lightening arrestor and said second capacitor comprises a second lightening arrestor.

8. The coupler of claim 2, further comprising:

a transformer having a first winding and a second winding;

wherein said first winding has a first end coupled to the first terminal of the communication device;

wherein said first winding has a second end coupled to the second terminal of the communication device;

wherein said second winding has a first end connected to said first end of said first high frequency impedance; and

wherein said second winding has a second end connected to the said end of said second high frequency impedance.

9. The coupler of claim 8, wherein said first capacitor comprises a first lightening arrestor and said second capacitor comprises a second lightening arrestor.

10. The coupler of claim 1, further comprising:

a transformer having a first winding and a second winding;

wherein said first winding has a first end coupled to the first terminal of the communication device;

wherein said first winding has a second end coupled to the second terminal of the communication device;

wherein said second winding has a first end connected to said second end of said first capacitor; and

wherein said second winding has a second end connected to said second end of said second capacitor.

11. The coupler of claim 1, wherein said first capacitor comprises a first lightening arrestor and said second capacitor comprises a second lightening arrestor.

12. A power line coupler configured to couple communication signals to and from a power distribution system having a first and a second overhead energized power line conductor, and a neutral conductor, comprising:

a first lightening arrestor having a first end and a second end, wherein said first end of said first lightening arrestor is connected to the first power line conductor;

a first high frequency impedance having a first end connected to said second end of said first lightening arrestor, said first impedance having a second end connected to the neutral conductor;

a second lightening arrestor having a first end and a second end, wherein said first end of said second lightening arrestor is connected to the second power line conductor; and

a second high frequency impedance having a first end connected to said second end of said second lightening arrestor, said second impedance having a second end connected to the neutral conductor.

13. The coupler of claim 12, wherein said first high frequency impedance and said second high frequency impedance each comprise an air core inductor.

14. The coupler of claim 12, further comprising:

a transformer having a first winding and a second winding,

wherein said first winding is coupled to a communication device;

wherein said second winding has a first end connected to said first end of said first high frequency impedance; and

wherein said second winding has a second end connected to said first end of said second high frequency impedance.

15. The coupler of claim 14, wherein the communication device is configured to:

determine that the lightening arrestor is blown; and

transmit a notification when the lightening arrestor is blown.

16. The coupler of claim 12, wherein said second end of said first lightening arrestor is configured to be coupled to a first terminal of a communication device and said second end of said second lightening arrestor is configured to be coupled to a second terminal of the communication device.

17. The coupler of claim 12, wherein:

said first end of said first impedance is connected to said second end of said first lightening arrestor via a first conductor;

said first end of said second impedance is connected to said second end of said second lightening arrestor via a second conductor; and

said first conductor and said second conductor are configured to form a two wire transmission line.

18. The coupler of claim 12, wherein said first high frequency impedance and said second high frequency impedance each comprise an air core inductor having a spiral portion.

19. The coupler of claim 12, wherein said first high frequency impedance and said second high frequency impedance are connected to the neutral conductor via a common conductor.

20. A method of coupling communication signals to and from first and second energized power line conductors, comprising:

providing a first data path from the first energized conductor through a first lightening arrestor to a first terminal of a communication device; and

providing a second data path from the second energized conductor through a second lightening arrestor to a second terminal of the communication device.

21. The method of claim 20, further comprising:

providing a first lightening path configured to conduct electricity from a lightening strike that includes the first lightening arrestor a ground conductor; and

providing a second lightening path configured to conduct electricity from a lightening strike that includes the second lightening arrestor and the ground conductor.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein the first lightening path and the second lightening path further include a common conductor.

23. The method of claim 21, wherein:

the first lightening path further includes a first high frequency impedance; and

the second lightening path further includes a second high frequency impedance.

24. The method of claim 21, wherein:

the first lightening path further includes a first air core inductor; and

the second lightening path further includes a second air core inductor.

25. The method of claim 24, wherein the first air core inductor and the second air core inductor each comprises a spiral portion.

26. The method of claim 20, wherein:

the first data path includes a balun disposed between the first lightening arrestor and the first terminal of the communication device; and

the second data path includes the balun disposed between the second lightening arrestor and the second terminal of the communication device.

27. The method claim 20, further comprising:

providing a first conductive path that includes a first high frequency impedance between the first lightening arrestor and a neutral conductor; and

providing a second conductive path that includes a second high frequency impedance between the second lightening arrestor and the neutral conductor.

28. The method claim 20, further comprising:

providing a first conductive path that includes a first air core inductor between the first lightening arrestor and a neutral conductor; and

providing a second conductive path that includes a second air core inductor between the second lightening arrestor and the neutral conductor.