DATA TRANSFER FACILITATION ACROSS A DISTRIBUTED MESH NETWORK USING LIGHT AND OPTICAL BASED TECHNOLOGY

• US 20170134092A1
• Filed: 10/24/2016
• Published: 05/11/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 10/22/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Delta Energy & Communications, LLC
• Original Assignee: Delta Energy & Communications, LLC
• Inventors: FOSTER, Scott, TEICHMANN, Keith
• Granted Patent: US 10,476,597 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 10/11 Arrangements specific to free-space transmission, i.e. transmission through air or vacuum
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 10/27 Arrangements for networking
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 10/40 Transceivers

Abstract

A transformer monitoring device for a smart grid network is provided, which is configured to transmit and receive optical signaling between other transformer monitoring devices and other devices in the smart grid network. The transformer monitoring device includes a receiver configured to receive optical signaling, a signal processor and a transmitter configured to transmit optical signaling. The signal processor is configured to receive optical signaling from the receiver, which contains information about collected data, including data related to electrical signaling being processed by a transformer located and arranged in a grid network or metered data related to associated signaling being provided from the transformer to a building or structure in the grid network and determine corresponding optical signaling containing information about the collected data for transmitting back to a central location or other connected device for further processing, based upon the signaling received.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising:

a receiver configured to receive optical signaling;

a signal processor configured to;

receive said optical signaling from the receiver, which contains information about collected data, including data related to electrical signaling being processed by a transformer located and arranged in a grid network or metered data related to associated signaling being provided from the transformer to a building or structure in the grid network; and

determine corresponding optical signaling containing information about the collected data for transmitting back to a central location or other connected device for further processing, based upon the signaling received; and

a transmitter configured to transmit said corresponding optical signaling.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the receiver is further configured to receive optical signaling containing information about digital content requested by one or more devices locally deployed in the grid network;

and the signal processor is further configured to determine corresponding optical signaling containing information about the digital content requested by the one or more devices for providing back to a central location in the grid network for further processing, based upon the optical signaling received containing information about digital content.

3. The apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the transmitter is further configured to transmit the corresponding optical signaling containing information about the digital content back to the central location in the grid network for further processing.

4. The apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the receiver is further configured to:

receive associated signaling containing information about the digital content requested back from the central location in the grid network; and

the signal processor is further configured to determine digital content optical signaling containing information about the digital content requested for providing to the one or more devices, based upon the associated signaling received.

5. The apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the transmitter is configured to provide the digital content optical signaling to the one or more devices.

6. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the apparatus comprises a transformer monitor, communication and data collection device having a housing with a magnet, strap or bolt attachment for attaching the housing to a corresponding housing of the transformer located and arranged in the grid network.

7. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the apparatus comprises a transformer monitor, communication and data collection device having a housing that is waterproof and environmentally sealed and that contains the signal processor therein.

8. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the apparatus comprises a transformer monitor, communication and data collection device having an upper housing, a lower housing base and internal circuitry configured to implement transmission, reception, networking and data aggregation, and sensor input signal processing functionality.

9. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the metered data is received from an electric meter associated with the building or structure, including where the meter data is received from a gas meter, or a water meter, or some combination of meters.

10. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the received optical signaling contains associated information about the distribution of the electrical signaling in the grid network.

11. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the apparatus is configured to establish a wireless mesh network accessible by devices in the grid network.

12. The apparatus according to claim 11, further comprising:

a second receiver and a second transmitter configured for cellular communication.

13. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a housing with a magnet, strap or bolt attachment for attaching the housing to an unmanned aerial vehicle.

14. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the receiver is configured to receive said optical signaling from an electric meter of the building or structure in the grid network and said optical signaling contains information about electricity usage measured by the electric meter.

15. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the transmitter of the apparatus is configured to transmit optical signaling to one or more electric meters in the grid network, instructing the electric meters to establish a wireless mesh network in the grid network.

16. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the receiver, signal processor and transmitter are configured for one or more of visible light communication, infrared light communication, laser technology communication, light emitting diode communication, or light fidelity communication.