Method and system for a low cost wireless telephone link for a set top box

• US 7,810,125 B2
• Filed: 04/05/2007
• Issued: 10/05/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 07/01/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Gula Consulting Limited Liability Company (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Original Assignee: Phonex Broadband
• Inventors: Bartholomew, David, Smith, Scott, Stettler, Alan
• Primary Examiner(s): Kelley, Christopher
• Assistant Examiner(s): FLYNN, RANDY A
• Application Number:
  US11/697,123
• Publication Number:
  US 20070186256A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,279 Days
• Field of Search: 725/106, 725/79, 725/151, 340/310.11, 340/310.12, 340/310.16
• US Class Current: 725/106
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 2203/5441 Wireless systems or telephone
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 2203/5483 using coupling circuits
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 3/54 Systems for transmission via power distribution lines
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17309 Transmission or handling of upstream communications

Abstract

A telephone link for set top box communication between the set top box and a central office is provided. This invention makes use of an AC power line to provide a communication channel between the set top box and the central office. The set top box is configured to include an interface, including coupling and modulation, between the set top box and the AC power line. A base unit, connected to the central office provides another interface configured to facilitate the coupling and modulation of signals between the central office and the AC power line.

Claims

1. A wireless telephone communication system for a set top box, comprising:

(A) a base unit connected to an AC power line for the transmission and receipt of control and data signals; and

(B) a set top box configured to receive AC power, and control and data signals from the AC power line at an AC power line input;

wherein the set top box further comprises

a power input comprising a hot power input and a neutral power input, and configured to be electrically connected to an AC power line and to provide power and communication signals over the AC power line;

a first inductor and a second inductor, each comprising a first end and a second end;

a first capacitor connected between the second end of the first inductor and the second end of the second inductor, wherein no capacitor is connected directly between the first end of the first inductor and the first end of the second inductor;

a power output comprising a hot power output and a neutral power output, and configured to provide power to a set top box power supply;

a transformer comprising a first transformer connection point and a second transformer connection point, and configured to pass signals between the power input and a signal port comprising a transmit port and a receive port; and

a second capacitor comprising a first end and a second end,

wherein the first transformer connection point is electrically connected to a first end of the second capacitor,

wherein the second end of the second capacitor is connected to the first end of the second inductor,

wherein the second transformer connection point is connected to the first end of the first inductor,

wherein the hot power input is electrically connected to the first end of the first inductor, and wherein the hot power output is electrically connected to the second end of the first inductor, and

wherein the neutral power input is electrically connected to the first end of the second inductor, and wherein the neutral power output is electrically connected to the second end of the second inductor.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the set top box is further configured to send and receive signals through the transformer.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein the transformer is a 3:

1;

1 Balun transformer.

4. A set top box front end comprising:

a power input comprising a hot power input and a neutral power input, and configured to be electrically connected to an AC power line and to provide power and communication signals over the AC power line;

a first inductor and a second inductor, each comprising a first end and a second end;

a first capacitor connected between the second end of the first inductor and the second end of the second inductor, wherein no capacitor is connected directly between the first end of the first inductor and the first end of the second inductor;

a power output comprising a hot power output and a neutral power output, and configured to provide power to a set top box power supply;

a transformer comprising a first transformer connection point and a second transformer connection point, and configured to pass signals between the power input and a signal port comprising a transmit port and a receive port; and

a second capacitor comprising a first end and a second end,

wherein the first transformer connection point is electrically connected to a first end of the second capacitor,

wherein the second end of the second capacitor is connected to the first end of the second inductor,

wherein the second transformer connection point is connected to the first end of the first inductor,

wherein said hot power input is electrically connected to the first end of the first inductor, and wherein the hot power output is electrically connected to the second end of the first inductor, and

wherein the neutral power input is electrically connected to the first end of the second inductor, and wherein the neutral power output is electrically connected to the second end of the second inductor.

5. The set top box front end of claim 4 wherein the transformer is a 3:

1;

1 Balun transformer.

6. A wireless telephone communication system for a set top box, comprising:

(A) a base unit, wherein the base unit is connected to a standard telephone cable and to an AC power line, and wherein the base unit is configured to transmit and receive control and data signals over both the standard telephone cable and the AC power line;

(B) an extension unit connected to the AC power line to transmit and receive control and data signals to and from the base unit, wherein the extension unit is embedded within the set top box, and wherein the embedded extension unit is controlled by the set top box;

(C) a central office device connected to the base unit,

(D) a power supply comprising;

a hot line coupled to the transformer comprising a hot power input;

a neutral line coupled to the transformer comprising a neutral line input, the hot power input and the neutral line input configured to be electrically connected to the AC power and to transmit and receive control and data signals;

a signal port comprising a transmit port and a receive port;

a transformer including a first transformer connection point and a second transformer connection point, the transformer configured to pass signals between the hot power input and the signal port;

a first capacitor including a first end and a second end, the first end of the first capacitor coupled to the first transformer connection point, and the second end of the first capacitor coupled to the neutral line;

a first inductor including a first end and a second end, the first end of the first inductor coupled to the hot line and the second transformer connection point;

a second inductor including a first end and a second end, the first end of the second inductor coupled to the neutral line input;

a second capacitor coupled between the hot line and the neutral line on the second end of the first inductor and the second end of the second inductor;

a ground line;

a third capacitor coupled between the neutral line and the ground line on the second end of the second inductor; and

a fourth capacitor coupled between the hot line and the ground line on the second end of the first inductor.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the transformer comprises at least one of a connector for coupling the power supply to a transmitter and a connector for coupling the power supply to a receiver.

8. The system of claim 6, wherein the first transformer is a coupling transformer.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the coupling transformer is a 3:

1;

1 Balun transformer.

10. The system of claim 6, wherein the first capacitor is an X-Y capacitor.

11. The system of claim 6, wherein the first capacitor is an 0.01 μ

F, 250 volt, X-Y capacitor.

12. The system of claim 6, wherein at least one of the first inductor and the second inductor is an 83 μ

H inductor.

13. The system of claim 6, wherein at least one of the second capacitor, the third capacitor, and the fourth capacitor is a decoupling capacitor.

14. The system of claim 6, wherein each of the second capacitor, the third capacitor, and the fourth capacitor is a decoupling capacitor.

15. The system of claim 6, wherein at least one of the second capacitor, the third capacitor, and the fourth capacitor is a 0.1 μ

F capacitor.

16. The system of claim 6, wherein at least one of the second capacitor, the third capacitor, and the fourth capacitor is a 0.22 μ

F capacitor.

17. The system of claim 6, wherein each of the second capacitor, the third capacitor, and the fourth capacitor is a 0.1 μ

F capacitor.

18. The system of claim 6, wherein each of the second capacitor, the third capacitor, and the fourth capacitor is a 0.22 F capacitor.