Method and means of operating a power line carrier communication system

A power line carrier (PLC) communication system for operation on an AC electric power distribution system in a premises wherein said power distribution system includes one or more power lines having a higher AC voltage wire (H wire), a neutral wire (N wire) and a ground wire (G wire) comprising,

• (a) a transmitter unit of said PLC system for transmitting radio frequency (RF) signals over said power line,
• (b) a receiver unit of said PLC system for receiving said transmitted RF signals from said power line,
• (c) means at said transmitter unit for coupling said RF signals to two or more different pairs of said power line three wire conductors,
• (d) means at said receiver unit for coupling said RF signals from two or more different pairs of said power line three wire conductors to said receiver unit and
• (e) said transmitter unit produces different phases of said RF signals and said RF coupling means couples one of said RF phases to said H and G wires and the other RF phase to said N and G wires,
• (f) whereby said different RF phases are simultaneously transmitted to said receiver unit over different RF transmission lines of said power line wires.

A PLC telephone extension system for carrying signals between, a subscriber's telephone line of a public telephone communication system and said subscriber's extension telephone, over said subscriber's AC power distribution system that includes one or more power lines having three wire conductors, comprising:

• (a) a master location near said telephone line and said AC power distribution system,
• (b) an extension telephone location near said AC power distribution system, and
• at said master location;
• (c) a telephone line signal detector circuit having its input electrically connected to said telephone line and producing telephone line information signals,
• (d) a master carrier radio frequency (MRF) signal generator,
• (e) means for modulating said MFR with said information signals and
• (f) means for selectively coupling said modulated MRF to one pair of two or more different pairs of said power line three wire conductors;
• and
• at the extension location:
• (g) an extension telephone,
• (h) means for receiving said MRF including means for coupling said MRF from two or more different pairs of said transmission line three wire conductors,
• (i) means for demodulating said received MRF producing an output therefrom representative of said information signals, and
• (j) means for coupling said demodulating means output to said extension telephone,
• (k whereby said extension telephone receives said telephone line information signals.

A PLC telephone extension system for carrying signals between, a subscriber's telephone line of a public telephone communication system and a subscriber's extension telephone, over a subscriber's AC power distribution system that includes one or more power lines including a relatively high AC voltage wire (H wire), a neutral wire (N wire) and a ground wire (G wire) comprising:

• (a) a master location near said telephone line and said AC power distribution system,
• (b) an extension telephone location near said AC power distribution system, and
• at said master location:
• (c) a telephone line signal detector circuit having its input electrically connected to said telephone line and producing telephone line information signals,
• (d) a master carrier radio frequency (MRF) signal generator,
• (e) means for modulating said MRF with said information signals and
• (f) means for coupling said modulated MRF to two or more different pairs of said power line three wire conductors;
• and
• at said extension telephone location:
• (g) an extension telephone,
• (h) means for receiving said MRF including means for coupling said MRF from two or more different pairs of said transmission line three wire conductors,
• (i) means for demodulating said received MRF producing an output therefrom representative of said information signals and
• (j) means for coupling said demodulating means output to said extension telephone,
• (k) whereby said extension telephone receives said telephone line information signals;
• and
• (l) said master transmitter produces different phases of said MRF signals and said modulated MRF coupling means couples one of said MRF phases to said H and G wires and the other MRF phase to said N and G wires,
• (m) thereby said different MRF phases are simultaneously transmitted over different RF transmission lines of said power line wires.

In a power line carrier (PLC) communication system for operation on an electric power distribution system in a premises wherein said power distribution system is an alternating current (AC) system powered by a two wire source including a high voltage AC (VAC) wire (H wire) and a neutral wire (N wire) and includes one or more power lines that include an H wire, an N wire and a ground wire (G wire) the method of operation including the steps of:

• (a) generating radio frequency (RF) signals at a first station,
• (b) selectively coupling said RF signals to one pair of two or more different pairs of said power line H, N and G wires,
• (c) coupling said RF signals from said two or more different pairs of said power line H , N and G wires to an RF receiver at a second station, and
• (d) utilizing said received RF signals.

In a power line carrier (PLC) communication system for operation on an electric power distribution system in a premises wherein said power distribution system is an alternating current (AC) system powered by a two wire source including a higher AC voltage wire (H wire), a neutral wire (N wire) and a ground wire (G wire), the method of operation including the steps of:

• (a) generating radio frequency (RF) signals at a first station,
• (b) selectively coupling said RF signals to two pairs of two or more different pairs of said power line H, N and G wires and
• (c) coupling said RF signals from said two or more different pairs of said power line H, N and G wires to an RF receiver at a second station and
• (d) said step of generating generates different phases of said RF signal,
• (e) said step of coupling RF to said power line couples one of said RF phases to said power line H and G wires and the other RF phase to said power line N and G wires and
• (f) said step of coupling RF from said power line couples said different phases to said receiver,
• (g) whereby said different RF phases are simultaneously transmitted over different RF transmission paths of said power line wires.