Method and apparatus for attaching power line communications to customer premises

• US 7,170,395 B2
• Filed: 04/14/2004
• Issued: 01/30/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 10/02/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Telkonet Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Telkonet Communications, Inc. (Comstock Coal Co., Inc.)
• Inventors: Pozsgay, Andrew, Crenshaw, Ralph E., Grimes, David W., Larson, L. Peter
• Primary Examiner(s): SWARTHOUT, BRENT
• Application Number:
  US10/823,551
• Publication Number:
  US 20040196144A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,021 Days
• Field of Search: 340/310.11, 340/310.17, 340/310.18, 375/212, 375/257, 375/260, 370/485, 370/401, 370/407, 307/3
• US Class Current: 340/12.32
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 2203/5433 Remote metering
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 2203/5445 Local network
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 2203/5466 using three phases conductors
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 2203/5483 using coupling circuits
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 2203/5491 using filtering and bypassing
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 3/54 Systems for transmission via power distribution lines
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 3/542 the information being in digital form
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 3/56 Circuits for coupling, blocking, or by-passing of signals

Abstract

A method and apparatus for modifying a three-phase power distribution network in a building in order to provide data communication by using a Power Line Carrier (PLC) signal to an approximate electrical central location point of Wye-connected and Delta connected power distribution system remote from the data entry point of the building. A passive coupler device is attached to a centrally located service panel. The passive coupler receives the Power Line Carrier (PLC) signal from the remote entry point in the building and conditions the signal for entry at the service panel onto each phase of the three phase power distribution network.

Claims

1. A system for interfacing a communication signal with a three phase electrical power network having at least one service panel, said system comprising:

a carrier current device located at a first position and providing a power line carrier signal; and

a passive coupling device adapted to be connected to one of said at least one service panel for coupling said power line carrier signal to each phase of a three phase power distribution network, wherein said three phase power distribution network is a Delta-connected three phase power distribution network;

and wherein said passive coupling device includes a transformer device providing a signal voltage differential across all pairs of combinations of said three phases wherein a number of turns into output phase winding of said transformer are adjusted as a function of a number of turns in the primary winding of said transformer in order to substantially equalize signal coupling effectiveness between said primary winding and each of said pairs.

2. The system according to claim 1, wherein said one service panel is a service panel which is the most electrically centrally located service panel located in a building.

3. The system according to claim 1, wherein said passive coupling device is adapted to be coupled to a high voltage distribution system having a voltage of at least 277 volts.

4. The system according to claim 1, wherein the three phase electrical power network is located in a building.

5. The system according to claim 1, wherein the service panel is remote from the first position.

6. The system according to claim 5, wherein the three phase electrical power network is located in a building.

7. The system according to claim 5, wherein said power distribution network includes at least two service locations wherein said service location directly connected to said passive coupling device is the most centrally located of said at least two service locations with respect to the length of electrically wiring in said distribution network.