Power line coupling device and method of using the same

• US 7,046,124 B2
• Filed: 01/21/2003
• Issued: 05/16/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 01/21/2003
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Current Technologies LLC (Pattern Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Current Technologies LLC (Pattern Inc.)
• Inventors: Cope, Leonard D., Radtke, William O., Mollenkopf, James D.
• Primary Examiner(s): NGUYEN, HUNG T
• Application Number:
  US10/348,164
• Publication Number:
  US 20040142599A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,211 Days
• Field of Search: 34031001-31007, 375/257, 375/258, 375/259, 333/24.R, 333/101, 333/100, 333/131, 174/36
• US Class Current: 375/258
• CPC Class Codes: H01F 38/14 Inductive couplings for wireless supply or distribution of electric power using inductive coupling H02J50/10
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/6625 with capacitive component
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/6633 with inductive component, e.g. transformer
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 2203/5491 using filtering and bypassing
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 3/56 Circuits for coupling, blocking, or by-passing of signals
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/00 Near-field transmission systems, e.g. inductive or capacitive transmission systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/22 Capacitive coupling
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/266 One coil at each side, e.g. with primary and secondary coils

Abstract

The coupler of the present invention couples broadband RF signals to and from a power line conductor. The coupler of one embodiment that is for use with overhead power lines includes a length of URD MV cable with the neutral conductor removed and that is communicatively coupled to a MV power line at each end on opposite sides of a low pass filter. A radio frequency choke is communicatively coupled to URD MV cable between first and second coupling capacitors. The semi-conductive jacket of the URD cable may be coupled to ground via a low frequency conductive path.

Claims

1. A device for communicating data signals with a power line, the device comprising:

a cable comprising an internal conductor and an insulator;

an outer conductor;

wherein said insulator is disposed between said outer conductor and said internal conductor;

a magnetically permeable core disposed substantially around said cable and said outer conductor; and

a transceiver conductor coupled to said outer conductor and configured to communicate the data signals therethrough.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein said internal conductor includes a first end communicatively coupled to the power line at a first connection point on the power line and said internal conductor includes a second end communicatively coupled to the power line at a second connection point on the power line;

and further comprising;

a data impedance in communication with the power line between the first connection point and the second connection point.

3. The device of claim 2, wherein said internal conductor is communicatively coupled to a common mode choke.

4. The device of claim 3, wherein said first end of said internal conductor is communicatively coupled to a first connection lead and said second end of said internal conductor is communicatively coupled to a second connection lead, and wherein said first and second connection leads traverse through said common mode choke.

5. The device of claim 4, wherein said first connection lead is communicatively coupled to a first fuse and said second connection lead is communicatively coupled to a second fuse.

6. The device of claim 5, wherein said first fuse is disposed between said first end of said cable and said first connection lead and said second fuse is disposed between said second end of said cable and said second connection lead.

7. The device of claim 1, wherein said internal conductor, said insulator and said outer conductor form at least part of a first capacitor for communicating the data signals.

8. The device of claim 1, wherein said outer conductor is comprised of a metallic braid.

9. The device of claim 2, wherein said data impedance is comprised of at least one magnetically permeable toroid.

10. The device of claim 1, further comprising a transformer comprising a first and a second winding, and wherein said first winding has a first end in communication with said transceiver conductor.

11. The device of claim 10, wherein said second winding conductor is in communication with a data communication circuit comprised of a filter, an amplifier, and a modem.

12. The device of claim 1, further comprising a low frequency conductive path between said outer conductor and a ground potential.

13. The device of claim 1, wherein said internal conductor is communicatively coupled to a common mode choke.

14. The device of claim 13, further comprising a low frequency conductive path between said outer conductor and a ground potential.

15. The device of claim 1, wherein said device has a resonant frequency outside the band of frequencies used for communicating the data signals.

16. The device of claim 1, wherein said cable further comprises a semi-conductive jacket and further comprising a low frequency conductive path between said semi-conductive jacket and ground.

17. The device of claim 1, wherein said first end of said internal conductor of said cable is communicatively coupled to the power line via a first fuse and said second end of said internal conductor of said cable is communicatively coupled to the power line via a second fuse.

18. The device of claim 1, wherein said cable is the power line.

19. The device of claim 1, wherein said core forms part of a transformer and said internal conductor forms a first winding of said transformer.

20. The device of claim 19, wherein a second winding of said transformer is formed, at least in part, by said outer conductor.

21. A device for communicating data signals with a power line, the device comprising:

a first conductive surface;

a cable comprising a conductor and an insulator;

wherein said insulator of said cable is disposed between said first conductive surface and said conductor;

a magnetically permeable core disposed around said cable and said first conductive surface; and

wherein said conductor and said insulator of said cable, said first conductive surface, and said core form a transformer for communicating the data signals.

22. The device of claim 21, wherein said first conductive surface is formed of a metallic braid.

23. The device of claim 21, wherein said cable further comprises a semi-conductive jacket and further comprising a low frequency conductive path between said semi-conductive jacket and a neutral conductor.

24. The device of claim 21, wherein said conductor is communicatively coupled to the power line through a fuse.

25. The device of claim 21, wherein said conductor includes a first end communicatively coupled to the power line at a first connection point on the power line and said conductor includes a second end communicatively coupled to the power line at a second connection point.