Power line coupling device and method of use
First Claim
1. A device for communicating data signals with a power line, the device comprising:
- a transformer having a magnetic core, a first winding, and a second winding;
wherein said first and second winding each have a first end and a second end;
wherein said second winding is configured to be communicatively coupled to a communications device;
wherein said first end of said first winding is configured to be communicatively coupled to the power line at a first location;
wherein said second end of said first winding is configured to be communicatively coupled to the power line at a second location;
wherein said first location and said second location are separated by a first distance that is greater than five percent of a wavelength of a carrier frequency used to communicate the data signals; and
wherein data signals arriving at the first location via a first path that includes said first end of said first winding and via a second path that includes said second end of said first winding and the power line are additive for one or more carrier frequencies used to communicate the data signals.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The coupler of the present invention couples data signals, such as broadband RF signals, to and from a power line. The coupler of one embodiment that is for use with overhead power lines includes a length of URD MV cable with the neutral conductor removed. Each end of the URD cable is communicatively coupled to the MV power line conductor a predetermined distance from other. The distance between the two connections points on the MV may be related to the wavelength of a carrier frequency used to communicate the data signals. The URD cable may also form part of a transformer to permit the passage of data signals while preventing the flow of the high voltage power signals through the coupler. The neutral semi-conductive jacket of the URD cable may be coupled to ground via a low frequency conductive path.
163 Citations
35 Claims
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1. A device for communicating data signals with a power line, the device comprising:
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a transformer having a magnetic core, a first winding, and a second winding; wherein said first and second winding each have a first end and a second end; wherein said second winding is configured to be communicatively coupled to a communications device; wherein said first end of said first winding is configured to be communicatively coupled to the power line at a first location; wherein said second end of said first winding is configured to be communicatively coupled to the power line at a second location; wherein said first location and said second location are separated by a first distance that is greater than five percent of a wavelength of a carrier frequency used to communicate the data signals; and wherein data signals arriving at the first location via a first path that includes said first end of said first winding and via a second path that includes said second end of said first winding and the power line are additive for one or more carrier frequencies used to communicate the data signals. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A method of using a device to communicate data signals over a power line, the device comprising a transformer comprising a magnetic core, a first winding, and a second winding, said first and second winding each having a first end and a second end, the method comprising:
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communicatively coupling the second winding of the transformer to a communications device; communicatively coupling the first end of said first winding to the power line at a first location; communicatively coupling the second end of the first winding to the power line at a second location; wherein the first location and the second location are separated by a first distance that is greater than five percent of a wavelength of a carrier frequency used to communicate the data signals; and wherein data signals arriving at the first location via a first path that includes the first end of the first winding and via a second path that includes the second end of the first winding and the power line are additive for one or more carrier frequencies used to communicate the data signals. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
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27. A device for communicating data signals with a power line, the device comprising:
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a first conductor having a first end and a second end; a second conductor having a first end and a second end; an insulator disposed between said first conductor and said second conductor; a magnetic core disposed to be in communication with the magnetic flux of said second conductor and said first conductor; said first end of said first conductor configured to be communicatively coupled to the power line at a first location and said second end of said first conductor is configured to be communicatively coupled to the power line at a second location; said first end of said second conductor is configured to be communicatively coupled to a transceiver; wherein said first location and said second location are separated by a first distance that is greater than five percent of a wavelength of a carrier frequency used to communicate the data signals; and wherein data signals arriving at the first location via a first path that includes said first end of said first conductor and via a second path that includes said second end of said first conductor and the power line are additive for one or more carrier frequencies used to communicate the data signals. - View Dependent Claims (28, 29, 30)
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31. A method of communicating data on a power line, comprising:
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conducting first voltage signals representing data from a first location along a first path to a first point on the power line, wherein the first path includes a first conductor; conducting second voltage signals representing the data from a second location along a second path to the first point on the power line, wherein said second path includes a second conductor and a segment of the power line and wherein the second path is longer than said first path; wherein the first voltage signal and the second voltage signal are substantially equal in magnitude and opposite in polarity at said first location and said second location; and wherein the first voltage signal and the second voltage signal are additive at the first point for one or more carrier frequencies used to communicate the data. - View Dependent Claims (32, 33, 34, 35)
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Specification