Hybrid electricity and telecommunications distribution network

• US 6,282,405 B1
• Filed: 01/17/1997
• Issued: 08/28/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 10/22/1992
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Amperion Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Norweb PLC
• Inventors: Brown, Paul A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Grant, Chris
• Application Number:
  US08/727,505
• Time in Patent Office: 1,684 Days
• Field of Search: H04/N.716, H04/N.710, H04/N.7173, 455/3.3, 375/359, 375/257, 340/531, 340/310.06, 340/310.01, 340/310.02
• US Class Current: 725/79
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 13/00009 using pulsed signals
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 13/00017 using optical fiber
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 2203/5466 using three phases conductors
• 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

Abstract

A telecommunications network for linking a plurality of premises, comprising, typically, a fiber optic or coaxial cable, and a plurality of electrical power cables each connected to a respective one of the premises for supplying mains electrical power thereto. Each of the power cables is also connected to the fiber optic or coaxial cable so that telecommunications signals are transmissible between the fiber optic or coaxial cable and each of the power cables. A telecommunications signal is transmissible to the plurality of premises by being transmitted along the fiber optic or coaxial cable and subsequently along the respective power cable of each of the premises.

Claims

1. A network linking a plurality of premises, comprising:

a section of broadband telecommunications network, and

a plurality of electrical power cables each connected to a respective one of the premises for supplying mains electrical power thereto, and each being entirely external to said plurality of premises,

each of said power cables also being connected to the section of broadband telecommunications network so that telecommunications signals are transmissible between the section of broadband telecommunications network and each of said power cables,

wherein a telecommunications signal is transmissible at a carrier frequency greater than 1 MHz to and/or from said plurality of premises by being transmitted along the section of broadband telecommunications network and also along the respective power cable of each of said premises.

2. A network according to claim 1 further including satellite receiving means for receiving telecommunications signals from a satellite transmitter, wherein a telecommunications signal is transmissible from said satellite transmitter to said plurality of premises via said satellite receiving means, said section of broadband telecommunications network and said power cables.

3. A network according to claim 1, including a plurality of interface units, each of said interface units connecting one of said power cables to said section of broadband telecommunications network, each of said interface units including high pass filter means for allowing high frequency telecommunications signals to pass between said section of broadband telecommunications network and said power cable, and for preventing low frequency mains electrical power signals from passing therebetween.

4. A network according to claim 1, wherein said section of broadband telecommunications network includes any or all of fiber optic, twisted pair or co-axial cable.

5. A network linking a plurality of premises, comprising:

a section of broadband telecommunications network,

a plurality of electrical power cables each connected to a respective one of the premises for supplying mains electrical power thereto, and each being entirely external to said plurality of premises, and

a plurality of interface units, each of said interface units connecting one of said power cables to said section of broadband telecommunications network, each of said interface units including a high pass filter for allowing high frequency telecommunications signals to pass between said section of broadband telecommunications network and said power cable, and for preventing low frequency mains electrical power signals from passing therebetween,

wherein a telecommunications signal is transmissible at a carrier frequency greater than 1 MHz to and/or from said plurality of premises by being transmitted along the section of broadband telecommunications network and also along the respective power cable of each of said premises, and

further including a satellite receiver for receiving telecommunications signals from a satellite transmitter, wherein a telecommunications signal is transmissible from said satellite transmitter to said plurality of premises via said satellite receiver, said section of broadband telecommunications network and said power cables,

wherein said section of broadband telecommunications network includes any or all of fiber optic, twisted pair or co-axial cable.

6. A method of transmitting a telecommunications signal between a pair of buildings, including the steps of:

(i) transmitting the signal at a carrier frequency greater than 1 MHz from a first building along an external power cable for supplying mains power to the first building, followed by

(ii) transmitting the signal along a section of broadband telecommunications network, followed by

(iii) transmitting the signal along a second external power cable for supplying mains electrical power to the second building.

7. A method of transmitting a telecommunications signal according to claim 6, wherein a telecommunications signal is transmitted from a satellite transmitter to said buildings by reception of said signal from said satellite transmitter by a satellite receiver coupled to said broadband telecommunications network for transmission of said telecommunications signal from said satellite receiver over said broadband telecommunications network to said external power cables to said buildings.

8. A method of transmitting a telecommunications signal to respective telecommunications apparatus in each of a plurality of buildings, including the steps of:

(i) transmitting the telecommunications signal over a broadband telecommunications line paralleling an electrical power distribution line external to said buildings, said electrical power distribution line supplying power to each of said buildings via a respective power cable, said respective power cable being connected to said electrical distribution line at a branch point external to said each of said buildings;

(ii) near the respective branch point connecting said respective power cable to said electrical power distribution line and at a location external to said each of said buildings, injecting said telecommunications signal from said broadband telecommunications line onto said respective power cable for conveying said telecommunications signal over said respective power cable to said each of said buildings; and

(iii) near or in said each of said buildings, conveying said telecommunications signal from said respective power cable to said telecommunications apparatus in said each of said buildings.

9. A method as claimed in claim 8, which further includes a first telecommunications apparatus in a first building sending a telecommunications signal to a second telecommunications apparatus in a second building by signal transmission from the first telecommunications apparatus to a first power cable connecting the electrical power distribution line to said first building, followed by signal transmission from the first power cable to said broadband telecommunications line, followed by signal transmission from said broadband telecommunications line to a second electrical power cable connecting said electrical power distribution line to said second building, followed by signal transmission from said second electrical power cable to said second telecommunications apparatus.

10. A method as claimed in claim 8, wherein said telecommunications signal has a carrier frequency greater than 1 MHz.

11. A method as claimed in claim 8, which further includes transmitting said telecommunications signal from a satellite transmitter to a satellite receiver coupled to said broadband telecommunications line for transmission of said telecommunications signal from said satellite receiver over said broadband telecommunications line to said electrical power cables to said buildings.

12. A method of transmitting a telecommunications signal to respective telecommunications apparatus in each of a plurality of buildings, including the steps of:

(i) transmitting the telecommunications signal over a broadband telecommunications line, there being an electrical power distribution line external to said buildings, said electrical power distribution line supplying power to each of said buildings via a respective power cable, said respective power cable being connected to said electrical distribution line at a branch point external to said each of said buildings;

(ii) near the respective branch point connecting said respective power cable to said electrical power distribution line and at a location external to said each of said buildings, injecting said telecommunications signal from said broadband telecommunications line onto said respective power cable for conveying said telecommunications signal over said respective power cable to said each of said buildings; and

(iii) near or in said each of said buildings, conveying said telecommunications signal from said respective power cable to said telecommunications apparatus in said each of said buildings.

13. A method as claimed in claim 12, which further includes a first telecommunications apparatus in a first building sending a telecommunications signal to a second telecommunications apparatus in a second building by signal transmission from the first telecommunications apparatus to a first power cable connecting the electrical power distribution line to said first building, followed by signal transmission from the first power cable to said broadband telecommunications line, followed by signal transmission from said broadband telecommunications line to a second electrical power cable connecting said electrical power distribution line to said second building, followed by signal transmission from said second electrical power cable to said second telecommunications apparatus.

14. A method as claimed in claim 12, wherein said telecommunications signal has a carrier frequency greater than 1 MHz.

15. A method as claimed in claim 12, which further includes transmitting said telecommunications signal from a satellite transmitter to a satellite receiver coupled to said broadband telecommunications line for transmission of said telecommunications signal from said satellite receiver over said broadband telecommunications line to said electrical power cables to said buildings.

16. A network linking a plurality of buildings, comprising:

a section of broadband telecommunications network, and

an electrical power distribution line external to said buildings, said electrical power distribution line supplying power to each of said buildings via a respective power cable, said respective power cable being connected to said electrical distribution line at a branch point external to said each of said buildings;

near the respective branch point connecting said respective power cable to said electrical power distribution line and at a location external to said each of said buildings, each of said power cable also being connected to the section of broadband telecommunications network so that it is possible to inject said telecommunications signal from said broadband telecommunications line onto said respective power cable for conveying said telecommunications signal over said respective power cable to said each of said buildings and for conveying said telecommunications signal from said respective power cable to said telecommunications apparatus in said each of said buildings.

17. A network as claimed in claim 16, which further includes a first telecommunications apparatus in a first building for sending a telecommunications signal to a second telecommunications apparatus in a second building by signal transmission from the first telecommunications apparatus to a first power cable connecting the electrical power distribution line to said first building, followed by signal transmission from the first power cable to said broadband telecommunications line, followed by signal transmission from said broadband telecommunications line to a second electrical power cable connecting said electrical power distribution line to said second building, followed by signal transmission from said second electrical power cable to said second telecommunications apparatus.

18. A network as claimed in claim 17, wherein said telecommunications signal has a carrier frequency greater than 1 MHz.

19. A network as claimed in claimed in claim 18, which further includes a satellite transmitter to transmit said telecommunications signal to a satellite receiver coupled to said broadband telecommunications line for transmission of said telecommunications signal from said satellite receiver over said broadband telecommunications line to said electrical power cables to said buildings.