Power line phase coupler system

• US 7,198,521 B2
• Filed: 12/09/2004
• Issued: 04/03/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 12/22/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Echelon Corporation (Renesas Electronics Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Echelon Corporation (Renesas Electronics Corporation)
• Inventors: Kvidt, David L., Hauck, Douglas L., Johnson, Jeff L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hammond; Briggitte R.
• Application Number:
  US11/010,473
• Publication Number:
  US 20050118875A1
• Time in Patent Office: 845 Days
• Field of Search: 439/638, 340/310.1, 340/310.6, 340/310.11, 340/310.16, 340/538.17, 340/870.07, 340/310.12, 340/310.13, 340/310.14, 340/310.15, 340/538.15, 361/66, 361/85, 375/259, 375/211, 375/258
• US Class Current: 439/638
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/665 with built-in electronic circuit H01R13/70, H01R13/719 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 3/58 Repeater circuits

Abstract

A power line phase coupler system for repeating data signals between power line phases that can be easily installed by a user. The power line phase coupler system includes a housing, a female connector positioned within the housing, a male connector electrically connected to the female connector by a length of cord, and a repeater coupler electrically connected to the male connector. The repeater coupler is electrically connected between Phase A and Phase B of the male connector for repeating and amplifying a data signal received from either phase to the opposite phase.

Claims

1. A power line coupler comprising:

a housing;

a male connector coupled to the housing for engaging a multi-phase wall outlet having at least a Phase A, a Phase B and a neutral;

a female connector coupled to the housing and electrically connected to the male connector such that multi-phase electrical power passes from the multi-phase wall outlet to said female connector; and

a repeater disposed within said housing for transmitting high frequency communication signals between the Phase A and the Phase B when the repeater receives a transmitted high frequency communication from one of the Phase A or Phase B, said repeater transmitting a repeated high frequency communication to the other phase at an amplified level.

2. The power line coupler of claim 1, wherein the repeater repeats and amplifies signals over 1 KHz.

3. A power line coupler comprising:

a first connector means for engaging a multi-phase wall outlet having at least a Phase A, a Phase B, and a neutral;

a second connector means electrically connected to the first connector means such that multi-phase electrical power passes from the multi-phase wall outlet to said second connector;

a repeater means for transmitting high frequency communication signals between the Phase A and the Phase B when the repeater receives a transmitted high frequency communication from one of the Phase A or Phase B, said repeater transmitting a repeated high frequency communication to the other phase at an amplified level.

4. The power line coupler of claim 3, further comprising:

a housing coupled to the first connector means, the second connector means, and the repeater means.

5. The power line coupler of claim 3, wherein the repeater means repeats and amplifies signals over 1 KHz.

6. The power line coupler of claim 3, wherein the repeater means places an identifier tag within the repeated high frequency communication.

7. The power line coupler of claim 6, wherein the repeater means does not repeat high frequency communications with the identifier tag.

8. The power line coupler of claim 7, wherein the repeater means includes a housing having an interior cavity.

9. The power line coupler of claim 8, wherein the first connector means is a male connector means.

10. The power line coupler of claim 9, wherein the first connector means includes at least a first prong, a second prong and a third prong electrically connectable to the Phase A, the Phase B and the neutral of the multi-phase wall outlet.

11. The power line coupler of claim 10, wherein the second connector means is a female connector means.

12. The power line coupler of claim 11, wherein the second connector means includes at least a first slot, a second slot and a third slot electrically connected to said first prong, said second prong and said third prong by said power cord.