Apparatus and method for providing span power to communication equipment at a customer premise
First Claim
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.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
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.
-
Citations
19 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. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
-
-
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. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7, 8)
-
-
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. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19)
-
Specification