Method and apparatus for providing power using an inductive coupling

• US 10,916,969 B2
• Filed: 12/08/2016
• Issued: 02/09/2021
• Est. Priority Date: 12/08/2016
• 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: Britz, David M., Bennett, Robert, Henry, Paul Shala, Gerszberg, Irwin, Barzegar, Farhad, Willis, III, Thomas M., Barnickel, Donald J., Bogdan, Pamela A. M., Pimm, Brandon, Liu, Ken, Zarsky, Dorothy, Beattie, Jr., James Gordon
• Primary Examiner(s): Pan, Yuwen
• Assistant Examiner(s): Sherif, Fatuma G
• Application Number:
  US15/372,450
• Publication Number:
  US 20180166920A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,524 Days
• CPC Class Codes: H01F 38/14 Inductive couplings for wireless supply or distribution of electric power using inductive coupling H02J50/10
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/12 of the resonant type
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/20 using microwaves or radio frequency waves
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/23 characterised by the type of transmitting antennas, e.g. directional array antennas or Yagi antennas
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00045 Authentication, i.e. circuits for checking compatibility between one component, e.g. a battery or a battery charger, and another component, e.g. a power source
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/79 for data transfer in combination with power transfer

Abstract

Aspects of the subject disclosure may include, for example, obtaining power, by a communication device, from a current passing through a transmission medium via an inductive coupling between the communication device and the transmission medium where the communication device is physically connected with the transmission medium and providing communications, by the communication device, by electromagnetic waves that propagate without utilizing an electrical return path, wherein the electromagnetic waves are guided by one of the transmission medium or a dielectric core of a cable coupled to a feed point of a dielectric antenna. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Claims

1. A communication device comprising:

a core including a plurality of core portions;

a connection mechanism that is movable to first and second positions, wherein a first movement of the connection mechanism to the first position causes the plurality of core portions to separate to provide access to an opening through the core, and wherein a second movement of the connection mechanism to the second position causes the plurality of core portions to be together circumscribing a transmission medium positioned through the opening of the core;

a winding around the core; and

a transmitter; and

a housing comprising the core, the winding and the transmitter, wherein the housing includes first and second housing portions, wherein the plurality of core portions comprises first and second core portions, wherein the first core portion is physically connected with the first housing portion, wherein the second core portion is physically connected with the second housing portion, wherein the winding is around the first and second core portions, and wherein the transmitter is positioned within the first housing portion, wherein, when the core is positioned to circumscribe the transmission medium, a current flowing through the transmission medium provides power to the transmitter via an inductive coupling that utilizes the core and the winding, wherein when the core is positioned to circumscribe the transmission medium, the transmitter transmits communications by electromagnetic waves at a physical interface of the transmission medium that propagate without utilizing an electrical return path, and wherein the electromagnetic waves are guided by the transmission medium.

2. The communication device of claim 1, wherein the housing is coupled to the connection mechanism that includes a plurality of self-centering jaws that have a spring loaded connection to the housing and that adjusts along a linear path to clamp around a circumference of the transmission medium, wherein the plurality of self-centering jaws is adjustable along the linear path to accommodate a plurality of transmission media each with a different circumference.

3. The communication device of claim 1, wherein the connection mechanism pivotally connects the first and second housing portions.

4. The communication device of claim 1, wherein the first core portion, the second core portion or a combination thereof include a material that is compressed when the connection mechanism is in the second position.

5. The communication device of claim 1, wherein the winding around the core comprises a toroidal winding.

6. The communication device of claim 1, further comprising a receiver contained in the housing, wherein, when the core is positioned to circumscribe the transmission medium, the receiver receives other communications by other electromagnetic waves at the physical interface of the transmission medium that propagate without utilizing another electrical return path, and wherein the other electromagnetic waves are guided by the transmission medium.

7. The communication device of claim 1, wherein the transmission medium is a power line, wherein the connection mechanism comprises a hinge and a locking mechanism, wherein the hinge is biased towards the second position, and wherein the locking mechanism selectively locks the hinge in the first position.

8. The communication device of claim 1, wherein the core comprises a wound core having layers separated by an electrical insulator.

9. The communication device of claim 1, further comprising a battery, wherein the inductive coupling charges the battery.

10. The communication device of claim 1, wherein the core is a group of cores that is coaxially aligned, and wherein the group of cores each include a corresponding plurality of core portions and a corresponding winding.

11. The communication device of claim 1, further comprising:

a communication coupling circuit which, when the core is positioned to circumscribe the transmission medium, generates the electromagnetic waves.

12. The communication device of claim 1, further comprising a dielectric antenna including a feed point, the dielectric antenna for radiating a wireless signal from the dielectric antenna in response to the electromagnetic waves being received at the feed point.

13. A communication device comprising:

a core including a plurality of core portions comprising first and second core portions;

a winding around the first and second core portions, wherein the winding has a toroidal shape;

a connection mechanism that is movable to first and second positions, wherein a first movement of the connection mechanism to the first position causes the plurality of core portions to separate to provide access to an opening through the core, and wherein a second movement of the connection mechanism to the second position causes the plurality of core portions to be together circumscribing a transmission medium positioned through the opening of the core, wherein the connection mechanism is actuatable to selectively enable positioning the transmission medium through the opening in the core;

an inductive coupling circuit;

a receiver; and

a housing comprising the core, the winding and the receiver, wherein the housing includes first and second housing portions, wherein the first core portion is physically connected with the first housing portion, wherein the second core portion is physically connected with the second housing portion, wherein the winding is around the first and second core portions, and wherein the receiver is positioned within the first housing portion, wherein the housing is separable and that contains the core, the winding, the inductive coupling circuit, and the receiver, wherein, when the core is positioned to circumscribe the transmission medium, a current flowing through the transmission medium provides power via an inductive coupling that utilizes the core and the inductive coupling circuit, and wherein the power enables the receiver to receive communications by electromagnetic waves from a transmitter that transmits the electromagnetic waves at a physical interface of the transmission that propagate without utilizing an electrical return path, and wherein the electromagnetic waves are guided by the transmission medium.

14. The communication device of claim 13, wherein the housing is coupled to the connection mechanism that includes a plurality of self-centering jaws that have a spring loaded connection to the housing and that adjusts along a linear path to clamp around a circumference of the transmission medium.

15. The communication device of claim 14, wherein the plurality of self-centering jaws are adjustable.

16. The communication device of claim 15, wherein the plurality of self-centering jaws is adjustable, along the linear path to accommodate a plurality of transmission media each with a different circumference.

17. The communication device of claim 16, wherein the connection mechanism pivotally connects the first and second housing portions.

18. The communication device of claim 13, wherein the core comprises a wound core having layers separated by an electrical insulator.

19. A communication device comprising:

a core including a plurality of core portions comprising first and second core portions;

a connection mechanism that is movable to first and second positions, wherein a first movement of the connection mechanism to the first position causes the plurality of core portions to separate to provide access to an opening through the core, and wherein a second movement of the connection mechanism to the second position causes the plurality of core portions to be together circumscribing a transmission medium positioned through the opening of the core, wherein the connection mechanism is actuatable to selectively enable positioning the transmission medium through the opening in the core;

an inductive coupling circuit; and

a receiver; and

a housing comprising the core, a winding around the core, and the receiver, wherein the housing includes first and second housing portions, wherein the first core portion is physically connected with the first housing portion, wherein the second core portion is physically connected with the second housing portion, wherein the winding is around the first and second core portions, and wherein the receiver is positioned within the first housing portion, wherein, when the core is positioned to circumscribe the transmission medium, a current flowing through the transmission medium provides power via an inductive coupling that utilizes the core and the inductive coupling circuit, and wherein the power enables the receiver to receive communications by electromagnetic waves from a transmitter that transmits the electromagnetic waves at a physical interface of the transmission that propagate without utilizing an electrical return path, and wherein the electromagnetic waves are guided by the transmission medium, wherein at least one of the first or second core portions includes a magnetically conductive material that is compressed when the connection mechanism is in a closed position.

20. The communication device of claim 19, wherein the winding has a toroidal shape.