Magnetic field based power transmission line communication method and system

• US 6,765,479 B2
• Filed: 01/14/2002
• Issued: 07/20/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 05/22/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: William L. Stewart
• Original Assignee: William L. Stewart
• Inventors: Stewart, William L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lee, Benjamin C.
• Application Number:
  US10/047,299
• Publication Number:
  US 20030132836A1
• Time in Patent Office: 918 Days
• Field of Search: 340/310.01, 340/310.03, 340/310.07, 333/17.1, 333/124, 333/100, 333/24.R, 455/41, 455/402
• US Class Current: 455/402
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 2203/5437 Wired telephone
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 2203/5441 Wireless systems or telephone
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 2203/5445 Local network
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 2203/5483 using coupling circuits
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 3/54 Systems for transmission via power distribution lines

Abstract

A method and system for communicating information between subscribers over power transmission lines which normally convey electrical power to a plurality of diverse electrical sites for providing electrical power to electrical devices disposed at these diverse electrical sites. The subscribers on the communication network are located at these electrical sites. The electrical power conveyed over the power transmission lines is in the form of electromagnetic radiation which has an electrical field component and an associated magnetic field component. The information, such as telephonic voice communication or other data, is transmitted in the magnetic field component of the electromagnetic radiation carried over the power transmission line, such as by exciting the field with a MASER, in order to enable communication between the subscribers at the various electrical sites. The MASER provides an inverted atomic population by pumping directly, through a Q-switch and a synthetic aperture lens, into the atomic population of the electromagnetic wave carried over the power transmission line to produce acoustic wave oscillation at the appropriate atomic transition frequency. The MASER output is transmitted within the existing magnetic flux envelope created by the magnetic field of the electromagnetic radiation carried over the power transmission line and the power transmission line acts as a magnetic waveguide for the coherent magnetic frame emissions from the MASER. Inductive coupling is used to receive the transmitted information.

Claims

1. A method for communicating information over power transmission lines, said electrical power being conveyed over said power transmission lines in the form of electromagnetic radiation along said power transmission lines, said electromagnetic radiation having an electric field component and an associated magnetic field component, said method comprising the step of:

transmitting said information in said magnetic field component of said electromagnetic radiation in the form of a coherent acoustic type signal in said magnetic field component.

2. A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein said information comprises voice information.

3. A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein said information comprises data.

4. A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein said information transmitting step comprises the step of transmitting said information in the form of a coherent acoustic type signal in said magnetic field component.

5. A method in accordance with claim 4 wherein said information transmitting step further comprises the step of providing said coherent acoustic signal from a MASER.

6. A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein said magnetic field component defines a magnetic flux envelope along said power transmission line, said information being transmitted within said magnetic flux envelope.

7. A method in accordance with claim 6 wherein said transmitting step comprises the step of transmitting said information in the form of a coherent acoustic type signal within said magnetic flux envelope.

8. A system for communicating information over power transmission lines, said electrical power being conveyed over said power transmission lines in the form of electromagnetic radiation along said power transmission lines, said electromagnetic radiation having an electric field component and an associated magnetic field component, said system comprising:

means for transmitting said information in said magnetic field component of said electromagnetic radiation for enabling communication between said subscribers at said electrical sites, wherein said information is in the form of a coherent acoustic type signal in said magnetic field component; and

means for selectively receiving said transmitted information from said magnetic field component.

9. A system in accordance with claim 8 wherein said transmitting means comprises means for transmitting said information in the form of a coherent acoustic type signal in said magnetic field component.

10. A system in accordance with claim 9 wherein said information transmitting means further comprises a MASER.

11. A system in accordance with claim 9 wherein said magnetic field component defines a magnetic flux envelope along said power transmission line, said information transmitting means further comprising means for transmitting said information within said magnetic flux envelope.

12. A system in accordance with claim 11 wherein said transmitting means comprises means for transmitting said information in the form of a coherent acoustic type signal within said magnetic flux envelope.

13. A system in accordance with claim 12 wherein said information transmitting means further comprises a MASER.

14. A system in accordance with claim 8 wherein said information comprises voice information.

15. A system in accordance with claim 8 wherein said information comprises data.