Power line communication system and method

• US 20050273282A1
• Filed: 08/08/2005
• Published: 12/08/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 12/10/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Current Technologies LLC (Pattern Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Current Technologies LLC (Pattern Inc.)
• Inventors: Mollenkopf, James Douglas
• Granted Patent: US 7,301,440 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 702/62
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 2203/5441 Wireless systems or telephone
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 2203/5466 using three phases conductors
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 2203/5487 cables
• 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

Abstract

The present invention provides a device for providing communications through power lines comprised of multiple conductors by transmitting the data signals through a plurality of the conductors. One embodiment of the present invention may be comprised of a transmit circuit communicatively coupled to a first energized conductor for applying a first voltage signal representing the data to the first energized conductor; the transmit circuit being communicatively coupled to a second energized conductor for applying a second voltage signal representing the data to the second energized conductor; and wherein the second voltage signal is opposite in polarity to said first voltage signal.

Claims

1. A method of providing communications over an electrical power distribution network having first and second medium voltage power line conductors in spaced-apart and substantially parallel relation, comprising:

at a first location;

receiving first data via a backhaul link;

modulating at least one carrier with the first data to provide a first data signal; and

coupling the first signal to the first medium voltage power line conductor;

at a second location;

receiving the first data signal from the second medium power line conductor;

demodulating the received first data signal to provide the first data; and

transmitting the first data to a user device; and

wherein the first data signal couples from the first medium voltage power line conductor to the second medium voltage power line conductor, at least in part, through air.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising routing the first data after demodulating the first data signal.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the backhaul link is, at least in part, a wireless link.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the backhaul link is, at least in part, a fiber optic link.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein transmitting the first data includes transmitting the first data over a low voltage power line.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein transmitting the first data includes wireless transmitting the first data.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein modulating includes orthogonal frequency division multiplexing.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

at the second location;

receiving second data from a user device;

modulating at least one carrier with the second data to provide a second data signal; and

coupling the second data signal to the second medium voltage power line conductor;

at the first location;

receiving the second data signal from the first medium power line conductor;

demodulating the received second data signal to provide the second data; and

transmitting the second data over the backhaul link.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising prioritizing the second data at the second location prior to modulating at least one carrier with the second data.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein receiving the second data includes wirelessly receiving the second data.

11. The method of claim 8, wherein receiving the second data includes receiving the second data via a low voltage power line.

12. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

at the second location;

receiving third data from a user device;

modulating at least one carrier with the third data to provide a third data signal; and

coupling the third data signal to the second medium voltage power line conductor;

at the first location;

receiving the third data signal from the first medium power line conductor;

demodulating the received third data signal to provide the third data; and

transmitting the third data over the backhaul link.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising prioritizing the second data and third data at the second location.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein coupling includes inductively coupling.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein coupling includes capacitively coupling.

16. The method of claim 1, wherein coupling includes coupling via coupler having a first and second conductive connection with the first medium voltage power line.

17. A method of providing communications over an electrical power distribution network having first and second medium voltage power line conductors in spaced-apart and substantially parallel relation, comprising:

at a first power line communications device;

receiving first data from a user device;

modulating at least one carrier with the first data to provide a first data signal; and

coupling the first data signal to the first medium voltage power line conductor;

at a backhaul device;

receiving the first data signal from the second medium power line conductor;

demodulating the received first data signal to provide the first data; and

transmitting the first data over a backhaul link; and

wherein the first data signal couples from the first medium voltage power line conductor to the second medium voltage power line conductor, at least in part, through air.

18. The method of claim 17, further comprising at the first power line communications device routing the first data.

19. The method of claim 17, wherein the backhaul link is, at least in part, a wireless link.

20. The method of claim 17, wherein the backhaul link is, at least in part, a fiber optic link.

21. The method of claim 17, wherein receiving the first data includes receiving the first data via a low voltage power line.

22. The method of claim 17, wherein receiving the first data includes wirelessly receiving the first data.

23. The method of claim 17, wherein modulating includes orthogonal frequency division multiplexing.

24. A method of providing communications over an electrical power distribution network having first, second, and third medium voltage power line conductors in spaced-apart and substantially parallel relation, comprising:

connecting a first power line communications device to the first medium voltage power line conductor;

connecting a second power line communications device to the second medium voltage power line conductor;

connecting a third power line communications device to the third medium voltage power line conductor;

wherein transmissions from the first power line communications device to the second power line communications device traverse at least the first medium voltage power line conductor, a link through air, and the second medium voltage power line conductor; and

wherein transmissions from the third power line communications device to the second power line communications device traverse at least the third medium voltage power line conductor, a link through air, and the second medium voltage power line conductor.

25. The method of claim 24, wherein the first and third power line communications devices include a user device interface configured to provide communications to one or more user devices.

26. The method of claim 25, wherein the user device interfaces each include a wireless transceiver.

27. The method of claim 25, wherein the user device interfaces are each configured to communicate via a low voltage power line.

28. The method of claim 24, wherein the second power line communications device wirelessly transmits data received from the first power line communications device.

29. The method of claim 24, wherein the first and third power line communications devices each includes a router.