Power line communications device and method of use
First Claim
1. A device for providing communications to one or more user devices and that communicates over an underground power line comprising a first and second of segment connected in series with each other via a distribution transformer and wherein said underground power line carries a power signal having a voltage greater than one thousand volts, comprising:
- a first coupler configured to be coupled to the first segment of the underground power line;
a second coupler configured to be coupled to the second segment of the underground power line;
a first amplifying circuit configured to amplify first signals received from said first coupler and to conduct said amplified first signals to said second coupler for coupling to the second segment, wherein the first signals are received from said first coupler and supplied to said second coupler without demodulation;
a first modem communicatively coupled to said first coupler; and
a second modem communicatively coupled to said first modem and configured to provided communications to the one or more user devices.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A device and method for providing power line communications via an underground residential distribution power system is provided. One embodiment of the present invention includes a power line bridge having though section and processing section. The through section may include a first and second amplifying circuit for amplifying data signals traveling in opposite directions. The processing section may include a first, a second modem, and a controller that may process commands and perform routing functions. The power line bridge may be co-located with a URD distribution transformer and provide communications to the user devices communicatively coupled to the LV power lines of the distribution transformer.
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Citations
44 Claims
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1. A device for providing communications to one or more user devices and that communicates over an underground power line comprising a first and second of segment connected in series with each other via a distribution transformer and wherein said underground power line carries a power signal having a voltage greater than one thousand volts, comprising:
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a first coupler configured to be coupled to the first segment of the underground power line; a second coupler configured to be coupled to the second segment of the underground power line; a first amplifying circuit configured to amplify first signals received from said first coupler and to conduct said amplified first signals to said second coupler for coupling to the second segment, wherein the first signals are received from said first coupler and supplied to said second coupler without demodulation; a first modem communicatively coupled to said first coupler; and a second modem communicatively coupled to said first modem and configured to provided communications to the one or more user devices. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A method of providing communications to user devices via an underground power line comprising a first and second segment and carrying a power signal having a voltage greater than one thousand volts, comprising:
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receiving a first data signal in a first frequency band from the first segment of the power line; amplifying the first data signal; coupling the amplified first data signal in the first frequency band to a second segment of the power line; wherein the receiving the first data signal first data signal, amplifying the first data signal, and coupling of the amplified first data signal are performed without demodulation; and demodulating the first data signal. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
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27. A method of providing communications to user devices via an underground power line comprising a first and second segment and carrying a power signal having a voltage greater than one thousand volts, comprising:
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receiving a first data signal in a first frequency band from the first segment of the power line; amplifying the first data signal; coupling the amplified first data signal in the first frequency band to the second segment of the power line; wherein the received first data signal is amplified and coupled to the second segment without demodulation; receiving second data transmitted from a user device; and transmitting the second data in a second frequency band via the first segment of the power line. - View Dependent Claims (28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34)
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35. A device for providing communications over a power line, comprising:
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a first port; a second port; a first amplifying circuit having an input and an output and configured to amplify data signals in a first frequency band, said output of said first amplifying circuit being communicatively coupled to said first port and said input of said first amplifying circuit being communicatively coupled to said second port; wherein said first amplifying circuit is configured to amplify data signals received from said second port, and to provide the amplified data signals to said first port without demodulation of said data signals; a second amplifying circuit configured to amplify data signals in a second frequency band;
said output of said second amplifying circuit being communicatively coupled to said second port and said input of said second amplifying circuit being communicatively coupled to said first port;wherein said second amplifying circuit is configured to amplify data signals received from said first port, and to provide the amplified data signals to said second port without demodulation of said data signals; a first modem communicatively coupled to said first port; and a second modem communicatively coupled to said first modem. - View Dependent Claims (36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44)
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Specification