Medium voltage signal coupling structure for last leg power grid high-speed data network

• US 7,773,361 B2
• Filed: 05/31/2007
• Issued: 08/10/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 05/18/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Current Grid, LLC
• Original Assignee: Current Grid, LLC
• Inventors: Davidow, Clifford A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Jackson, Stephen W
• Application Number:
  US11/756,256
• Publication Number:
  US 20070222637A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,167 Days
• Field of Search: 361/118
• US Class Current: 361/118
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 2203/5445 Local network
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 2203/5466 using three phases conductors
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 2203/5491 using filtering and bypassing
• 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

Abstract

A power line based communication system includes a powerline termination module, a plurality of powerline gateways, and a plurality of powerline nodes. AC coupling modules couple powerline nodes to medium voltage power lines. One AC coupling module includes a housing having an upper portion that contains a transformer and a lower portion that contains a power node. Another AC coupling module intercouples a powerline node to a test point of a dead front transformer. Still another AC coupling module employs a surge arrestor to couple signals between a powerline node and a medium voltage transmission line. Yet another AC coupling module clamps on a medium voltage power line to couple signals between a powerline node and a medium voltage power line.

Claims

1. A coupling module for coupling a communication device to a medium voltage power line, comprising:

a surge arrestor having a first side configured to be coupled to the medium voltage power line, said surge arrestor having a second side;

a transformer having a first winding having a first end communicatively coupled to said second side of said surge arrestor;

said first winding having a second end electrically connected to a ground conductor that extends between a plurality of utility poles;

said transformer having a second winding communicatively coupled to the communication device; and

wherein said first winding provides a portion of the only electrical path between said second end of said surge arrestor and the ground conductor.

2. The module of claim 1, wherein the communication device includes a housing and said transformer is disposed in said housing.

3. The module of claim 1, wherein said surge arrestor comprises an air-gap surge arrestor.

4. The module of claim 1, wherein said surge arrestor comprises a solid-state surge arrestor.

5. The module of claim 1, wherein the communication device comprises a powerline node.

6. The module of claim 1, wherein said first end of said first winding is communicatively coupled to said second side of said surge arrestor via a capacitor.

7. The module of claim 1, wherein the communication device comprises a first port configured to communicate via a fiber optic conductor.

8. The module of claim 1, wherein the communication device is configured to communicate data for one or more in-home end user devices.

9. The module of claim 1, wherein the communication device is configured to provide broadband communications over the medium voltage power line.

10. The module of claim 1, wherein the communication device is configured to communicate utility meter data.

11. The module of claim 1, wherein the communication device is configured to communicate over the medium voltage power line via carrier-sense multiple-access (CSMA) communications.

12. The module of claim 11, wherein the CSMA comprises CSMA with collision avoidance.

13. A communication assembly for communicating over a medium voltage power line, comprising:

a communication device having a first port and a second port;

a surge arrestor having a first side configured to be coupled to the medium voltage power line, said surge arrestor having a second side;

a transformer having a first winding having a first end communicatively coupled to said second side of said surge arrestor;

said first winding having a second end electrically connected to a ground conductor that extends between a plurality of utility poles;

said transformer having a second winding communicatively coupled to said first port of said communication device; and

wherein said first winding provides a portion of the only electrical path between said second end of said surge arrestor and the ground conductor.

14. The assembly of claim 13, wherein said communication device includes a housing and said transformer is disposed in said housing.

15. The assembly of claim 13, wherein said surge arrestor comprises an air-gap surge arrestor.

16. The assembly of claim 13, wherein said surge arrestor comprises a solid-state surge arrestor.

17. The assembly of claim 13, wherein said communication device comprises a powerline node.

18. The assembly of claim 13, wherein said first end of said first winding is communicatively coupled to said second side of said surge arrestor via a capacitor.

19. The assembly of claim 13, wherein said second port of said communication device is configured to communicate via a fiber optic conductor.

20. The assembly of claim 13, wherein said communication device is configured to communicate data for one or more in-home end user devices.

21. The assembly of claim 13, wherein the communication device is configured to provide broadband communications over the medium voltage power line.

22. The assembly of claim 13, wherein said communication device is configured to communicate utility meter data.

23. The assembly of claim 13, wherein said communication device is configured to communicate over the medium voltage power line via carrier-sense multiple-access (CSMA) communications.

24. The assembly of claim 22, wherein the CSMA comprises CSMA with collision avoidance.

25. The assembly of claim 13, wherein said second port of said communication device is configured to communicate wirelessly.

26. The assembly of claim 13, wherein said second port of said communication device is configured to communicate via a coaxial cable.

27. The assembly of claim 13, wherein said second port of said communication device is configured to communicate via a twisted pair conductor set.

28. The assembly of claim 13, wherein said transformer comprises an isolation transformer.

29. A communication assembly for communicating over a medium voltage power line, comprising:

a communication device having a first port and a second port;

wherein said communication device is configured to communicate utility meter data;

a surge arrestor having a first side configured to be coupled to the medium voltage power line, said surge arrestor having a second side;

a transformer having a first winding having a first end communicatively coupled to said second side of the surge arrestor;

said first winding having a second end electrically connected to a ground conductor that extends between a plurality of utility poles;

said transformer having a second winding communicatively coupled to said second port of said communication device; and

wherein said first winding provides a portion of the only electrical path between said second end of said surge arrestor and the ground conductor.

30. The assembly of claim 29, wherein said communication device is configured to communicate data for one or more in-home end user devices.

31. The assembly of claim 29, wherein the communication device is configured to provide broadband communications over the medium voltage power line.

32. The assembly of claim 29, wherein said communication device is configured to communicate over the medium voltage power line via carrier-sense multiple-access (CSMA) communications.