Power line coupling device and method of using the same

• US 7,224,243 B2
• Filed: 09/02/2005
• Issued: 05/29/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 06/24/2002
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Chemtron Research LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Original Assignee: Current Technologies LLC (Pattern Inc.)
• Inventors: Cope, Leonard David
• Primary Examiner(s): Pascal; Robert
• Assistant Examiner(s): Glenn; Kimberly E
• Application Number:
  US11/217,316
• Publication Number:
  US 20060012449A1
• Time in Patent Office: 634 Days
• Field of Search: 333/101, 333/131, 333/100, 174/110.R, 174/107, 174/112.R, 34031001- 31, 34031011-31018
• US Class Current: 333/100
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 2203/5483 using coupling circuits
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 3/56 Circuits for coupling, blocking, or by-passing of signals

Abstract

The coupler of the present invention includes a plurality of core members that are disposed between the semi-conductive ground jacket and neutral conductor of a standard URD MV cable. The core members are series wound by a transformer conductor, which forms a secondary winding that is coupled to the primary of a transformer, which provides impedance translation and/or isolation. The secondary of the transformer is coupled to a connector for communicating data signals through the coupler.

Claims

1. A device for coupling data signals to a power line conductor, the device comprising:

a cable having a first end and a second end and comprising a cable conductor and an insulator disposed around said cable conductor;

said cable conductor having a first end and a second end;

at least one core disposed substantially around the entire circumference of a portion of said cable;

a conductor winding around said core; and

wherein said first end of said cable conductor is configured to be electrically coupled to the power line conductor at a first connection point on the power line conductor and wherein said second end said cable conductor is configured to be electrically coupled to the power line conductor at a second connection point on the power line conductor.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein said core is comprised of a plurality of ferrite core members.

3. The device of claim 1, further comprising a transformer comprising a first and a second winding, and wherein said first winding is in communication with said conductor winding.

4. The device of claim 3, wherein said transformer provides impedance matching.

5. The device of claim 1, wherein said cable conductor is configured to conduct a power signal having a voltage greater than one thousand volts.

6. The device of claim 1, wherein said device has a resonant frequency within about fifteen percent of a center frequency of a band of frequencies used for communicating the data signals.

7. The device of claim 1, further comprising a reactive circuit configured to modify the resonant frequency of the device.

8. The device of claim 1, wherein said conductor winding is in communication with a data communication circuit comprised of a filter, an amplifier, and a modem.

9. The device of claim 1, wherein said cable conductor is electrically coupled to the power line conductor at said cable conductor first end via a first fuse and at said cable conductor second end via a second fuse.

10. The device of claim 1, wherein the device is configured to couple data signals communicated via at least one carrier frequency between 30 and 50 megahertz.

11. A device for coupling data signals to a power line conductor carrying a voltage greater than one thousand volts, the device comprising:

a cable comprising a center conductor, and an insulator disposed around said center conductor, said center conductor of said cable having a first end and being configured to be electrically coupled to the power line conductor at a first connection point on the power line conductor and said center conductor having a second end being configured to be electrically coupled to the power line conductor at a second connection point on the power line conductor;

a core disposed adjacent said cable;

a conductor winding disposed adjacent said core;

wherein said center conductor of said cable, said core, and said conductor winding form a coupling transformer; and

wherein said first connection point and said second connection point are spaced apart on the power line conductor.

12. The device of claim 11, wherein said cable further comprises a semi-conductive jacket disposed around said insulator of said cable and wherein said core is disposed outside said semi-conductive jacket of said cable.

13. The device of claim 12, further comprising a conductive path coupling said semi-conductive jacket to a neutral conductor.

14. The device of claim 13, wherein said conductive path is a low frequency conductive path.

15. The device of claim 11, wherein said conductor winding is in communication with a data communication circuit comprised of a filter, an amplifier, and a modem.

16. The device of claim 11, wherein said first end of said center conductor is configured to be electrically coupled to the power line conductor via a first fuse and said second end of said center conductor is configured to be electrically coupled to the power line conductor via a second fuse.

17. A device for coupling data signals with a power line conductor, the device comprising:

a cable having a first end and a second end and comprising a center conductor and an insulator disposed around, said center conductor;

at least one core disposed substantially around the entire circumference of a portion of said cable;

a conductor winding around said core; and

a first fuse electrically coupled to a first end of said center conductor;

a second fuse electrically coupled to a second end of the center conductor;

wherein said first fuse is configured to be electrically coupled to the power line conductor at a first connection point on the power line conductor; and

wherein said second fuse is configured to be electrically coupled to the power line conductor at a second connection point on the power line conductor.

18. The device of claim 17, wherein said conductor winding is in communication with a data communication circuit comprised of a filter, an amplifier, and a modem.

19. The device of claim 17, wherein the power line conductor is an overhead un-insulated power line carrying a voltage greater than one thousand volts.

20. The device of claim 17, further comprising a transformer comprising a first and a second transformer winding, and wherein said first transformer winding is in communication with said conductor winding.