Apparatus and method for providing span power to communication equipment at a customer premise

• US 6,580,254 B2
• Filed: 03/09/2001
• Issued: 06/17/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 03/09/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: ADTRAN Incorporated (ADTRAN Holdings, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: ADTRAN Incorporated (ADTRAN Holdings, Inc.)
• Inventors: Schofield, Wade S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Patel, Rajnikant B.
• Application Number:
  US09/802,400
• Publication Number:
  US 20020130641A1
• Time in Patent Office: 830 Days
• Field of Search: 323/239, 323/240, 323/249, 323/282, 323/285, 455/401, 455/383, 455/90, 340/310.01, 340/310.02, 340/310.03, 340/310.05, 340/310.06, 379/386, 379/324
• US Class Current: 323/234
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 1/002 Intermediate AC, e.g. DC supply with intermediated AC distribution
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 1/06 Two-wire systems
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 9/061 for DC powered loads
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 19/08 with current supply sources at the substations generating ringing current H04M19/04

Abstract

An apparatus and method are disclosed for providing backup power over communication wires from a central office of a service provider to a remote customer premise. In accordance with the invention, a high voltage direct current (HVDC) power signal and a digital data signal are combined and coupled to the communication wires at the central office. The combined signal is then transmitted along the communication wires to the remote customer premise. At the customer premise, the HVDC power signal is separated from the digital data signal. The HVDC power signal is then down converted into a low voltage direct current (LVDC) power signal that is coupled to premise communication wires at the remote customer premise. The premise communication wires them provide a path for the data signal and the LVDC power signal to the customer premise equipment (CPE). Thus, a reliable and safe source of backup power is provided for the CPE over existing communications wires.

Claims

1. A method of delivering power to a customer premise over communication wires used as a communication media for sending a communication signal between a central location and a customer premise, the method comprising the steps of:

combining a HVDC signal with the communication signal to produce a combined signal at the central location;

sending the combined signal from the central location to the customer premise over the communication wires;

separating the HVDC signal from the combined signal proximate the customer premise to provide a customer premise HVDC signal;

converting the customer premise HVDC signal to a customer premise LVDC signal; and

coupling the customer premise LVDC signal and the communication signal to premise communication wires in the customer premise.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of converting the customer premise HVDC signal to the customer premise LVDC signal is performed in a restricted location proximate the customer premise such that customer access to the customer premise HVDC signal is restricted.

3. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of filtering the customer premise LVDC signal to prevent noise from coupling to the premise communication wires.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the customer premise HVDC signal has a value between approximately 100-250 volts and wherein the step of converting the customer premise HVDC signal to a customer premise LVDC signal further comprises converting the customer premise HVDC signal having a voltage value in the range of approximately 100-250 volts to the customer premise LVDC signal having a voltage value in the range of approximately 25-75 volts.

5. A method of providing power from a central location to a remote location wherein data is transferred between the central location and the remote location over communication wires, the method comprising the steps of:

combining a HVDC power signal with a data signal at the central location;

transmitting the combined HVDC power signal and the data signal from the central location to the remote location on the communication wires;

separating the HVDC power signal from the data signal at the remote location;

converting the HVDC power signal to a LVDC power signal; and

combining the LVDC power signal and the data signal at the remote location.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein the step of providing access to the LVDC power signal at the remote location further comprises coupling the combined LVDC power and data signal to premise communication wires at the remote location.

7. The method of claim 5 wherein the step of converting the HVDC power signal to the LVDC power signal is performed in a restricted location at the remote location.

8. The method of claim 5 wherein the HVDC power signal has a voltage value between approximately 100-250 volts and wherein the step of converting the HVDC power signal to the LVDC power signal further comprises converting the HVDC power to a LVDC power signal having a voltage value between approximately 25-75 volts.

9. A system for providing power from a central location to a remote location wherein communication signals are transferred between the central location and the remote location on communication wires, the system comprising:

a high voltage power supply located at the central location wherein the high voltage power supply produces a HVDC power signal and couples the high voltage power signal to the communication wires; and

a receiving unit located at the remote location and coupled to the communication wires wherein the receiving unit receives the HVDC power signal and converts the HVDC power signal to a LVDC power signal and couples the LVDC power signal to premise communication wires located at the remote location.

10. The system of claim 9 wherein the communication wires further comprise a twisted wire pair.

11. The system of claim 9 wherein the receiving unit is positioned at the remote location in a restricted area such that human access to the HVDC power signal is minimized.

12. The system of claim 9 wherein the receiving unit further comprises a HVDC-to-LVDC converter.

13. The system of claim 12 further comprising filters for isolating the converter from the premise communication wires.

14. The system of claim 11 wherein the HVDC power signal has a voltage value between approximately 100-250 volts and the LVDC power signal has a voltage value between approximately 25-75 volts.

15. The system of claim 9 wherein the receiving unit further comprises:

a communication transformer having a primary winding connected to the communication wires and a secondary winding connected to the premise communication wires for transferring AC signals from the communication wires to the premise communication wires; and

a converter having an input connected to the communication wires and having an output connected to the premise communication wires for receiving HVDC power from the communications wires and producing low voltage DC power on the premise communication wires.

16. The system of claim 9 wherein the receiving unit further comprises:

a communication transformer having a first primary winding, a second primary winding, a first secondary winding, and a second secondary winding, each of the windings having first and second ends;

electrical connections between the first ends of the first and second primary windings and the communication wires;

a converter having an input connected to the second ends of the first and second primary windings and having an output connected to the first ends of the first and second secondary windings; and

electrical connections between the second ends of the first and second secondary windings and the premise communication wires;

wherein the converter is configured to receive the HVDC power signal from the communication wires through the primary windings and apply the LVDC power signal to the premise communication wires through the secondary windings; and

wherein the communication transformer is configured to receive the data signal from the communication wires and apply the data signal to the premise communication wires.

17. An apparatus for providing power from a central office to premise communication wires of a customer premise over communication wires, said apparatus comprising:

a central office transceiver for transmitting and receiving data signals;

a central office power supply for producing a HVDC power signal;

a combiner for combining transmitted data signals from the central office transceiver with the HVDC power signal from the central office power supply to form a combined signal and coupling said combined signal to said communication wires;

a splitter for receiving said combined signal and separating said combined signal into a premise data signal and a premise HVDC power signal;

a high voltage-to-low voltage, DC-to-DC converter for converting the premise HVDC power signal into a premise LVDC power signal; and

a premise combiner for combining said premise data signal and said premise LVDC power signal and coupling said combined premise signal to said premise communication wires.

18. The apparatus of claim 17 further comprising customer premise equipment for receiving said combined premise signal from said premise communication wires wherein said customer premise equipment has a second splitter for separating the combined premise signal into the premise data signal and the premise LVDC power signal.

19. The apparatus of claim 17 wherein said customer premise equipment further comprises a backup power selection device for coupling said premise LVDC power signal to said customer premise equipment when a primary power supply of said customer premise equipment is unavailable.