Device and method for enabling communications signals using a medium voltage power line
DCFirst Claim
1. A device for enabling broadband communications signals over a medium voltage power line, the device comprising:
- a first modem electrically coupled to a medium voltage power line and adapted to receive broadband communications signals from the medium voltage power line;
a second modem electrically coupled to the medium voltage power line and adapted to transmit broadband communications signals to the medium voltage power line;
a third modem electrically coupled to a low voltage power line and adapted to transmit broadband communications signals to the low voltage power line;
one or more switches coupling the first modem, the second modem, and the third modem, and operable to transfer broadband communications signals between two or more of the first modem, the second modem, and the third modem;
a coupler electrically coupled to the third modem and the low voltage power line and operable to transmit communications signals from the third modem to the low voltage power line;
a wireless access point operable to communicate wireless communications signals to and from one or more of the first modem, the second modem, and the third modem; and
a housing that physically surrounds the first modem, the second modem, the third modem, the one or more switches, the coupler, and the wireless access point;
wherein the broadband communications signals comprise a transfer rate of at least 1.5 megabits per second in at least one direction.
1 Assignment
Litigations
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
In one embodiment, a device for enabling communications signals over a medium voltage power line includes a first modem, a second modem, a third modem, and one or more switches. The first modem is electrically coupled to a medium voltage power line and is adapted to receive communications signals from the medium voltage power line. The second modem is electrically coupled to the medium voltage power line and is adapted to transmit communications signals to the medium voltage power line. The third modem is electrically coupled to a low voltage power line and is adapted to transmit communications signals to the low voltage power line. The one or more switches are coupled to the first modem, the second modem, and the third modem, and they are operable to transfer communications signals between two or more of the first modem, the second modem, and the third modem.
343 Citations
22 Claims
-
1. A device for enabling broadband communications signals over a medium voltage power line, the device comprising:
-
a first modem electrically coupled to a medium voltage power line and adapted to receive broadband communications signals from the medium voltage power line; a second modem electrically coupled to the medium voltage power line and adapted to transmit broadband communications signals to the medium voltage power line; a third modem electrically coupled to a low voltage power line and adapted to transmit broadband communications signals to the low voltage power line; one or more switches coupling the first modem, the second modem, and the third modem, and operable to transfer broadband communications signals between two or more of the first modem, the second modem, and the third modem; a coupler electrically coupled to the third modem and the low voltage power line and operable to transmit communications signals from the third modem to the low voltage power line; a wireless access point operable to communicate wireless communications signals to and from one or more of the first modem, the second modem, and the third modem; and a housing that physically surrounds the first modem, the second modem, the third modem, the one or more switches, the coupler, and the wireless access point; wherein the broadband communications signals comprise a transfer rate of at least 1.5 megabits per second in at least one direction. - View Dependent Claims (2)
-
-
3. A device for enabling communications signals over a medium voltage power line, the device comprising:
-
a first modem electrically coupled to a medium voltage power line and adapted to receive communications signals from the medium voltage power line; a second modem electrically coupled to the medium voltage power line and adapted to transmit communications signals to the medium voltage power line; a third modem electrically coupled to a low voltage power line and adapted to transmit communications signals to the low voltage power line; and one or more switches coupling the first modem, the second modem, and the third modem, and operable to transfer communications signals between two or more of the first modem, the second modem, and the third modem. - View Dependent Claims (4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
-
-
13. A method for enabling communications signals over a medium voltage power line, the method comprising:
-
using a first modem, receiving communications signals from a medium voltage power line and demodulating the communications signals received from the medium voltage power line; identifying a destination for a first portion of the communications signals received from the medium voltage power line; using a second modem, modulating the first portion of the communications signals and transmitting the modulated first portion of the communications signals to the medium voltage power line; identifying a destination for a second portion of the communications signals received from the medium voltage power line; and using a third modem, modulating the second portion of the communications signals and transmitting the modulated second portion of the communications signals to a low voltage power line. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
-
Specification