Arrangement of inductive couplers for data communication

• US 7,154,382 B2
• Filed: 10/22/2004
• Issued: 12/26/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 12/30/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Ericsson, Inc. (Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson)
• Original Assignee: Ambient S A
• Inventors: Cern, Yehuda
• Primary Examiner(s): Crosland, Donnie L.
• Application Number:
  US10/971,412
• Publication Number:
  US 20050062589A1
• Time in Patent Office: 795 Days
• Field of Search: 340/310.11, 340/310.13, 340/310.16, 340/310.17, 340/310.18
• US Class Current: 340/12.38
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 2203/5483 using coupling circuits
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 2203/5487 cables
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 3/56 Circuits for coupling, blocking, or by-passing of signals

Abstract

There is provided a system including (a) a first inductive coupler for coupling a data signal between a port of the first inductive coupler and a first subset of a plurality of electrically parallel conductors, and (b) a second inductive coupler for coupling the data signal between a port of the second inductive coupler and a second subset of the plurality of conductors. There are also provided methods for arranging such a system.

Claims

1. A system comprising:

a first inductive coupler for coupling a data signal between a port of said first inductive coupler and a first subset of a plurality of electrically parallel conductors; and

a second inductive coupler for coupling said data signal between a port of said second inductive coupler and a second subset of said plurality of conductors.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein said first subset is identical to said second subset.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein said second subset is complementary of said first subset.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein said data signal is carried on a frequency of greater than or equal to 1 MHz.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein said plurality of conductors are for carrying electrical power.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein said plurality of conductors are components of a riser set segment in a building.

7. The system of claim 6,

wherein said riser set segment is a first riser set segment, and

wherein said port of said first inductive coupler is coupled to a device for coupling said data signal between said port of said first inductive coupler and a second riser set segment in said building.

8. A system comprising:

a first inductive coupler installed on a first conductor, for coupling a data signal between a port of said first inductive coupler and said first conductor; and

a second inductive coupler installed on said first conductor, for coupling said data signal between a port of said second inductive coupler and said first conductor,

wherein said first conductor is electrically parallel to a second conductor having neither of said first nor second inductive couplers installed thereon.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein said first conductor comprises a plurality of conductors in parallel with each other.

10. The system of claim 8, wherein said data signal is carried on a frequency of greater than or equal to 1 MHz.

11. The system of claim 8, wherein said first and second conductors are for carrying electrical power.

12. The system of claim 8, wherein said first and second conductors are components of a riser set segment in a building.

13. The system of claim 12,

wherein said riser set segment is a first riser set segment, and

wherein said port of said first inductive coupler is coupled to a device for coupling said data signal between said port of said first inductive coupler and a second riser set segment in said building.

14. A method comprising:

installing a first inductive coupler on a first subset of a plurality of electrically parallel conductors, for coupling a data signal between a port of said first inductive coupler and said first subset; and

installing a second inductive coupler on a second subset of said plurality of conductors, for coupling said data signal between a port of said second inductive coupler and said second subset.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein said first subset is identical to said second subset.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein said second subset is complementary of said first subset.

17. The method of claim 14, wherein said data signal is carried on a frequency of greater than or equal to 1 MHz.

18. The method of claim 14, wherein said first and second conductors are for carrying electrical power.

19. The method of claim 14, wherein said first and second conductors are components of a riser segment in a building.

20. The method of claim 19,

wherein said riser set segment is a first riser set segment, and

wherein said port of said first inductive coupler is coupled to a device for coupling said data signal between said port of said first inductive coupler and a second riser set segment in said building.

21. A method, comprising:

installing a first inductive coupler on a first conductor for coupling a data signal between a port of said first inductive coupler and said first conductor; and

installing a second inductive coupler on said first conductor for coupling said data signal between a port of said second inductive coupler and said first conductor,

wherein said first conductor is electrically parallel to a second conductor having neither of said first nor second inductive couplers installed thereon.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein said first conductor comprises a plurality of conductors in parallel with each other.

23. The method of claim 21, wherein said data signal is carried on a frequency of greater than or equal to 1 MHz.

24. The method of claim 21, wherein said first and second conductors are for carrying electrical power.

25. The method of claim 21, wherein said first and second conductors are components of a riser set segment in a building.

26. The method of claim 25,

wherein said riser set segment is a first riser set segment, and

wherein said port of said first inductive coupler is coupled to a device for coupling said data signal between said port of said first inductive coupler and a second riser set segment in said building.