Power line coupling device and method of using the same

• US 7,245,201 B1
• Filed: 09/23/2004
• Issued: 07/17/2007
• 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: Radtke, William O., Kline, Paul A., Dickey, Sergey L., Gidge, Brett
• Primary Examiner(s): Lee; Benjamin C.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Previl; Daniel
• Application Number:
  US10/947,929
• Time in Patent Office: 1,027 Days
• Field of Search: 340/310.01, 340/310.02, 340/310.03, 340/310.04, 340/310.05, 340/310.06, 340/310.07, 340/310.08
• US Class Current: 340/12.32
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 13/00009 using pulsed signals
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 13/00017 using optical fiber
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 2203/5441 Wireless systems or telephone
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 2203/5445 Local network
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 2203/5487 cables
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 2203/5491 using filtering and bypassing
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/00 Enabling technologies; Technologies with a potential or indirect contribution to GHG emissions mitigation
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 40/121 using the power network as support for the transmission
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 40/124 using wired telecommunication networks or data transmission busses

Abstract

The invention describes a method and a device for communicating a signal over a power line. One embodiment may comprise a length of MV power cable that comprises a center conductor substantially surrounded by an insulator. A first concentric conductor is disposed external to the insulator over a first portion of the cable. A second concentric conductor that may have a length related to the wavelength of one or more carry frequencies of the data signals is disposed external to the insulator over a second portion of the cable and external to the insulator. A first gap is formed where the cable is exposed between the first concentric conductor and a first end of the second concentric conductor. A transceiver for communicating data signals over the MV power cable may be coupled to the first end of the second concentric conductor.

Claims

1. A power line communications coupling device for communicating data signals over an underground power line cable comprising a center conductor, a concentric insulator disposed external the center conductor, and a concentric conductor disposed around the circumference of the power line cable external to the insulator over a first portion of the power line, and wherein the power line cable is configured to carry a power signal having a voltage greater than one thousand volts, the device comprising:

a coupling conductor having a first end and a second end and disposed substantially around the circumference of the cable at a second portion of the cable where the concentric conductor is not present;

a gap formed between the concentric conductor and said first end of said coupling conductor;

wherein a third portion of the cable extends from said second end of said coupling conductor where the concentric conductor is not present; and

a communication device communicatively coupled to the coupling conductor.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein said communication device comprises a transceiver communicatively coupled to the second end of the coupling conductor.

3. The device of claim 2, wherein the first end of the coupling conductor is communicatively coupled to ground via an inductive path.

4. The device of claim 1, further comprising an enclosure having a first end coupled to the concentric conductor and a second end extending at least to the third portion of the cable.

5. The device of claim 4, wherein said enclosure is formed, at least in part, of a conductive material and substantially encloses said coupling conductor and is in spaced apart relation from said coupling conductor and said gap.

6. The device of claim 1, wherein the cable further comprises a semi-conductive jacket disposed around the insulator that is present at said gap and the third portion of the cable.

7. The device of claim 1, further comprising an elbow coupled to the end of the cable adjacent the third portion of the cable.

8. The device of claim 7, wherein said elbow is disposed within ten feet of said coupling conductor.

9. The device of claim 7, further comprising a data attenuator disposed between the second end of said coupling conductor and said elbow.

10. The device of claim 1, further comprising a pothead coupled to the end of the cable adjacent the third portion of the cable.

11. The device of claim 1, further comprising a data attenuator disposed between the second end of the coupling conductor and the end of the cable.

12. The device of claim 11, wherein said data attenuator comprises toroids disposed around the circumference of the cable.

13. The device of claim 12, wherein said toroids comprise an air gap.

14. The device of claim 11, wherein said data attenuator comprises a series connection of coaxial transmission lines of different impedances.

15. The device of claim 1, wherein said coupling conductor is disposed at least partially in an enclosure of a power distribution transformer.

16. The device of claim 1, wherein said coupling conductor has a length that increases the amount of energy of the data signals transmitted over the power line cable.

17. The device of claim 1, wherein said coupling conductor has a length that is within twenty five percent of one half of a wavelength of a carrier frequency used to communicate the data signals.

18. The device of claim 1, wherein said coupling conductor has a length that is less than one half of a wavelength of a carrier frequency used to communicate the data signals.

19. The device of claim 1, wherein said coupling conductor has a length that is less than seventy-five percent of one half of a wavelength of a carrier frequency used to communicate the data signals.

20. The device of claim 1, wherein said communication device comprises a transceiver communicatively coupled to the first end of the coupling conductor.

21. The device of claim 20, wherein said transceiver comprises a modem substantially compatible with a Homeplug standard.

22. The device of claim 20, wherein said transceiver comprises a modem substantially compatible with a DOCSIS standard.

23. The device of claim 20, wherein said second end of said coupling conductor is coupled to ground.

24. The device of claim 20, further comprising a conductor coupling said coupling conductor to the concentric conductor in spaced apart relation from said coupling conductor.

25. The device of claim 1, wherein the second end of the coupling conductor is configured to reflect a portion of the energy of the data signals and increase the amount of energy communicated for at least one carrier frequency used to communicate data signals.

26. A method of communicating data signals on an underground power line cable carrying a power signal having a voltage greater than one thousand volts, the power line cable having a coaxial structure comprising a center conductor, a concentric insulator disposed around the center conductor, and a concentric conductor disposed external to the insulator, the method comprising:

removing a portion of the concentric conductor from a first portion of the cable;

attaching a coupling conductor having a first end and a second end around the insulator over a section of the first portion of cable, wherein the coupling conductor is attached to form a gap between the first end of the coupling conductor and an end of the concentric conductor, and wherein the first portion of the cable extends beyond the second end of the coupling conductor; and

communicatively coupling a transceiver to the coupling conductor.

27. The method of claim 26, further comprising communicatively coupling the second end of the coupling conductor to ground.

28. The method of claim 26, wherein an elbow is attached to the end of the cable within five feet of the second end of the coupling conductor.

29. The method of claim 26, further comprising providing a data attenuator between the second end of the coupling conductor and an end of the cable.

30. The method of claim 29, wherein the data attenuator comprises toroids disposed around the circumference of the cable.

31. The method of claim 30, wherein the toroids comprise an air gap.

32. The method of claim 29, wherein the data attenuator comprises a series connection of coaxial transmission lines of different impedances.

33. The method of claim 26, wherein the coupling conductor has a length that is within fifty percent of one half of a wavelength of a carrier frequency used to communicate the data signals.

34. The method of claim 26, wherein the coupling conductor has a length that is less than fifty percent of a wavelength of a carrier frequency used to communicate the data signals.

35. The method of claim 26, wherein the transceiver comprises a modem substantially compatible with a Homeplug standard.

36. The method of claim 26, wherein the transceiver comprises a modem substantially compatible with a DOCSIS standard.

37. The method of claim 26, wherein communicatively coupling the transceiver comprises coupling the transceiver to the first end of the coupling conductor.

38. The method of claim 26, wherein the second end of the coupling conductor is configured to reflect a portion of the energy of the data signals and increase the amount of energy communicated for at least one carrier frequency used to communicate data signals.

39. A power line communication system, comprising:

a cable configured to carry a power signal having a voltage greater than one thousand volts and comprising a center conductor and a concentric insulator disposed external to the center conductor;

a first concentric conductor disposed over a first portion of the length of the cable and external to said insulator;

a second concentric conductor disposed over a second portion of the length of the cable and external to said insulator, said second concentric conductor comprising a first end and a second end;

a gap formed between the first concentric conductor and said first end of second concentric conductor; and

a transceiver communicatively coupled to said first end of said second concentric conductor.

40. The system of claim 39, further comprising a non-concentric cable portion extending from said second end of said second concentric conductor that does not include a concentric conductor.

41. The system of claim 40, wherein said second end of said second concentric conductor is configured to reflect a portion of the energy of the data signals and increase the amount of energy communicated for at least one carrier frequency used to communicate data signals.

42. The system of claim 40, wherein the transceiver comprises a modem substantially compatible with a DOCSIS standard.

43. A power line communications system, comprising

a cable having a first end and a second end and configured to carry a power signal having a voltage greater than one thousand volts, comprising:

a center conductor,

an insulator disposed external to the center conductor, and

a first concentric conductor comprising a first end and a second end, and

disposed over a first portion of the length of the cable external to said insulator;

a first coupling conductor disposed concentrically around a second portion of the cable where said first concentric conductor is not present and external to said insulator, said first coupling conductor comprising a first end and a second end;

a first gap formed between said first end of said first concentric conductor and said first end of said first coupling conductor;

a first non-concentric cable portion extending from said second end of said first coupling conductor where there is no concentric conductor is present;

a second coupling conductor disposed concentrically around a third portion of the cable where said first concentric conductor is not present and external to said insulator, said second coupling conductor comprising a first end and a second end;

a second gap formed between said second end of said first concentric conductor and said first end of said second coupling conductor; and

a second non-concentric cable portion extending from said second end of said second coupling conductor where no concentric conductor is present.

44. The system of claim 43, wherein the second end of the first coupling conductor is communicatively coupled to ground and the second end of the second coupling conductor is communicatively coupled to ground.

45. The system of claim 44, further comprising:

a first transceiver communicatively coupled to the first end of the first coupling conductor; and

a second transceiver communicatively coupled to the first end of the second coupling conductor.

46. The system of claim 43, wherein the cable further comprises a semi-conductive jacket disposed external to the insulator that is present at said first gap, said second gap, said first non-concentric cable portion, and said second non-concentric cable portion.

47. The system of claim 43, further comprising an elbow coupled to the first end of said cable.

48. The system of claim 47, wherein said elbow is disposed within five feet of the first coupling conductor.

49. The system of claim 43, further comprising a first data attenuator disposed at said first non-concentric cable portion.

50. The system of claim 49, wherein said first data attenuator comprises toroids disposed around the circumference of the cable.

51. The system of claim 49, further comprising a second data attenuator disposed at said second non-concentric cable portion.

52. The system of claim 43, wherein said first and second coupling conductors each have a length that is less than fifty percent of one wavelength of a carrier frequency used to communicate the data signals.

53. The system of claim 43, further comprising:

a first transceiver communicatively coupled to the first end of said first coupling conductor; and

a second transceiver communicatively coupled to the first end of said second coupling conductor.

54. The system of claim 53, wherein said first transceiver and said second transceiver each comprise a modem substantially compatible with a Homeplug standard.

55. The system of claim 53, wherein said first transceiver and said second transceiver each comprise a modem substantially compatible with a DOCSIS standard.

56. The system of claim 43, wherein the second end of the first and second coupling conductors are each configured to reflect a portion of the energy of the data signals and increase the amount of energy communicated for at least one carrier frequency used to communicate data signals.

57. A method of communicating data signals via a power line cable configured to conduct a power signal having a voltage greater than one thousand volts, the power line cable comprising a center conductor, an insulator, and a concentric conductor external to the insulator, the method comprising:

providing a gap in the concentric conductor, said gap having a first side and a second side;

providing a discontinuity a first distance from the first side of the gap;

receiving a first portion of the energy of the data signals via the concentric conductor on the first side of the gap;

reflecting a second portion of the energy of the data signals via the discontinuity; and

receiving a third portion of the energy of the data signal comprising a portion of reflected energy of the data via the concentric conductor on the first side of the gap.

58. The method of claim 57, wherein the discontinuity comprises an end of the concentric conductor.

59. The method of claim 57, wherein the reflected portion of the energy received increases the amount of energy received for at least one carrier frequency used to communicate data signals.

60. The method of claim 57, wherein an elbow is attached to the end of the power line cable within five feet of the discontinuity.

61. The method of claim 57, further comprising attaching a pothead to the end of the power line cable within five feet of the discontinuity.

62. The method of claim 61, further comprising providing a data attenuator disposed between the discontinuity and the elbow.

63. The method of claim 57, wherein the distance between the gap and the discontinuity is less than seventy five percent of one half of a wavelength of a carrier frequency used to communicate the data signals.

64. The method of claim 57, wherein the distance between the gap and the discontinuity is less than fifty percent of a wavelength of a carrier frequency used to communicate the data signals.

65. The method of claim 57, wherein the data received substantially complies with a Homeplug standard.

66. The method of claim 57, the data received substantially complies with a DOCSIS standard.

67. The method of claim 57, further comprising attenuating the third portion of the energy of the data signals not reflected by the discontinuity.

68. The method of claim 57, wherein attenuating comprises filtering the third portion of the energy of the data signals via a low pass filter.

69. The method of claim 57, wherein the data signals comprise a broadband communication.