Power line coupling device and method

• US 7,876,174 B2
• Filed: 01/18/2008
• Issued: 01/25/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 06/26/2007
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Subaudition Wireless LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Original Assignee: Current Technologies LLC (Pattern Inc.)
• Inventors: Radtke, William O.
• Primary Examiner(s): Pascal; Robert
• Assistant Examiner(s): Glenn; Kimberly E
• Application Number:
  US12/016,390
• Publication Number:
  US 20090002137A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,103 Days
• Field of Search: 361117-119, 333/100, 333/25, 333/26
• US Class Current: 333/100
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 13/021 in which a variable is automatically adjusted to optimise the performance

Abstract

A power line coupler for communicating data signals between a communication device and a power distribution system having one or more overhead energized medium voltage power line conductors is provided. One embodiment comprises a first lightening arrestor having a first end and a second end, wherein the first end of the first lightening arrestor is configured to be connected to the first power line conductor and the second end of the first lightening arrestor is configured to be communicatively coupled to a first terminal of the communication device. The embodiment further includes a second lightening arrestor having a first end and a second end and wherein the first end of the second lightening arrestor is configured to be connected to a second power line conductor, and the second end of the second lightening arrestor is configured to be communicatively coupled to a second terminal of the communication device.

Claims

1. A power line coupler configured to couple communication signals between a communication device having a first terminal and a second terminal and a power distribution system having a first and a second overhead energized power line conductor, comprising:

a first lightening arrestor having a first end and a second end;

wherein said first end of said first lightening arrestor is configured to be connected to the first overhead energized power line conductor;

wherein said second end of said first lightening arrestor is configured to be communicatively coupled to the first terminal of the communication device;

a second lightening arrestor having a first end and a second end;

wherein said first end of said second lightening arrestor is configured to be connected to the second overhead energized power line conductor; and

wherein said second end of said second lightening arrestor is configured to be communicatively coupled to the second terminal of the communication device through a coupling to a common ground.

2. The coupler according to claim 1, further comprising:

a balun having a first port and a second port;

wherein said first port is electrically connected to said second end of said first lightening arrestor and said second end of said second lightening arrestor; and

wherein said second port is configured to be electrically connected to the first terminal and the second terminal of the communication device.

3. The coupler according to claim 2, wherein said balun comprises a transformer and wherein said first port comprises a first winding and said second port comprises a second winding.

4. The coupler according to claim 3, wherein said first winding includes a center tap configured to be electrically connected to a neutral conductor of the power distribution system.

5. The coupler according to claim 1, further comprising:

a transformer having a first winding and a second winding;

wherein said first winding has a first end configured to be coupled to the first terminal of the communication device;

wherein said first winding has a second end configured to be coupled to the second terminal of the communication device;

wherein said second winding has a first end configured to be coupled to said second end of said first lightening arrestor; and

wherein said second winding has a second end configured to be coupled to said second end of said second lightening arrestor.

6. The coupler according to claim 5, wherein said second winding includes a center tap configured to be electrically connected to a neutral conductor of the power distribution system.

7. A power line coupler configured to couple communication signals between a communication device and a power distribution system having a first overhead energized power line conductor and a second overhead energized power line conductor, comprising:

a first lightening arrestor having a first end and a second end, wherein said first end of said first lightening arrestor is configured to be connected to the first overhead energized power line conductor;

a second lightening arrestor having a first end and a second end, wherein said first end of said second lightening arrestor is configured to be connected to the second overhead energized power line conductor;

a transformer having a first winding and a second winding;

said first winding having a first end coupled to said second end of said first lightening arrestor;

said first winding having a second end coupled to said second end of said second lightening arrestor;

wherein said second winding of said transformer is configured to be coupled to the communication device; and

wherein said first winding of said transformer includes a center tap configured to be connected to a neutral conductor of the power distribution system.

8. The coupler according to claim 7, wherein the communication device is configured to:

determine that the first lightening arrestor is blown; and

transmit a notification when the first lightening arrestor is blown.

9. The coupler according to claim 7, further comprising a two conductor transmission line connecting said first end of said first winding to said second end of said first lightening arrestor and connecting second end of said first winding to said second end of said second lightening arrestor.

10. A method of coupling communication signals between a communication device and first and second energized power line conductors, comprising:

providing a first data path from the first energized power line conductor through a first lightening arrestor and through a balun to a first terminal of the communication device; and

providing a second data path from the second energized conductor through a second lightening arrestor and through the balun to a second terminal of the communication device.

11. The method according to claim 10, further comprising providing a conductive path from a center tap of a winding of the balun to a neutral conductor.

12. A method of using a coupling assembly to couple communications between a communication device and a first overhead energized power line conductor and a second overhead energized power line conductor, comprising;

connecting a first end of a first lightening arrestor of the assembly to the first overhead energized power line conductor;

connecting a first end of a second lightening arrestor of the assembly to the second overhead energized power line conductor;

connecting a third port of the assembly to the communication device; and

wherein the assembly includes a balun having a first winding forming at least part of the third port.

13. The method according to claim 12, wherein the balun further includes a second winding having a first end connected to a second end of the first lightening arrestor and the second winding includes a second end connected to a second end of the second lightening arrestor.

14. The method according to claim 13, further comprising connecting a center tap of the second winding to a neutral conductor.

15. The method according to claim 12, further comprising:

determining that the first lightening arrestor is blown; and

transmitting a notification in response to said determining that the first lightening arrestor is blown.

16. A power line coupler configured to couple communication signals between a communication device and a power distribution system having a first overhead energized power line conductor, comprising:

a first lightening arrestor having a first end and a second end, wherein said first end of said first lightening arrestor is configured to be connected to the first overhead energized power line conductor;

a second lightening arrestor having a first end and a second end, wherein said first end of said second lightening arrestor is configured to be connected to the first overhead energized power line conductor;

a transformer having a first winding and a second winding;

said first winding having a first end coupled to said second end of said first lightening arrestor;

said first winding having a second end coupled to said second end of said second lightening arrestor; and

wherein said second winding of said transformer is configured to be coupled to the communication device.

17. The coupler according to claim 16, wherein the communication device is configured to:

determine that the first lightening arrestor is blown; and

transmit a notification when the first lightening arrestor is blown.

18. The coupler according to claim 16, wherein said first winding of said transformer includes a center tap configured to be connected to a neutral conductor of the power distribution system.

19. The coupler according to claim 16, further comprising a two conductor transmission line connecting said first end of said first winding to said second end of said first lightening arrestor and connecting second end of said first winding to said second end of said second lightening arrestor.

20. A method of using a coupling assembly to couple communications between a communication device that communicates over a first overhead energized power line conductor, comprising:

connecting a first end of a first lightening arrestor of the assembly to the first overhead energized power line conductor;

connecting a first end of a second lightening arrestor of the assembly to the first overhead energized power line conductor; and

connecting a third port of the assembly to the communication device.

21. The method according to claim 20, wherein the assembly includes a balun having a first winding forming at least part of the third port.

22. The method according to claim 21, wherein the balun further includes a second winding having a first end connected to a second end of the first lightening arrestor and the second winding includes a second end connected to a second end of the second lightening arrestor.

23. The method according to claim 22, further comprising connecting a center tap of the second winding to a neutral conductor.

24. The method according to claim 22, further comprising:

determining that the first lightening arrestor is blown; and

transmitting a notification in response to said determining that the first lightening arrestor is blown.