Power line communication sytem and method
AssigneeCurrent Technologies, LLC
InventorJames Douglas Mollenkopf
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The present invention provides a device for providing communications through power lines comprised of multiple conductors by transmitting the data signals through a plurality of the conductors. One embodiment of the present invention may be comprised of a transmit circuit communicatively coupled to a first energized conductor for applying a first voltage signal representing the data to the first energized conductor; the transmit circuit being communicatively coupled to a second energized conductor for applying a second voltage signal representing the data to the second energized conductor; and wherein the second voltage signal is opposite in polarity to said first voltage signal.
Claims46
A method of communicatively coupling power line communication (PLC) devices to a first and a second overhead power line conductor that travel in a substantially parallel physical arrangement and in a spaced-apart relation, the method comprising:
- coupling a first PLC device to the first power line conductor at a first location;
- coupling a second PLC device to the first power line conductor at a second location for communication with said first PLC device, at least in part, via the first power line conductor;
- coupling a third PLC device to the second power line conductor at a third location for communication with said first PLC device;
- wherein the distance from said third location to said first location is less than the distance from said first location to said second location;
- and
- wherein the distance from said third location to said second location is less than the distance from said first location to said second location.
A power line communication (PLC) system for use with a first and second power line conductor, comprising:
- a first PLC device coupled to the first power line conductor at a first location;
- a second PLC device coupled to the first power line conductor at a second location and in communication with said first PLC device, at least in part, via the first power line conductor;
- a third PLC device coupled to the second power line conductor at a third location and in communication with said first PLC device;
- and
- wherein said third location is between said first location and said second location.
A method of communicatively coupling power line communication (PLC) devices to a first and second overhead power line conductor that travel in a substantially parallel physical arrangement and in spaced-apart relation, the method comprising:
- coupling a first PLC device to the first power line conductor at a first location;
- coupling a second PLC device to the first power line conductor at a second location for communication with said first PLC device, at least in part, via the first power line conductor;
- coupling a third PLC device to the second power line conductor at a third location for communication with said first PLC device;
- and
- wherein said third location is between said first location and said second location.
A method of communicating data between a first, second, and third PLC device in which the first and second PLC devices are coupled to a first overhead power line conductor and the third PLC device is coupled to a second overhead power line conductor and wherein the first and second overhead power line conductors travel in a substantially parallel physical arrangement and in a spaced-apart relation, the method comprising:
- transmitting a first data signal along the first overhead conductor from the first PLC device;
- receiving the first data signal from the first overhead conductor at the second PLC device;
- transmitting a second data signal along the first overhead conductor from the first PLC device;
- receiving the second data signal from second overhead conductor at the third PLC device;
- and
- wherein the second data signal couples from the first overhead conductor to the second overhead conductor, at least in part, through the air.
A method of communicating data between a first and a second PLC device that are coupled to first and second overhead power line conductors, respectively, and wherein the first and second overhead power line conductors travel in a substantially parallel physical arrangement and in a spaced-apart relation, the method comprising:
- transmitting a first data signal device along the first overhead conductor from the first PLC;
- receiving the first data signal from second overhead conductor at the second PLC device;
- and
- wherein the first data signal couples from the first overhead conductor to the second overhead conductor, at least in part, through air.
A method of communicating a data signal on a overhead three-phase medium voltage electrical system that travel in a substantially parallel physical arrangement and in a spaced-apart relation, comprising:
- transmitting said data signal on a first phase of the electrical system;
- receiving said data signal on a second phase of the electrical system;
- wherein said data signal is comprised of a carrier at a frequency of at least one megahertz;
- and
- wherein said data signal couples between the first and second phases of the electrical system, at least in part, through the air.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.