Source: https://patents.google.com/patent/WO2003036932A1/en
Timestamp: 2019-08-17 18:19:09
Document Index: 13020260

Matched Legal Cases: ['arts 305', 'arts 305', 'arts 305', 'arts 305', 'arts 305', 'arts 305', 'arts 305', 'arts 305', 'arts 305']

WO2003036932A1 - Coupling between power line and customer in power line communication system - Google Patents
Coupling between power line and customer in power line communication system Download PDF
WO2003036932A1
WO2003036932A1 PCT/US2002/026231 US0226231W WO03036932A1 WO 2003036932 A1 WO2003036932 A1 WO 2003036932A1 US 0226231 W US0226231 W US 0226231W WO 03036932 A1 WO03036932 A1 WO 03036932A1
PCT/US2002/026231
WO2003036932A8 (en
2001-08-17 Priority to US31305101P priority Critical
2001-08-17 Priority to US60/313,051 priority
2002-08-15 Application filed by Enikia Llc filed Critical Enikia Llc
2003-05-01 Publication of WO2003036932A1 publication Critical patent/WO2003036932A1/en
2003-07-31 Publication of WO2003036932A8 publication Critical patent/WO2003036932A8/en
Apparatus for coupling communication signal modulated radio frequency signals between an electrical power distribution line (100) and the electrical power wiring (115 or 122) at a customer's premises which includes a first transceiver (215) for transmitting and receiving electromagnetic energy is inductively coupled to the distribution line (100) and a second transceiver (210) for receiving electromagnetic energy from, and transmitting electromagnetic energy to, the first transceiver (215). The second transceiver (210) is coupled to the customer's power wiring (115 or 122) to receive communication signals from, and to supply communication signals to, the customer's power wiring (115 or 122). The electrical power for the first transceiver (215) can be supplied by inductive coupling to the power line (100) and/or a battery (238 or 432), the battery (238 or 432) being a back-up source when both inductive coupling and a battery are present.
Benefit of provisional application Serial No. 60/313,051, filed August 17, 2001 and in the name of the inventors named herein is claimed and is incorporated herein by reference.
The present invention relates to power line communication (PLC) systems for residential, business or other environments to support communications between in- home electronic devices and communications with external destinations (e.g., broadband access to the Internet) and, particularly, to the coupling of communication signals between an electrical power distribution line and equipment for processing the signals in homes or business establishments.
Power line communication (PLC) systems are well known in the art. See, for example, the book entitled "The Essential Guide to Home Networking Technologies" published in 2001 by Prentice-Hall, Inc., copending U.S. application 09/290,255, filed April 12, 1999, the web site http:/www.homeplug.org of the Home Plug Special Interest Group and the article entitled "Home Plug Standard Brings Networking to the Home" in the December 2000 issue, Vol. 16, No. 12, of the Communication Systems Design magazine.
Electrical power distribution systems, commonly used in the United States, distribute the electrical power at 60 Hz from the source over cables, insulated or uninsulated. At the source, the voltage is high, e.g., over 200,000 volts and by means of transformers, the voltage is reduced by a transformer or transformers to a medium voltage, e.g., of the order of 20,000 volts, to be delivered to consumers by at least three cables or wires suspended from poles. At some of the poles, there are transformers which further reduce the voltage to low voltage of the order of 117 volts between a cable and a ground or neutral cable for the delivery of power to one or more customers or consumers. The power lines from the output of a pole transfomier to the customers premises connect to a power consumption meter which in turn connects to the wiring in the customer's premises (e.g., home power wiring).
The invention permits inexpensive and low cost installation of communications connections between power line distribution networks and the electrical wiring at a power consumer's premises by providing a non-galvanic, by-pass, communication signal path around at least the power transformer which connects to the wiring of the customer's premises.
In accordance with the preferred embodiment of the invention, a coupler is inductively coupled to the medium voltage power line by at least one induction coil encircling a medium voltage conductor. The coupler includes a PLC transceiver for the communication signals and a power supply for the transceiver. Communication signals on the power line conductor are supplied to the transceiver and are supplied from the transceiver to the power line by the induction coil or coils. Electrical power at the power line frequency is also supplied to the power supply by the induction coil or coils. The transceiver is also coupled to an electromagnetic energy transmitter and an electromagnetic energy receiver for transmitting electromagnetic energy modulated by the communication signals and for receiving electromagnetic energy modulated by communication signals. The communication signals received by the transceiver are transferred to the power line by the induction coil or coils. Alternatively, if desired, instead of energizing the transceiver from a power supply receiving power from the power line by way of an induction coil, the power supply can be a conventional solar panel source with a backup battery. Also, if desired, the solar panel source and back-up battery can be used with the induction coil energized power supply for back-up in the event of power failure.
Preferably, the coil or coils are contained in a single weather resistant housing which clamps onto the cable so as to remain in a fixed position relative to the cable. When the coil has parts, e.g. two parts, for the reasons set forth hereinbefore, the parts can be held together in the positions at which they clamp onto the cable by any conventional securing means, e.g. screws, bolts, latches, etc. Also, the transceiver, the power supply and their interconnections will be enclosed in a weather resistant housing which is secured in a water tight manner to or encloses the coil housing and the transceiver.
In the preferred embodiment, the apparatus of the invention includes what will be called a "base unit" which is mounted on the power line pole adjacent to the coupler and so as to receive, and transmit to, electromagnetic energy transmitted by, and received by, the transmitter and receiver of the coupler. Because the transmitter of the coupler will have a relatively low power output when the power supply for the transceiver is coupled to the electrical cable by an induction coil, the base unit is located on the power line pole as close as possible, depending on the pole structure, transformer location and voltage breakdown resistance requirements, to the coupler which will normally be located close to a power line insulator.
The base unit also comprises a power supply for energizing the transceiver and any other electrical components in the base unit. Electrical power can be supplied to the base unit by wires coimected to low voltage wires either in the house or building or at the power line pole or the power supply can be a conventional solar panel with a back-up battery.
The invention will be further described in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:
Fig. 1 is a schematic diagram of a known electrical power distribution system with a coupler and base unit of the invention therein; Fig. 2 is a schematic diagram illustrating a typical suspension pole of a power line distribution system with the coupler coupled to one power line medium voltage cable and the base unit mounted on the pole;
Fig. 1 illustrates schematically an electrical power line distribution system frequently used in the United States although the invention is not limited to use in such a system. Although the power lines are illustrated as single cables, normally there is a plurality of insulated conductors in each cable or there is a plurality of separate cables, either insulated or uninsulated. For purposes of illustration, only one cable need be considered.
Although the medium voltage cable 100 can be connected only to a single transformer 117, it is common practice to connect the cable 100 to a plurality of transfonners 117, 117a, etc. The transformers 117, 117a, etc., lower the MV voltage to the voltage on the wiring in a house or business building, e.g., about 115-230 volts. Thus, the voltage on the low voltage (LV) cables 115, 115a, etc., which extend from the transformers 117, 117a, etc., to the plurality of homes or business buildings 530, 530a, etc., is about 115-230 volts. The power cables 115 are connected to the internal power wiring of the homes or buildings through power consumption meters 545, and the homes and buildings 530, 530a, etc., have communication apparatus coupled to the internal power wiring for processing the coirrmunication signals.
Fig. 1 also illustrates the coupling of the couplers 120, 120a, etc., of the invention to the MV power line, the coupling of the base units 110, 110a, etc., of the invention to the LV power lines 115, 115a, etc. The transmission of electromagnetic energy from the couplers to the base units is indicated by the dotted lines 111 and
I l ia.
Fig. 2 illustrates schematically one suspension pole 125 on which an electrical power transformer 117 is mounted. Electrical power is delivered to the homes and buildings 530 through the cable 115 and in this embodiment, is delivered to the base unit 110 through the cable 122. Generally speaking, the cables 115 and 122 are three separate, insulated and stranded conductors. The MV cable 100 is connected to the transformer 117 by the cable 98.
The coupler 120, which is described in greater detail hereinafter, has at least one induction coil encircling the cable 100 and an electromagnetic energy transducer 120b which transmits electromagnetic energy to, and receives electromagnetic energy from the base unit 110 which, in this embodiment, is mounted on the pole 125. As mentioned hereinbefore, the base unit 110 can be mounted elsewhere if the communication signal power is sufficient to provide the desired signal power at the base unit 110.
In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the transducer 120b emits and receives infra-red energy and the base unit 110 has a similar transducer 110b. The infra-red energy can be transmitted through the air along the path 111, and in this event, both transducers would have relatively wide beams, or windows, to ease the aligning of the transducer beams and to reduce possible effects of weather conditions, such as wind, on the alignment.
Alternatively, the transducers 120b and 110b can be interconnected by an infra-red energy transmitting cable.
Electromagnetic energy other than infra-red, such as radio frequency energy, can be used to intercouple the base unit 110 and the coupler 120. In such event, the transducers 110b and 120b would each be a radio frequency transmitter and receiver, and the transmission medium can be air or a cable which transmits radio frequency energy, such as a co-axial cable.
Although the base unit 110 can deliver the communication signal energy to the home or business building power wiring (premises power wiring) by way of the power cable 115 or the power cable 122, it is preferred that it be delivered directly to the premises wiring or the communication signal processing apparatus at the premises. Thus, the base unit 110 can be coupled to the premises wiring or the communication processing apparatus by infra-red energy or radio frequency energy using the air (see dotted line 128a in Fig. 2) as the transmission medium, but preferably, the base unit 110 is connected to the premises wiring or apparatus by a cable 128 which can convey the energy selected. If the coupling energy cannot be used as delivered, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that any necessary converters and/or transducers can 1Q be located at the premises for supplying the communication signal energy appropriate for the system in use on the power wiring in the house or business building.
In the embodiment illustrated in Fig. 3, modulated communication signals in the cable 100 are supplied to a PLC transceiver 215. The PLC transceiver implements one of many technologies to send a receive data over the power line. The PLC transceiver 215 implements a PLC Media Access Control (MAC) and Physical Layer (PHY) protocol while an FR link PHY and point to point protocol is also implemented in 210. The output of the transceiver 215 is supplied to the input of an infra-red (IR) transceiver 210. The output of the transceiver 210 is supplied to an infra-red transmitter 200 forming part of the TR transducer 120b (Fig. 2). An IR receiver 230 is coupled to the LR transceiver 210 for supplying received LR energy thereto, and the communication signal information on the received LR energy is supplied to the transceiver 215 where it is converted to a form which meets the protocol for communication signals on the power cable 100 and supplied to the cable 100 by the induction coil 225.
If the electromagnetic energy transmitted and received by the coupler 120 is other than LR, e.g., radio frequency energy, then, the components 200, 230 and 210 would be replaced by components which can perform the same functions for the different electromagnetic energy. Fig. 3 also illustrates two types of electrical power supply for the components of the coupler 120, only one or both of which can be used in the coupler 120. The power supply 240 is connected to the induction coil 235 which encircles the power cable 120. At the electrical power frequencies, e.g., 50-60 Hz, the coil 235 with the cable 100 acts as a transformer with a single conductor primary and a multiple turn secondary. Thus, the coil 235 supplies alternating current at the power frequency to the power supply 240 which converts the alternating current to direct current and supplies direction current to the electrical components of the coupler 120.
Fig. 5 illustrates an embodiment of a base unit 110 which can be used with the coupler 120 illustrated in Fig. 3. The base unit 110 comprises an LR transmitter 405 and an LR receiver 420 which are included in the transducer 110b (Fig. 2). The base unit 110 includes an LR transceiver 415 for converting received LR modulated with communication signals to communication signals used in the premises system and for converting communication signals received from the premises system into LR signals modulated with the communication signals. The base unit 110 can also include a known communications controller 410 coupled to the transceiver 415. The communications controller 410 would support one or more serial or parallel communications protocols and implements a Physical Layer (PHY) and a point-to-point protocol between the premises apparatus and the base unit 110. Preferably the controller 410 is a PLC transceiver.
In the embodiment illustrated in Fig. 5, the communications controller 410 is coupled to the premises apparatus or wiring by -a cable 115 which can convey radio frequency carriers modulated with information, such as data signals. As previously mentioned, the cable 115 can be replaced by air or cable transmission of LR or radio frequency energy with a suitable transceiver of a type obvious to those skilled in the art at the premises.
Fig. 4 illustrates schematically a preferred embodiment of the induction coil 228 and 235 structure 305. The structure 305 includes both coils 225 and 235 and has two parts or portions 305a and 305b which are pivotally connected by a pin 325. The coils 225 and 235 are side-by-side in a casing, e.g., plastic casing and are continuous at the pin 305. However, the casing and the coils are separable at 315 to permit the passage of the cable 100. The scale is exaggerated because the opening 316 should be equal to the diameter of the cable 100 when connectors 300 and 302 are in engagement so that the casing will securely engage the cable 100 and prevent movement of the casing with respect to the cable 100.
The faces of the separable parts 305a and 305b which abut when the casing engages the cable 100 have interengaging contacts 300 and 302 which provide continuity of the turns of the coils 225 and 235. By making the casing separable, it is unnecessary to cut or interrupt the cable 100, and the coils 225 and 235 are electrically insulated from the cable 100 by insulation on the cable 100, if present, and/or the material of the casing which is between the coils 225 and 235 and the cable 100.
Fig. 6 illustrates an embodiment of the structure 305 of Fig. 4 combined with the electrical components of the coupler 120 to form the coupler 120. As mentioned, the coupler 120 is housed in a weather resistant housing which has been removed in Fig. 6, but which is indicated by dashed lines 635 in Fig. 6. The housing can be of any type and preferably is made of a sun-resistant plastic and can be opened to permit placing of the structure 305 with the parts or portions 305a and 305b around the cable 100 and securing of the structure 305 to the cable 100. The cable 100 can have a plastic covering, e.g., a plastic outer sheath.
The structure 305, when the parts 305a and 305b are brought together so that the contacts 300 and 302 interengage, clamps onto the cable 100. The parts 305a and 305b are held together and apply radially inwardly directed forces on the cable 100. Since the parts 305a and 305b can be relatively rigid, a split ring 637 of elastomeric material can be attached to the surfaces of the parts 305a and 305b to aid in clamping the structure 305 on the cable 100 and accommodating small irregularities of the exterior and size of the cable 100.
The parts 305a and 305b can be forced against and held connected in any desired manner, e.g., by clamps, latches, screws or bolts. Fig. 6 shows two of two pairs of extensions or flanges 637 and 638 secured to or integral with the casing of the parts 305a and 305b and a self-tapping screw 639 which can extend between the flanges 637 and 639 and pull them, and hence, the parts 305a and 305b, toward each other when the screw 639 engages the flange 637 and is rotated. A pair of flanges similar to flanges 637 and 638 and a screw similar to the screw 639 would be similarly located at the opposite end of the parts 305a and 305b which are not visible in Fig. 6.
1. A coupler for receiving modulated radio frequency signals from and supplying modulated radio frequency signals to an electrical cable having a conductor which transmits alternating current electrical power at a frequency which is low relative to the frequency of the radio frequency signals, the coupler comprising:
a transceiver for receiving the modulated radio frequency signals and transmitting modulated electromagnetic energy modulated to correspond to the modulated radio frequency signals and for receiving other modulated electromagnetic energy and transmitting radio frequency signals modulated to correspond to the other modulated electromagnetic energy;
an induction coil for coupling the transceiver to the conductor for supplying modulated radio frequency signals from the conductor to the transceiver and from the transceiver to the conductor; and
a power supply coupled to the transceiver for supplying electrical power to the transceiver.
2. A coupler as set forth in claim 1 wherein the electromagnetic energy is infra-red energy and the transceiver comprises an infra-red transmitter for transmitting the modulated electromagnetic energy and an infra-red receiver for receiving the other modulated electromagnetic energy.
3. A coupler as set forth in claim 1 wherein the induction coil has separable parts permitting placement of the coil around the electrical cable without interrupting the continuity of the cable.
4. A coupler as set forth in claim 2 wherein there is an enclosure for the induction coil and the enclosure has means for securing the enclosure to the cable.
5. A coupler as set forth in claim 1 wherein there is a further induction coil for coupling the conductor to the power supply for supplying alternating current electrical power from the conductor to the power supply.
6. A coupler as set forth in claim 5 wherein the further induction coil unit has separable parts permitting placement of the further coil around the electrical cable without interrupting the continuity of the cable.
7. A coupler as set forth in claim 6 wherein there is a common enclosure for the induction coil for coupling the transceiver to the conductor and for the further induction coil, and the enclosure has means for securing the enclosure to the cable.
8. In combination with the coupler of claim 1 , a base unit comprising:
a transceiver for receiving the modulated electromagnetic energy transmitted by the coupler transceiver and for transmitting modulated electromagnetic energy modulated to correspond to the modulated electromagnetic energy received from the coupler transceiver and for receiving further modulated electromagnetic energy and transmitting the other modulated electromagnetic energy modulated to correspond to the modulation of the further electromagnetic energy to the coupler transceiver.
9. The combination as set forth in claim 8 wherein the electromagnetic energy transmitted by the receiver and the other modulated electromagnetic energy are infrared energy and the base unit transceiver comprises an infra-red transmitter for transmitting the other electromagnetic energy and infra-red receiver for receiving the electromagnetic energy transmitted by the coupler transceiver.
10. A power line communication system in which a first power line is coupled to a second power line by a transformer and modulated radio frequency communication signals are supplied to the first power line, both the first and the second power line transmitting alternating current at a frequency which is low relative to the frequency of the radio frequency signals, the system comprising:
an induction coil coupled to the first power line and to the first transceiver for supplying communication signals to the first power line and receiving communication signals from the first power line.
11. A system as set forth in claim 10 wherein the induction coil has separable parts permitting placement of the coil around the first power line without interrupting the continuity of the first power line.
12. A system as set forth in claim 10 wherein the electromagnetic energy is infra-red energy.
13. A system as set forth in claim 10 wherein the electromagnetic energy is radio frequency energy.
14. A system as set forth in claim 10 wherein the transmission medium for the electromagnetic energy is air.
15. A system as set forth in claim 10 further comprising an electromagnetic energy cable coupling the first and the second transceivers.
16. A system as set forth in claim 10 wherein the processing apparatus receives and transmits radio frequency communication signals and the second transceiver is coupled to the wiring by a radio frequency transmission apparatus.
17. A system as set forth in claim 16 wherein the transmission apparatus includes a cable for conveying radio frequency energy.
18. A system as set forth in claiml 0 wherein the first transceiver includes electrical components and power supply for supplying electrical power to the components and wherein there is a further induction coil coupled to the power supply and to the first power line for supplying electrical power to the power supply.
19. A method for supplying modulated radio frequency communication signals to the wiring of a customer's premises from an electrical power line which is coupled to the wiring through a transformer for providing electrical energy to the premises, the method comprising:
converting the communication signals to electromagnetic signals bearing the modulation with a converter coupled to the power line and a base unit; and
receiving the converted communication signals at the base unit space from the converter and converting the received signals to radio frequency communication signals and supplying the converted received signals to the wiring.
20. A method as set forth in claim 19 further comprising:
supplying modulated radio frequency communication signals supplied to the wiring at the premises to the base unit;
at the base unit, converting the signals received from the wiring to modulated electromagnetic energy and transmitting the converted signals to a receiver at the converter; at the converter, converting the signals received from the base unit to modulated radio frequency communication signals and supplying converted base unit received signals to the power line.
PCT/US2002/026231 2001-08-17 2002-08-15 Coupling between power line and customer in power line communication system WO2003036932A1 (en)
US31305101P true 2001-08-17 2001-08-17
US60/313,051 2001-08-17
WO2003036932A1 true WO2003036932A1 (en) 2003-05-01
WO2003036932A8 WO2003036932A8 (en) 2003-07-31
ID=23214161
PCT/US2002/026231 WO2003036932A1 (en) 2001-08-17 2002-08-15 Coupling between power line and customer in power line communication system
US (1) US7286812B2 (en)
WO (1) WO2003036932A1 (en)
DE10331744A1 (en) * 2003-07-11 2005-02-10 IAD Gesellschaft für Informatik, Automatisierung und Datenverarbeitung mbH Inductive coupling circuit and method for message transmission in electric power distribution networks
WO2005092761A2 (en) * 2004-03-02 2005-10-06 Thyssen Elevator Capital Corp. Method and apparatus for a simplified wiring system for elevators
CN102682541A (en) * 2012-05-28 2012-09-19 四川电力科学研究院 High-voltage transmission line warning indicator
CN104009339B (en) * 2013-02-26 2016-12-28 国网山东省电力公司蒙阴县供电公司 AC power cord
2002-08-15 WO PCT/US2002/026231 patent/WO2003036932A1/en not_active Application Discontinuation
2002-08-15 US US10/219,520 patent/US7286812B2/en active Active
US7675386B2 (en) 2003-07-11 2010-03-09 IAD Gesellschaft für Informatik, Automatisierung und Datenverarbeitung mbH Inductive coupling circuit and telecommunication method by sheathed cables of an electrical current distribution network
WO2005092761A3 (en) * 2004-03-02 2006-01-05 Randolph W Huff Method and apparatus for a simplified wiring system for elevators
US20030054793A1 (en) 2003-03-20
US7286812B2 (en) 2007-10-23
WO2003036932A8 (en) 2003-07-31
US7218219B2 (en) 2007-05-15 Data communication over a power line
2003-07-31 CFP Corrected version of a pamphlet front page