Method and apparatus for providing inductive coupling and decoupling of high-frequency, high-bandwidth data signals directly on and off of a high voltage power line
View Patent ↗The present invention is drawn to an electrically “closed” method and apparatus for transmitting and receiving data signals over a high voltage power line. Inductive coupling is employed for coupling and decoupling the data signal directly on to and off of a single power line wire. An exemplary device includes a high frequency inductive coupling toroid for data signals, a second (50-60 Hz) inductive coupling toroid for providing power, signal conditioning electronics for the receive and transmit signal, a fiber optics interface for electrical isolation purposes, and a weather-proof enclosure. In a preferred embodiment, the toroids are hinged for ease of installation on a power line. A pair of such couplings on either side of a fiber-optic isolator can be used to bridge transformers.
1. A method for communicating high-frequency data signals through power lines comprising:
de-coupling first data signals representing first data from the power line by inductance;
conditioning the first data signals to provide the first data;
coupling the first data to a first end of a fiber optic cable that is sufficient to isolate power line voltages if such voltages are conducted to the fiber optic cable;
receiving second data from the fiber optic cable;
conditioning the second data to form second data signals; and
coupling the second data signals to the power line by inductance.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the step of conditioning the first data signals comprises demodulating the first data signals.
3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the step of conditioning the second data comprises modulating at least one carrier signal with the second data.
4. The method of claim 3 , wherein said step of de-coupling the first data signals from the power line employs a magnetically permeable core and a winding traversing through said core.
5. The method of claim 4 , wherein said core is disposed substantially around the entire circumference of the power line and comprises a first portion and a second portion connected together, at least in part, via a hinge.
6. The method of claim 3 , wherein said at least one carrier signal has a frequency greater than one hundred hertz.
7. The method of claim 6 , wherein said first and second data signals are modulated using Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing (OFDM).
8. The method of claim 6 , wherein said first and second data signals are comprised of broadband signals.
9. The method of claim 6 , wherein said first data comprises telephony data.
10. The method of claim 6 , wherein said first data comprises Internet data.
11. The method of claim 7 , wherein said first data comprises telephony data.
12. The method of claim 1 , wherein said first data comprises telephony data.
13. A method for communicating data over a power line, comprising:
de-coupling a first data signal comprising first data from the power line by inductance;
demodulating said first data signal;
transmitting said first data through a fiber optic cable that is sufficient to isolate power line voltages if such voltages are conducted to the fiber optic cable;
receiving second data from the fiber optic cable;
modulating at least one carrier signal with the second data to provide a second data signal; and
coupling said second data signal to the power line by inductance.
14. The method of claim 13 , wherein said coupling is performed by a magnetically permeable core and a winding traversing through said core.
15. The method of claim 13 , wherein the fiber optic cable forms at least part of a data path to the Internet.
16. The method of claim 15 , wherein the fiber optic cable forms at least part of a data path to a point of presence.
17. The method of claim 13 , wherein said first data is transmitted to the Internet.
18. The method of claim 13 , wherein said modulated second data is transmitted over the power line using an Internet Protocol.
19. The method of claim 18 , wherein said first data is received from the power line in an Internet Protocol.
20. The method of claim 13 , wherein said first data is telephony data.
21. The method of claim 19 , wherein said first data is video data.
22. The method of claim 19 , wherein said first data is power usage data.
23. The method of claim 13 , wherein said second data is modulated using Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing (OFDM).
24. The method of claim 13 , wherein said first data signals are comprised of broadband signals.
25. The method of claim 13 , wherein said first data is transmitted through the fiber optic cable at a rate of at least ten megabits per second.
26. The method of claim 13 , wherein said second data is transmitted at a rate of at least ten megabits per second over the power line.
27. The method of claim 13 , further comprising receiving power from the power line via inductance.
28. The method of claim 27 , wherein said step of receiving power is performed by a magnetically permeable core disposed substantially around the entire circumference of the power line and a winding traversing through said core.
29. The method of claim 13 , wherein said at least one carrier signal has a frequency greater than one hundred hertz.
30. The method of claim 13 , wherein said step of de-coupling said first data signal from the power line and said step of coupling said modulated second data over the power line comprises using a magnetically permeable core and a winding traversing through said core.
31. The method of claim 14 , wherein said core is disposed substantially around the entire circumference of the power line and comprises a first portion and a second portion connected together, at least in part, via a hinge.
32. A method for communicating high-frequency data signals through power lines comprising:
de-coupling first data signals representing first data from the power line by inductance;
conditioning the first data signals to provide the first data; and
coupling the first data to a first end of a fiber optic cable that is sufficient to isolate power line voltages if such voltages are conducted to the fiber optic cable.
33. The method of claim 32 , further comprising:
receiving second data from the fiber optic cable;
conditioning the second data to form second data signals; and
coupling the second data signals to the power line by inductance.
34. The method of claim 32 , wherein the step of conditioning the first data signals comprises demodulating the first data signals.
35. The method of claim 34 , wherein the step of conditioning the second data comprises modulating at least one carrier signal with the second data.
36. The method of claim 35 , wherein said step of de-coupling the first data signals from the power line employs a magnetically permeable core and a winding traversing through said core.
37. The method of claim 36 , wherein said core is disposed substantially around the entire circumference of the power line and comprises a first portion and a second portion connected together, at least in part, via a hinge.
38. The method of claim 35 , wherein said at least one carrier signal has a frequency greater than one hundred hertz.
39. The method of claim 38 , wherein said first and second data signals are modulated using Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing (OFDM).
40. The method of claim 38 , wherein said first and second data signals are comprised of broadband signals.
41. The method of claim 38 , wherein said first data comprises telephony data.
42. The method of claim 38 , wherein said first data comprises Internet data.
43. The method of claim 38 , wherein said first data comprises telephony data.
44. The method of claim 32 , wherein said first data comprises telephony data.