Power line communications device and method

• US 7,626,489 B2
• Filed: 04/04/2005
• Issued: 12/01/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 12/10/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Current Technologies LLC (Pattern Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Current Technologies LLC (Pattern Inc.)
• Inventors: Berkman, William H., Mollenkopf, James Douglas
• Primary Examiner(s): Crosland, Donnie L
• Application Number:
  US11/097,151
• Publication Number:
  US 20050169056A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,702 Days
• Field of Search: 340/310.11, 340/538
• US Class Current: 340/12.32
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4246 Bidirectionally operating package structures
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/483 Installation of aerial type
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 2203/5425 improving S/N by matching impedance, noise reduction, gain control
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 2203/5441 Wireless systems or telephone
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 2203/5466 using three phases conductors
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 2203/5479 using repeaters
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 2203/5487 cables
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 2203/5495 having measurements and testing channel
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 3/54 Systems for transmission via power distribution lines
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 3/542 the information being in digital form
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 3/56 Circuits for coupling, blocking, or by-passing of signals
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 3/58 Repeater circuits
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 11/066 Telephone sets adapted for data transmision

Abstract

In one embodiment, a power line communication system network element is provided that provides communications to one or more user devices. The device may also receive data from one or more sensors, such as current sensors, a voltage sensor, a video camera, a temperature sensor, a barometer, a motion sensor, a level sensor, and/or a vibration sensor. The device may include a controller that receives commands that relate to the collection and transmission of the sensed data via a medium voltage power line.

Claims

1. A communications device for providing data related to a power line, comprising:

a memory storing a scheduling table;

a controller communicatively coupled to said memory;

a first modem in communication with said controller;

one or more sensors in communication with said controller;

wherein a first sensor of said one or more sensors comprises a voltage sensor configured to measure a voltage of the power line;

wherein said scheduling table comprises timing data indicating the timing of measurements to be taken by said voltage sensor;

wherein said controller is configured to receive sensor data from said one or more sensors;

wherein at least some of the sensor data comprises voltage data;

wherein said controller is configured compare received voltage data with a threshold value;

wherein said controller is configured to cause said first modem to transmit an alert notification if the voltage data is beyond the threshold value;

wherein said controller is configured to cause said modem to transmit a recovery notification if, after the voltage data is determined to be beyond the threshold value, the voltage data is determined to be not beyond the threshold value; and

wherein said controller is configured to cause said first modem to transmit at least some of said sensor data to a remote device.

2. The device of claim 1, further comprising a second modem in communication with said controller and configured to wirelessly transmit data to one or more user devices.

3. The device of claim 1, further comprising a second modem in communication with said controller and configured to be communicatively coupled to a low voltage power line to transmit data to one or more user devices.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein a second sensor of said one or more sensors comprises a current sensor configured to measure an electric current of a power line.

5. The device of claim 1, wherein said one or more sensors comprise an electronic circuit and said electronic circuit, said first modem and said controller are disposed in a housing.

6. The device of claim 1, wherein said one or more sensors comprise a plurality of electric current sensors;

wherein each of said plurality of electric current sensors is configured to be coupled to a different low voltage power line to thereby measure the current being supplied to a different customer premises; and

wherein said sensor data includes voltage data and current data.

7. The device of claim 1, wherein one of said one or more sensors includes a video camera.

8. The device of claim 1, wherein one of said one or more sensors includes an audio input device.

9. The device of claim 1, wherein one of said one or more sensors includes a motion sensor.

10. The device of claim 1, wherein said timing data of said scheduling table is received via a transmission from a remote device.

11. The device of claim 1, wherein said one or more sensors further includes a temperature sensor.

12. The device of claim 11, wherein said temperature sensor is configured to be coupled to distribution transformer to measure the temperature thereof.

13. The device of claim 1, wherein one of said one or more sensors includes a vibration sensor.

14. The device according to claim 1, wherein said one or more sensors comprise electronic circuitry and said electronic circuitry, said modem and said controller are disposed in a housing.

15. A method of using a communications device coupled to an external power line, comprising:

storing a scheduling table in a memory;

wherein said scheduling table comprises timing data indicating the timing of measurements to be taken by a sensor;

measuring a parameter of the external power line to provide sensed data;

performing said measuring repetitively according to the timing data of the scheduling table;

comparing the sensed data with a threshold value;

transmitting an alert notification if the sensed data is beyond the threshold value;

transmitting a recovery notification if, after the sensed data is determined to be beyond the threshold value, the sensed data is determined to be not beyond the threshold value; and

transmitting the sensed data to a remote device.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein said transmitting an alert notification is performed by a modem and said measuring is performed by a sensor and wherein said modem and said sensor are both co-located with a distribution transformer connected to the external power line.

17. The method according to claim 15, further comprising:

receiving user data via the external power line; and

transmitting the user data to a remote device.

18. The method according to claim 15, further comprising receiving the timing data of the scheduling table via a transmission from a remote device.

19. The method of claim 17, wherein said transmitting of the user data includes transmitting the user data via a power line.

20. The method of claim 15, further comprising capturing video data and wherein at least some of the transmitted sensed data includes video data transmitted from a camera.

21. The method of claim 15, wherein the sensed data includes voltage data of a low voltage power line.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein the sensed data further includes current data.

23. The method of claim 21, wherein the sensed data further includes current data received from a plurality of electric current sensors;

and

wherein each of the plurality of current sensors is coupled to a different low voltage power line to thereby measure the current being supplied to a different customer premises.

24. The method of claim 15, further comprising capturing audio data wherein at least some of the transmitted sensed data includes audio data.

25. The method of claim 15, further comprising detecting movement and wherein at least some of the transmitted sensed data includes data indicating a detected motion.

26. The method of claim 15, further comprising capturing atmospheric pressure data and wherein at least some of the transmitted sensed data includes atmospheric pressure data.

27. The method of claim 15, further comprising capturing temperature data and wherein at least some of the transmitted sensed data includes temperature data.

28. The device of claim 15, further comprising capturing vibration data and wherein at least some of the transmitted sensed data includes data representing a vibration.

29. The method of claim 15, further comprising capturing data indicative of a level of the role and wherein at least some of the transmitted sensed data includes data indicating whether a utility pole is perpendicular to the ground.

30. A method of using a communications device coupled to an external power line, comprising:

storing a scheduling table in a memory of the device;

wherein said scheduling table comprises timing data indicating the timing of measurements to be taken by one or more sensors;

wherein a first sensor of the one or more sensors comprises a voltage sensor configured to measure a voltage of the external power line;

measuring a voltage of the external power line with the voltage sensor repeatedly in accordance with the timing data to provide voltage data;

comparing the voltage data with a threshold value;

transmitting an alert notification if the voltage data is beyond the threshold value;

transmitting a recovery notification if, after the voltage data is determined to be beyond the threshold value, the voltage data is determined to be not beyond the threshold value; and

transmitting at least some of the voltage data.

31. The method according to claim 30, wherein a second sensor of the one or more sensors comprises a current sensor configured to measure an electric current of an external power line.

32. The method according to claim 30, wherein said transmitting an alert notification is performed by a modem and wherein said modem and said voltage sensor are both co-located with a distribution transformer connected to the external power line.

33. The method according to claim 30, further comprising receiving the timing data of the scheduling table via a transmission from a remote device.