Apparatus for powering a communication device and methods thereof

• US 9,654,173 B2
• Filed: 11/20/2014
• Issued: 05/16/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 11/20/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Barzegar, Farhad, Gerszberg, Irwin, Henry, Paul Shala, Bennett, Robert, Barnickel, Donald J, Willis, III, Thomas M.
• Primary Examiner(s): TAYONG, HELENE E
• Application Number:
  US14/548,468
• Publication Number:
  US 20160149614A1
• Time in Patent Office: 908 Days
• Field of Search: 375257, 375258
• CPC Class Codes: H01P 3/10 Wire waveguides, i.e. with a single solid longitudinal conductor
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 13/00007 using the power network as support for the transmission
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 13/00017 using optical fiber
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 3/02 using a single network for simultaneous distribution of power at different frequencies; using a single network for simultaneous distribution of ac power and of dc power
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 2203/5441 Wireless systems or telephone
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 2203/5483 using coupling circuits
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 3/52 Systems for transmission between fixed stations via waveguides
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 3/54 Systems for transmission via power distribution lines
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 3/56 Circuits for coupling, blocking, or by-passing of signals
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/00 Enabling technologies; Technologies with a potential or indirect contribution to GHG emissions mitigation
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 40/121 using the power network as support for the transmission
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 40/124 using wired telecommunication networks or data transmission busses

Abstract

Aspects of the subject disclosure may include, for example, a waveguide system for transmitting first electromagnetic waves via a coupler located in proximity to a transmission medium to generate second electromagnetic waves that propagate on an outer surface of the transmission medium, the transmission medium further providing a first power signal having a first operating frequency and a second power signal having a second operating frequency that differs from the first operating frequency. The waveguide system can further obtain energy from the first power signal for powering the waveguide system. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Claims

1. A waveguide system, comprising:

a guided wave generation circuit that facilitates generation of first electromagnetic waves;

a coupler that facilitates propagation of at least a portion of the first electromagnetic waves on an outer surface of the coupler to induce second electromagnetic waves that propagate along an outer surface of a transmission medium, the second electromagnetic waves at least partially surrounding the outer surface of the transmission medium, and the transmission medium further conducting a first power signal and a second power signal; and

a power management system that facilitates delivery of power to the guided wave generation circuit by obtaining energy from the first power signal which has a first operating frequency that differs from a second operating frequency of the second power signal.

2. The waveguide system of claim 1, wherein the transmission medium comprises a single conductor that facilitates delivery of power by way of the second power signal or a derivative of the second power signal.

3. The waveguide system of claim 2, wherein a system applies the first power signal to the single conductor.

4. The waveguide system of claim 3, wherein the system comprises a base station device that provides the first power signal and communication services to communication devices.

5. The waveguide system of claim 1, wherein the first operating frequency exceeds the second operating frequency.

6. The waveguide system of claim 1, wherein the second operating frequency has an operating frequency that is substantially fifty or sixty cycles per second.

7. The waveguide system of claim 1, wherein the power management system comprises an alternating current (AC) to a direct current (DC) converter that converts the first power signal to substantially a DC signal that supplies power to the guided wave generation circuit.

8. The waveguide system of claim 1, wherein the guided wave generation circuit further facilitates detecting an event requiring a reduction in power consumption by the guided wave generation circuit, and wherein the power management system facilitates reducing power delivered to the guided wave generation circuit responsive to detection of the event.

9. The waveguide system of claim 8, wherein the event comprises a fault in a delivery of the first power signal via the transmission medium, and wherein the power management system facilitates obtaining power from an alternate power source responsive to detection of the fault.

10. The waveguide system of claim 9, wherein the alternate power source comprises a backup battery, a solar-powered source, a wind-powered source, or a motion-powered source.

11. The waveguide system of claim 8, wherein the guided wave generation circuit further facilitates adjusting the second electromagnetic waves to reduce a bit rate of data transported by the second electromagnetic waves to reduce power consumption by the guided wave generation circuit responsive to detection of the event.

12. A waveguide system, comprising:

a wave-generation circuit that facilitates generation of first electromagnetic waves;

a coupler that facilitates propagation of the first electromagnetic waves on a surface of the coupler to generate second electromagnetic waves that propagate along a surface of a first power line, the second electromagnetic waves at least partially surrounding the outer surface of the first power line; and

a power management system that facilitates delivery of power to the wave-generation circuit by obtaining energy from a second power line having a lower voltage than the first power line.

13. The waveguide system of claim 12, wherein the waveguide system is positioned on the second power line, and wherein the coupler comprises a dielectric material that extends from the second power line to a vicinity of the first power line.

14. The waveguide system of claim 12, wherein the power management system comprises an alternating current (AC) to a direct current (DC) converter that converts a power signal of the second power line to substantially a DC signal that supplies power to the wave-generation circuit.

15. The waveguide system of claim 12, wherein the wave-generation circuit further facilitates detecting an event requiring a reduction of power consumption by the wave-generation circuit, and wherein the power management system facilitates reducing power delivered to the wave-generation circuit responsive to detection of the event.

16. The waveguide system of claim 15, wherein the wave-generation circuit further facilitates adjusting the first electromagnetic waves to reduce a bit rate of data transported by the first electromagnetic waves to reduce power consumption by the wave-generation circuit responsive to detection of the event.

17. A method, comprising:

transmitting, by a waveguide system, first electromagnetic waves via a coupler located in proximity to a transmission medium to generate second electromagnetic waves that propagate on an outer surface of the transmission medium, the second electromagnetic waves at least partially surrounding the outer surface of the transmission medium, and the transmission medium further providing a first power signal having a first operating frequency and a second power signal having a second operating frequency that differs from the first operating frequency; and

obtaining, by the waveguide system, energy from the first power signal for powering the waveguide system.

18. The method of claim 17, further comprising powering the waveguide system from the energy obtained from the first power signal.

19. The method of claim 17, wherein the transmission medium comprises a single conductor that facilitates delivery of electric energy by way of the second power signal, and wherein a system applies the first power signal to the single conductor.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the first operating frequency exceeds the second operating frequency, and wherein the second operating frequency has an operating frequency range from fifty cycles per second to sixty cycles per second.