Power line communications device and method

• US 7,450,000 B2
• Filed: 04/07/2006
• Issued: 11/11/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 10/26/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Current Technologies LLC (Pattern Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Current Technologies LLC (Pattern Inc.)
• Inventors: Gidge, Brett D., Radtke, William O.
• Primary Examiner(s): Previl, Daniel
• Application Number:
  US11/399,529
• Publication Number:
  US 20060192672A1
• Time in Patent Office: 949 Days
• Field of Search: 340/3.1, 340/538, 340/539, 3408543-8549, 340530-534, 34031001-31008
• US Class Current: 340/538
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 3/58 Repeater circuits
• CPC Class Codes: H04J 14/02 Wavelength-division multiplex systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04J 14/0226 Fixed carrier allocation, e.g. according to service
• CPC Class Codes: H04J 14/0227 Operation, administration, maintenance or provisioning [OAMP] of WDM networks, e.g. media access, routing or wavelength allocation
• CPC Class Codes: H04J 14/0232 for downstream transmission
• CPC Class Codes: H04J 14/0246 using one wavelength per ONU
• CPC Class Codes: H04J 14/0247 Sharing one wavelength for at least a group of ONUs
• CPC Class Codes: H04J 14/025 using one wavelength per ONU, e.g. for transmissions from-ONU-to-OLT or from-ONU-to-ONU
• CPC Class Codes: H04J 14/0252 Sharing one wavelength for at least a group of ONUs, e.g. for transmissions from-ONU-to-OLT or from-ONU-to-ONU
• CPC Class Codes: H04J 14/028 WDM bus architectures
• CPC Class Codes: H04J 14/0282 WDM tree architectures
• CPC Class Codes: H04J 14/0283 WDM ring architectures
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 27/2601 Multicarrier modulation systems

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 medium voltage interface device that may include a first port configured to communicate over the power line and a network interface. A first amplifier may form part of a first communication path between the first port and the network interface and be configured to amplify data signals transmitted via the first port. In addition, a second amplifier may form part of a second communication path between the first port and the network interface and be configured to amplify data signals received via the first port. In addition, the embodiment may include a diplexer forming part of the first communication path between the first amplifier and the first port and forming part of the second communication path between the second amplifier and the first port. The device may include an electro-optic converter coupled to the network interface to convert between electrical and optic data signals, wherein the network interface is configured to communicate via one or more fiber optic conductors.

Claims

1. A device for communicating data signals over a power line carrying a voltage greater than one thousand volts, comprising:

a first port configured to communicate over the power line;

a network interface configured to communicate over a non-power line communication medium;

a first amplifier forming part of a first communication path between said first port and said network interface, said first amplifier configured to amplify downstream data signals transmitted via said first port;

wherein at least some downstream data signals traverse said first communication path without demodulation;

a second amplifier forming part of a second communication path between said first port and said network interface, said second amplifier configured to amplify upstream data signals received via said first port; and

wherein at least some upstream data signals traverse said second communication path without demodulation.

2. The device of claim 1, further comprising a diplexer forming part of the first communication path between said first amplifier and said first port and forming part of the second communication path between said second amplifier and said first port.

3. The device of claim 2, further comprising:

an electro-optic converter coupled to said network interface, and

wherein said network interface is configured to communicate via one or more fiber optic conductors.

4. The device of claim 1, further comprising:

a circuit comprising;

a power line port configured to receive data signals from, and to provide data signals to, the power line;

a second port configured to receive data signals from said first amplifier;

a third port configured to provide data signals to said second amplifier;

wherein said circuit is configured to conduct at least some data signals received at said power line port to said third port; and

wherein said circuit is configured to conduct at least some data signals received at said second port to said power line port.

5. The device of claim 1, further comprising:

an electro-optic converter coupled to said network interface, and

wherein said network interface is configured to communicate via one or more fiber optic conductors.

6. The device of claim 1, further comprising a frequency conversion circuit forming part of the first communication path.

7. The device of claim 1, further comprising a frequency conversion circuit forming part of the second communication path.

8. The device of claim 1, further comprising a bandpass filter forming part of the first communication path between said first amplifier and said network interface.

9. The device of claim 8, wherein said filter comprises a tunable filter configured to be tuned to a plurality of frequency bands.

10. The device of claim 1, further comprising a bandpass filter forming part of the second communication path.

11. The device of claim 1, wherein said second amplifier comprises a programmable gain amplifier.

12. The device of claim 1, wherein said network interface comprises:

a downstream port coupled to said first communication path; and

an upstream port coupled to said second communication path.

13. The device of claim 12, wherein said upstream port comprises:

a first upstream port;

a second upstream port; and

a combiner circuit coupled to said first upstream port and said second upstream port and forming part of said second communication path.

14. The device of claim 1, further comprising:

a modem communicatively coupled to said network interface; and

a controller coupled to said modem and configured to receive and respond to control messages.

15. The device of a claim 1, wherein said first port is configured to be coupled to a plurality of power lines concurrently.

16. The device of claim 1, wherein the network interface is configured to communicate wirelessly.

17. The device of claim 1, wherein said first port is configured to communicative over the power line via a power line coupler.

18. A method of communicating data signals over a power line carrying a voltage greater than one thousand volts, comprising:

receiving downstream data signals;

amplifying the downstream data signals;

coupling said amplified data signals to the power line;

wherein at least some of the downstream data signals traverse a first data path from a point of said receiving to the power line and are not demodulated along the first data path;

receiving upstream data signals from the power line;

amplifying the upstream data signals; and

transmitting the upstream data signals via a non-power line communication medium; and

wherein at least some of the upstream data signals traverse a second data path from the power line to the non-power line.communication medium and are not demodulated along the second data path.

19. The method of claim 18, further comprising:

converting the downstream data signal from an optic signal to an electrical signals; and

converting the amplified upstream data signals from an electrical signal to an optic signal.

20. The method of claim 18, further comprising converting said downstream data signal from a first frequency band to a second frequency band.

21. The method of claim 18, further comprising converting said upstream data signal from a first frequency band to a second frequency band.

22. The method of claim 18, further comprising prior to said transmitting the upstream data signals:

receiving non-power line upstream data signals; and

combining the non-power line upstream data signals and the amplified upstream data signals.

23. The method of claim 18, further comprising:

receiving a control message in one or more data signals;

demodulating the data signals; and

responding to the control message.

24. The method of claim 18, wherein the downstream data signals are substantially compliant Data Over Cable System Interface Specification data signals.

25. The method of claim 18, wherein the upstream data signals and the data stream data signals are in different frequency bands.

26. The method of claim 18, wherein the upstream data signals are received via a time division multiplexed transmission.

27. The method of claim 18, wherein said transmitting the upstream data signals is performed via a time division multiplexed transmission.

28. The method of claim 18, wherein the power line comprises an underground power line having a center conductor, an insulator substantially surrounding the center conductor;

and a neutral conductor substantially surrounding the insulator.

29. A device for communicating data signals over a power line carrying a voltage greater than one thousand volts, comprising:

a first port configured to be communicate over the power line;

a second port configured to communicate via one or more fiber optic conductors;

an electro-optic conversion circuit communicatively coupled to said 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 electro-optic conversion circuit; and

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 electro-optic conversion circuit and said input of said second amplifying circuit being communicatively coupled to said first port; and

wherein at least some data signals traverse from said first port to said second port without being demodulated.

30. The device of claim 29, further comprising a filter having an input coupled to said second port and an output coupled to said input of said first amplifying circuit.

31. The device of claim 29, wherein said electro-optic conversion circuit comprises at least two electro-optic converters.

32. The device of claim 29, further comprising a diplexer comprising:

a power line port configured to receive data signals from, and to provide data signals to, the power line;

a second port configured to receive data signals from said first amplifying circuit; and

a third port configured to provide data signals to said second amplifying circuit.