Power meter bypass device and method for a power line communications system

• US 7,307,510 B2
• Filed: 09/02/2005
• Issued: 12/11/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 09/02/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Chemtron Research LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Original Assignee: Current Technologies LLC (Pattern Inc.)
• Inventors: Berkman, William H.
• Primary Examiner(s): TRIEU, VAN THANH
• Application Number:
  US11/217,393
• Publication Number:
  US 20070052532A1
• Time in Patent Office: 830 Days
• Field of Search: 340/310.01, 340/310.02, 340/310.06, 340/310.07, 340/310.08, 340/310.11, 340/310.12, 340/310.17, 340/310.18, 340/531, 340/538, 709/250, 375/258, 370/463
• US Class Current: 340/12.32
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 2203/5433 Remote metering
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 2203/5491 using filtering and bypassing
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 3/54 Systems for transmission via power distribution lines

Abstract

A passive bypass device for providing a data path around a power meter is provided. The device may be communicatively connected to two low voltage power line energized conductors on a first and a second side of a power meter. The energized power line conductors conduct both the data signals and the power. The bypass device includes a filter that causes the power to pass through the power meter while allowing the data signal to pass around the power meter thereby providing a substantially non-attenuated data signal path. The bypass device may include a first and second data path for the first and second energized conductors and with each path having a high pass filter and a fuse communicatively connected to its respective energized conductor on each side of the power meter.

Claims

1. A device for communicating data signals around a power meter coupled to a low voltage power line having a first and a second energized conductor, comprising:

a first conductor configured to be coupled to the first energized conductor on a first side of the power meter and a second conductor configured to be coupled to the first energized conductor on a second side of the power meter, and wherein the first and second conductor form part of a first data path;

a first high pass filter forming part of the first data path;

a third conductor configured to be coupled to the second energized conductor on the first side of the power meter and a fourth conductor configured to be coupled to the second energized conductor on the second side of the power meter, and wherein the third and fourth conductor form part of a second data path;

a second high pass filter forming part of the second data path; and

wherein said first and second data paths permit the data signals to bypass the power meter while inhibiting the flow of power.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein said first data path further comprises a first fuse communicatively coupled to said first high pass filter and said second data path further comprises a second fuse communicatively coupled to said second high pass filter.

3. The device of claim 2, wherein said first data path further comprises a first inductor communicatively coupled to said first high pass filter and said second data path further comprises a second inductor communicatively coupled to said second high pass filter.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein said first high pass filter and said second high pass filter each comprise a capacitor.

5. The device of claim 1, wherein said device is configured to conduct signals transmitted from a power line communications device coupled to a medium voltage power line to a user device.

6. The device of claim 1, wherein said device is a passive device and is configured to conduct signals transmitted from a low voltage repeater coupled to the low voltage power line.

7. The device of claim 6, wherein the low voltage repeater is an outdoor low voltage repeater.

8. The device of claim 1, wherein the power line further includes a neutral conductor, the device further comprising:

a third data path coupled to the neutral conductor on each side of the power meter and wherein said third data path comprises a fuse.

9. A method for communicating data signals around a power meter coupled to a low voltage power line that carries a power signal and includes a first and a second energized conductor, comprising:

conducting the data signals over a low voltage power line;

coupling a passive bypass device to the power line on each side of the power meter;

filtering the power signal with the bypass device while conducting the data signals around the power meter; and

conducting the power signal through the power meter.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein said filtering employs a high pass filter.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising conducting the data signals through a fuse of the passive bypass device.

12. The method of claim 9, wherein said filtering employs a capacitor.

13. The method of claim 9, wherein the data signals are transmitted from a power line communications device coupled to a medium voltage power line.

14. The method of claim 9, wherein the passive bypass device includes a first and second data path each having a first and second end and wherein said coupling comprises:

coupling the first and second end of the first data path to the first energized conductor on opposite sides of the power meter; and

coupling the first and second ends of the second data path to the second energized conductor on opposite sides of the power meter.

15. A device for communicating data signals around a power meter coupled to a low voltage power line that supplies power to customer premises, the low voltage power line having a first energized conductor and a second energized conductor, the device comprising:

a first data path comprising a first high pass filter configured to be communicatively coupled to the first energized conductor on a first side of the power meter and on a second side of the power meter, said first high pass filter configured to conduct data signals while substantially preventing the flow of power;

said first data path further comprising a first fuse communicatively coupled to said first high pass filter;

a second data path comprising a second high pass filter configured to be communicatively coupled to the second energized conductor on a first side of the power meter and on a second side of the power meter, said second high pass filter configured to conduct data signals while substantially preventing the flow of power; and

said second data path further comprising a second fuse communicatively coupled to said second high pass filter.

16. The device of claim 15, further comprising:

a first inductor communicatively coupled to said first high pass filter; and

a second inductor communicatively coupled to said second high pass filter.

17. The device of claim 15, wherein first high pass filter comprises a first capacitor and said second high pass filter comprises a second capacitor.

18. The device of claim 15, wherein said device is configured to conduct signals transmitted from a power line communications device coupled to a medium voltage power line to a user device in the customer premises.

19. The device of claim 15, wherein the power line further includes a neutral conduct coupled, the device further comprising

a third data path comprising a third high pass filter configured to be communicatively coupled to the neutral conductor on a first side of the power meter and on a second side of the power meter, said third high pass filter configured to conduct data signals;

and

said third data path further comprising a first fuse communicatively coupled to said third high pass filter.

20. The device of claim 15, wherein said device is configured to conduct signals transmitted from a low voltage repeater coupled to the low voltage power line.