Power Line Communications Coupling Device and Method

• US 20090085726A1
• Filed: 09/27/2007
• Published: 04/02/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 09/27/2007
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Current Technologies LLC (Pattern Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Current Technologies LLC (Pattern Inc.)
• Inventors: Radtke, William O.
• Application Number:
  US11/862,353
• Publication Number:
  US 20090085726A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/310.170
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 2203/5445 Local network
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 2203/5491 using filtering and bypassing
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 3/56 Circuits for coupling, blocking, or by-passing of signals

Abstract

A method and device for providing communications via one or more underground power lines is provided. Underground power lines may comprise a plurality of segments disposed in series with each other and carrying a power having a voltage greater than one thousand volts on an internal conductor, and wherein each segment is coaxial in structure and includes a neutral conductor. In one embodiment, the device may comprise a first inductor having a first end connected to a first node and a second end connected to ground, a second inductor having a first end connected a second node and a second end connected to ground, and a transformer having a first winding having a first end and a second end. The first node may be connected to a neutral conductor of a first segment of the power line and to the first end of the first winding of said transformer. The second node may be connected to a neutral conductor of a second segment of the power line and to the second end of the first winding of said transformer. The transformer comprises a second winding configured to be communicatively coupled to a communication device.

Claims

1. A device for providing communications via an underground power line comprising a plurality of segments disposed in series with each other and carrying power having a voltage greater than one thousand volts on an internal conductor, wherein each segment is coaxial in structure and includes a neutral conductor, comprising:

a first inductor having a first end connected to a first node and a second end connected to ground;

a second inductor having a first end connected a second node and a second end connected to ground;

a transformer having a first winding having a first end and a second end;

wherein said first node is connected to a neutral conductor of a first segment of the power line and to said first end of said first winding of said transformer;

wherein said second node is connected to a neutral conductor of a second segment of the power line and to said second end of said first winding of said transformer; and

wherein said transformer comprises a second winding configured to be communicatively coupled to a communication device.

2. The device according to claim 1, further comprising:

a first voltage clamping device connected in parallel with said first inductor; and

a second voltage clamping device connected in parallel with said second inductor.

3. The device according to claim 1, wherein said first inductor comprises a first air core coil and said second inductor comprises a second air core coil.

4. The device according to claim 1, wherein said first inductor and said second inductor each comprises a coil having a plurality of loops having a substantially rectangular cross section and being separated from each other loop by a dielectric.

5. The device according to claim 1, further comprising:

a first magnetically permeable toroid disposed substantially around the entire circumference of the first segment of the power line; and

a second magnetically permeable toroid disposed substantially around the entire circumference of the second segment of the power line.

6. A method of providing communications via one or more underground power lines, each comprising a plurality of segments disposed in series with each other and carrying power having a voltage greater than one thousand volts on an internal conductor, wherein each segment is coaxial in structure and includes a neutral conductor, comprising:

conducting a first signal along a first communication path from a communication device to a neutral conductor of a first segment;

conducting a second signal along a second communication path from the communication device to a neutral conductor of a second segment; and

wherein the first signal and second signal represent the same data and are substantially the same magnitude and opposite in polarity.

7. The method according to claim 6, further comprising:

providing a first high frequency impedance path between the first communication path and ground; and

providing a second high frequency impedance path between the second communication path and ground.

8. The method according to claim 7, further comprising:

providing a first voltage clamping device disposed in parallel with said first high frequency impedance path; and

providing a second voltage clamping device disposed in parallel with said second high frequency impedance path.

9. The method according to claim 7, wherein the first and second high frequency impedance path each comprises a conductor having a magnetically permeable material disposed substantially around the entire circumference of the conductor.

10. The method according to claim 7, wherein the first and second high frequency impedance path each comprises a coil having a plurality of loops having a substantially rectangular cross section and being separated from each other loop by a dielectric.

11. The method according to claim 6, wherein:

the first signal is conducted from a first end of a first winding of a balun along the first communication path to the neutral conductor of the first segment; and

the second signal is conducted from a second end of the first winding of the balun along the second communication path to the neutral conductor of the second segment.

12. The method according to claim 6, further comprising:

providing a first magnetically permeable toroid substantially around the entire circumference of the first segment; and

providing a second magnetically permeable toroid substantially around the entire circumference of the second segment.

13. A device for providing communications via one or more underground power lines, each comprising a plurality of segments disposed in series with each other and carrying power having a voltage greater than one thousand volts on an internal conductor, wherein each segment is coaxial in structure and includes a neutral conductor, comprising:

a first high frequency impedance having a first end connected to a neutral conductor of a first segment of a power line and a second end connected to ground;

a second high frequency impedance having a first end connected to a neutral conductor of a second segment of the power line and a second end connected to ground; and

a communication device having a first terminal communicatively coupled to said first end of said first high frequency impedance and having a second terminal communicatively coupled to said first end of said second high frequency impedance.

14. The device according to claim 13, wherein said first terminal is communicatively coupled to said first end of said first high frequency impedance via a balun and said second terminal is communicatively coupled to said first end of said second high frequency impedance via said balun.

15. The device according to claim 13, further comprising:

a first magnetically permeable toroid disposed around the circumference of the first segment of the power line; and

a second magnetically permeable toroid disposed around the circumference of the second segment of the power line.

16. The device according to claim 13, further comprising:

a first voltage clamping device disposed in parallel with said first high frequency impedance; and

a second voltage clamping device disposed in parallel with said second high frequency impedance.

17. The device according to claim 13, wherein said first high frequency impedance comprises a first air core coil and said second high frequency impedance comprises a second air core coil.

18. The device according to claim 13, wherein said first high frequency impedance and said second high frequency impedance each comprises a coil having a plurality of loops having a substantially rectangular cross section and being separated from each other loop by a dielectric.

19. A device for providing communications via an underground power line carrying power having a voltage greater than one thousand volts on an internal conductor, the power line being coaxial in structure and having a neutral conductor, comprising:

a high frequency impedance having a first end connected to a first node;

wherein said first node is connected to the neutral conductor of the power line and to a communication device; and

a capacitor having a first terminal connected to the internal conductor of the power line and having a second terminal connected to ground.

20. The device according to claim 19, wherein said high frequency impedance comprises an air core coil.

21. The device according to claim 19, wherein said high frequency impedance comprises a conductor having a magnetically permeable material disposed substantially around the entire circumference of said conductor.

22. The device according to claim 19, wherein said high frequency impedance comprises a coil having a plurality of loops having a substantially rectangular cross section and being separated from each other loop by a dielectric.

23. The device according to claim 19, wherein said capacitor comprises a lightening arrestor.

24. The device according to claim 19, further comprising a voltage clamping device connected in parallel with said high frequency impedance.

25. A device for providing communications via one or more underground power lines, each comprising a plurality of segments disposed in series with each other and carrying power having a voltage greater than one thousand volts on an internal conductor, wherein each segment is coaxial in structure and includes a neutral conductor, comprising:

a first conductor having a first end coupled to a first neutral conductor of a first segment and a second end configured to be connected to a first terminal of a transmitter;

a second conductor having a first end coupled to a second neutral conductor of a second segment and having a second end configured to be connected to a second terminal of the transmitter;

a first impedance forming a conductive path between said first conductor and ground;

a second impedance forming a conductive path between said second conductor and ground; and

wherein the transmitter is configured to differentially apply communication signals to the first and second neutral conductors via said first conductor and said second conductor.