Non-intrusive coupling to shielded power cable

• US 6,980,089 B1
• Filed: 08/08/2001
• Issued: 12/27/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 08/09/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: CommWorks Solutions, LLC (IP Investments Group LLC)
• Original Assignee: Current Technologies LLC (Pattern Inc.)
• Inventors: Kline, Paul A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hofsass, Jeffery
• Assistant Examiner(s): Previl, Daniel
• Application Number:
  US09/924,730
• Time in Patent Office: 1,602 Days
• Field of Search: 340/310.01, 340/310.02, 340/310.03, 340/310.06, 340/310.07, 340/310.08, 455/402
• US Class Current: 375/258
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 2203/5483 using coupling circuits
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 3/56 Circuits for coupling, blocking, or by-passing of signals

Abstract

The invention describes a method and a device for transporting a signal over a power line. The inventive method includes inducing an alternating current (AC) voltage from the power line, powering a transceiver device with the induced AC voltage, communicating the signal with the transceiver device via the power line. The method further may include transmitting and/or receiving the signal with an end user via the transceiver device. The transceiver device may be a fiber optic-based device that transmits data to the end user over non-metallic fiber optic links. The method may filter the induced AC voltage, and separately filter the signal.

Claims

1. A method for communicating a data signal over a power line carrying a power signal, wherein the method comprises:

providing a transformer having a winding and a core;

disposing the core of the transformer in sufficiently close proximity to the power line to induce an AC voltage in the winding from the power signal carried by the power line;

powering a transceiver device with the induced AC voltage; and

communicating the data signal with the transceiver device via the power line.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising transmitting the data signal to an end user communication device via the transceiver device.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the data signal is transmitted over a fiber optic link.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein the data signal is wirelessly transmitted.

5. The method of claim 2, wherein the said transmitted data signal is a radio frequency signal.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the transmitted data signal is a fiber optic radio frequency signal.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving the data signal from an end user communication device via the transceiver device.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the data signal is received over a fiber optic link.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising filtering the induced AC voltage.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising filtering the data signal.

11. The method of claim 1, further comprising converting the induced an AC voltage to a direct current voltage.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein said core is disposed substantially around the entire circumference of the power line.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the power line comprises a center conductor, an insulator, and a second conductor external to the insulator.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein the induced voltage is induced from the current carried by the power line.

15. The device of claim 1, further comprising filtering the data signal received with a high pass filter.

16. The method of claim 1, wherein powering the transceiver comprises providing the induced voltage to a power supply.

17. The method of claim 1, wherein the communicating the data signal comprises receiving the data signal from the power line.

18. The method of claim 17, further comprising transmitting the data signal to an end user device with the transceiver device via a radio signal.

19. The method of claim 17, wherein the data signal received from the power line is supplied via an access point to the Internet.

20. A device for communicating a data signal over a power line, wherein the power line carries a power signal, the device comprising:

a transformer device having a winding and a core configured to be disposed in sufficiently close proximity to the power line to induce an AC voltage from the power signal carried by the power line in the winding;

a transceiver that is configured to receive power from the transformer device, and

wherein said transceiver is configured to communicate the data signal through the power line.

21. The device of claim 20, further comprising:

a ferrite member disposed in proximity to the power line for increasing the inductance of a section of the power line; and

an enclosure for housing the ferrite member, the transformer device, and the transceiver device.

22. The device of claim 21, wherein the enclosure provides a ground potential.

23. The device of claim 20, wherein the power line comprises a center conductor, an insulator, and a second conductor external to the insulator, wherein the transceiver communicates the data signal through the second conductor.

24. The device of claim 23, wherein the power line includes an outer insulator external to the second conductor, said outer insulator includes a gap, and the transceiver is coupled to the second conductor at said gap in the outer insulator of the power line.

25. The device of claim 20, wherein the transformer device is a current transformer.

26. The device of claim 20, wherein the transceiver is a fiber optic transceiver.

27. The device of claim 20, wherein the power received by the transceiver is an AC power signal and the transceiver converts the AC power signal to a direct current (DC) power signal.

28. The device of claim 20, wherein the power received by the transceiver is an AC power signal and further comprising a low-pass filter for filtering the AC power signal provided by the transformer device.

29. The device of claim 20, further comprising a high-pass filter for filtering the data signal provided via the power line.

30. The device of claim 20, wherein said core is disposed substantially around the entire circumference of the power line.

31. The device of claim 20, wherein the transceiver is a radio frequency transceiver.

32. The device of claim 20, wherein the transceiver is configured to receive the data signal from the power line.

33. The device of claim 32, wherein the transceiver is further configured to transmit the data signal to an end user device via a radio frequency.

34. The device of claim 32, wherein the data signal received from the power line is supplied via an access point to the Internet.

35. A method for providing communication of a data signal over a coaxial power cable having a center conductor carrying a power signal, an outer conductor, and an outer insulator outside the outer conductor, the method comprising:

removing a portion of the outer insulator of the coaxial power cable;

coupling a communication device to the outer conductor of the coaxial power cable where the outer insulator is removed;

providing a transformer having a winding and a core;

disposing the core of the transformer in sufficiently close proximity to the power line to induce an AC voltage in the winding from the power signal carried by the power line; and

providing the induced voltage power to power the communication device.

36. The method of claim 35, further comprising grounding the outer conductor at a predetermined distance from the communication device.

37. The method of claim 36, further comprising selecting the predetermined length to provide a predetermined inductance value.

38. The method of claim 35, further comprising providing at least one ferrite core outside the outer insulator to adjust an inductance.

39. The method of claim 35, further comprising providing a gap in the outer conductor, wherein the communication device is communicatively coupled to the outer conductor on both sides of the gap.

40. The method of claim 35, wherein the induced voltage is supplied to the communication device via a power supply.

41. The method of claim 35, wherein the induced voltage is induced from the current carried by the power line.

42. A system for communicating a data signal on the outer conductor of an electric power line carrying an AC power signal having a current signal and a first voltage on a center conductor, comprising:

a transceiver in communication with the electric power line, wherein the transceiver is communicatively coupled to the outer conductor to provide communications therethrough,

providing a transformer having a winding and a core;

disposing the core of the transformer in sufficiently close proximity to the power line to induce an second voltage in the winding from the power signal carried by the center conductor line;

a power supply that converts the second voltage to a direct current voltage, wherein the direct current voltage is provided to transceiver; and

wherein said transceiver is conductively coupled to the outer conductor to facilitate data communications therethrough.

43. The system of claim 42, wherein the data signal communicated through the outer conductor traverses an access point to the Internet.

44. The system of claim 42, wherein the power line has an insulative cover, a portion of which is removed.

45. The system of claim 44, wherein the removed portion of the insulative cover exposes the outer conductor.

46. The system of claim 42, wherein the transceiver receives signals from and transmits data signals to a customer premise device.

47. The system of claim 46, wherein the customer premise device is at least one of the following:

a computer, a telephone, and a facsimile machine.

48. The system of claim 42, wherein said core is disposed substantially around the entire circumference of the power line.