Powerline communications network employing TDMA, FDMA and/or CDMA

• US 6,144,292 A
• Filed: 10/21/1996
• Issued: 11/07/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 10/22/1992
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Amperion Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Norweb PLC
• Inventors: Brown, Paul A.
• Primary Examiner(s): NGO, RICKY QUOC
• Application Number:
  US08/727,530
• Time in Patent Office: 1,478 Days
• Field of Search: 370/280, 370/281, 370/294, 370/295, 370/335, 370/337, 370/342, 370/344, 370/343, 370/345, 370/347, 370/436, 370/441, 370/442, 370/466, 370/478, 370/479, 455/3.1, 455/3.3, 455/402, 340/310.01, 340/310.05, 340/310.06, 340/310.02, 340/310.03, 340/310.04, 340/310.07, 340/310.08
• US Class Current: 455/402
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 13/00009 using pulsed signals
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 13/00034 the elements or equipment being or involving an electric power substation
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 2203/5416 by adding signals to the wave form of the power source
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 2203/5437 Wired telephone
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 2203/5441 Wireless systems or telephone
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 2203/5466 using three phases conductors
• 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

Abstract

A communications apparatus is adapted for use with a mains electricity transmission and/or distribution network. The communications apparatus includes a signal transmission and/or reception means, and frequency conversion means for converting the frequency of a signal transmitted or received by the signal transmission and/or reception means to a frequency which facilitates improved propagation of the signal on the network. Preferably the signal transmission and/or reception means is adapted to operate according to a telephony standard with uses a relatively high carrier frequency (e.g. CT2), and the frequency conversion means is usable to covert a signal having a relatively high carrier frequency (e.g. CT2) and the frequency conversion means is usable to convert a signal having a relatively high carrier frequency to a signal having a lower carrier frequency.

Claims

1. An electricity distribution and/or power transmission network at least part of which is external to a building, the network having a number of phase conductors, said number being chosen from the list 2,4,5,6,7,8,9, . . . n where n is an integer greater than 9, including input means for the input of a telecommunications signal having a carrier frequency greater than approximately 1 MHz onto at least one of the phase conductors of the network and output means for removing said telecommunications signal from at least one other phase conductor of the network, said signal being transmissible along said external part of the network, wherein the network is adapted to transmit said signal using frequency, time and/or code division multiplexing techniques.

2. A network according to claim 1 wherein the network is adapted to transmit said signal using Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) communication techniques.

3. A network according to claim 1 wherein the network is adapted to transmit said signal using one or more of the following cordless telephony techniques:

R-CDMA (Rockwell-Code Division Multiple Access),

telephony standards CT0, CT1 and CT2, AMPS, DECT (Digital European Cordless Telephone Standard),

IS-54, IS-95, GSM, Q-CDMA, UD-PCS, PHS, PACS,

TACS, ENTACS, NMT450, NMT900, C-450, RTMS,

Radicom 2000, NTJ, JTACS &

NTACS, DCS 1800.

4. A network according to claim 1, wherein the carrier frequency is between approximately 1-60 MHz.

5. A network according claim 1, wherein signal propagation is between at least one of the phase conductors of the network and earth.

6. An electricity distribution and/or power transmission network at least part of which is external to a building, the network having a number of phase conductors, said number being chosen from the list 2,4,5,6,7,8,9, . . . n where n is an integer greater than 9, including input means for the input of a telecommunications signal having a carrier frequency greater than approximately 1 MHz onto at least one of the phase conductors of the network and output means for removing said telecommunications signal from at least one other phase conductor of the network, said signal being transmissible along said external part of the network, wherein the network is adapted to transmit said signal using one or more of the following cordless telephony techniques:

R-CDMA (Rockwell-Code Division Multiple Access),

telephony standards CT0, CT1 and CT2, AMPS, DECT (Digital European Cordless Telephone Standard),

IS-54, IS-95, GSM, Q-CDMA, UD-PCS, PHS, PACS,

TACS, ENTACS, NMT450, NMT900, C-450, RTMS,

Radicom 2000, NTJ, JTACS &

NTACS, DCS 1800;

wherein the carrier frequency is between approximately 1-60 MHz, and wherein signal propagation is between at least one of the phase conductors of the network and earth.

7. Communications apparatus adapted for use with a mains electricity transmission`on and/or distribution network, including signal transmission and/or reception means, and frequency conversion means for converting the frequency of a signal transmitted or received by signal transmission and/or reception means to a frequency which facilitates improved propagation of the signal on the network, wherein said signal transmission and/or reception means is adapted to operate according to a telephony standard which uses a relatively high carrier frequency, and said frequency conversion means is usable to convert a signal having a relatively high carrier frequency to a signal having a lower carrier frequency.

8. Communications apparatus according to claim 7, wherein said signal transmission and/or reception means is adapted to operate according to the CT2 or CDMA telephone standards.

9. Communications apparatus according to claim 7, wherein said frequency conversion means is usable to convert the carrier frequency of said signal to between 1 and 60 MHz.

10. Communications apparatus according to claim 7, wherein said signal transmission and/or reception means comprises telephone equipment.

11. Communications apparatus according to claim 7 connected to an electricity power distribution and/or transmission network.

12. Communications apparatus according to claim 7, wherein at least part of the network is external to a building, the network having a number of phase conductors, said number being chosen from the list 2,4,5,6,7,8,9, . . . n where n is an integer greater than 9, including input means for the input of a telecommunications signal having a carrier frequency greater than approximately 1 MHz onto at least one of the phase conductors of the network and output means for removing said telecommunications signal from at least one other phase conductor of the network, said signal being transmissible along said external part of the network, wherein the network is adapted to transmit said signal using frequency, time and/or code division multiplexing techniques.

13. A network according to claim 12 wherein the network is adapted to transmit said signal using Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) communication techniques.

14. A network according to claim 12 wherein the network is adapted to transmit said signal using one or more of the following cordless telephony techniques:

R-CDMA (Rockwell-Code Division Multiple Access),

telephony standards CT0, CT1 and CT2, AMPS, DECT (Digital European Cordless Telephone Standard),

IS-54, IS-95, GSM, Q-CDMA, UD-PCS, PHS, PACS,

TACS, ENTACS, NMT450, NMT900, C-450, RTMS,

Radicom 2000, NTJ, JTACS &

NTACS, DCS 1800.

15. A network according to claim 12, wherein the carrier frequency is between approximately 1-60 MHz.

16. A network according claim 12, wherein signal propagation is between at least one of the phase conductors of the network and earth.

17. Communications apparatus adapted for use with a mains electricity transmission and/or distribution network, including signal transmission and/or reception means, and frequency conversion means for converting the frequency of a signal transmitted or received by signal transmission and/or reception means to a frequency which facilitates improved propagation of the signal on the network, wherein said signal transmission and/or reception means is adapted to operate according to a telephony standard which uses a relatively high carrier frequency, and said frequency conversion means is usable to convert a signal having a relatively high carrier frequency to a signal having a lower carrier frequency, wherein said signal transmission and/or reception means is adapted to operate according to the CT2 or CDMA telephone standards, said frequency conversion means is usable to convert the carrier frequency of said signal to between 1 and 60 MHz, said signal transmission and/or reception means comprises telephone equipment, and said communications apparatus is connected to an electricity power distribution and/or transmission network, at least a portion of the network being external to a building, and said signal transmission means is adapted for transmission of said signal having a relatively high carrier frequency over said portion of the network external to said building according to the CT2 or DDMA telephone standards for reception by said reception means.

18. A network according to claim 17, wherein the network is adapted to transmit said signal over the portion of the network external to said building using one or more of the following cordless telephony techniques:

R-CDMA (Rockwell-Code Division Multiple Access),

telephony standards CT0, CT1 and CT2, AMPS, DECT (Digital European Cordless Telephone Standard),

IS-54, IS-95, GSM, Q-CDMA, UD-PCS, PHS, PACS,

TACS, ENTACS, NMT450, NMT900, C-450, RTMS,

Radicom 2000, NTJ, JTACS &

NTACS, DCS 1800.

19. Use of a communications apparatus with an electricity distribution and/or power transmission network, the apparatus including signal transmission and/or reception means, and frequency conversion means for converting the frequency of a signal transmitted or received by signal transmission and/or reception means to a frequency which facilitates improved propagation of the signal on the network, wherein said signal transmission and/or reception means operates according to a telephony standard which uses a relatively high carrier frequency, and said frequency conversion means converts a signal having a relatively high carrier frequency to a signal having a lower carrier frequency.

20. A method of signal transmission including:

inputting a telecommunications signal having a carrier frequency of greater than approximately 1 MHz onto a first phase conductor of an electricity power distribution and/or transmission network at least part of which is external to a building; and

subsequently receiving the signal from a second phase conductor of the network;

said signal being transmitted along said external part of the network, wherein said signal is transmitted using frequency, time and/or code division multiplexing techniques.

21. Use of telecommunications apparatus for transmission or reception of a telecommunications signal having a carrier frequency greater than approximately 1 MHz on an electricity distribution and/or power transmission network at least part of which is external to a building, the network having a number of phase conductors, said number being chosen from the list 2,4,5,6,7,8,9, . . . n (where n is an integer greater than 9), including input of a telecommunications signal having a carrier frequency greater than approximately 1 MHz onto at least one of the phase conductors of the network and removing said telecommunications signal from at least one other phase conductor of the network, and said signal being transmitted along said external part of the network using frequency, time and/or code division multiplexing techniques.

22. Use of telecommunications apparatus as claimed in claim 21, wherein said signal is transmitted along said external part of the network using Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) communication techniques.

23. Use of telecommunications apparatus as claimed in claim 21, wherein said signal is transmitted along said external part of the network using one or more of the following cordless telephony techniques:

R-CDMA (Rockwell-Code Division Multiple Access),

telephony standards CT0, CT1 and CT2, AMPS, DECT (Digital European Cordless Telephone Standard),

IS-54, IS-95, GSM, Q-CDMA, UD-PCS, PHS, PACS,

TACS, ENTACS, NMT450, NMT900, C-450, RTMS,

Radicom 2000, NTJ, JTACS &

NTACS, DCS 1800.

24. Use of telecommunications apparatus as claimed in claim 21, wherein said signal is transmitted along said external part of the network using a carrier frequency between approximately 1-60 MHz.

25. Use of telecommunications apparatus as claimed in claim 21, wherein said signal is propagated between at least one of the phase conductors of the network and earth.