The present invention provides a system for operating a power line communications system that is comprised of a plurality of network elements, which may take the form of repeaters, bypass devices, backhaul devices, wireless backhaul devices, enhanced bypass device, communication interface devices and others. In one embodiment, two groups of network elements in the same electrical distribution system are isolated except selected communication link.

Power line communication system and method of operating the same

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.

Device and method for communicating data signals through multiple power line conductors

The coupling device of the present invention includes a housing, a first fastening member attached to said housing and coupled to the power line, a second fastening member attached to the housing and coupled to the power line, an inductor providing an impedance to data transmissions between the first fastening member and the second fastening member; a first conductor having a first end electrically coupled to the first fastening member; and a second conductor having a first end electrically coupled to the second fastening member. The second ends of the first conductor and second conductor providing data signals to a connector. In addition, the housing may include a transformer secured therein for coupling power transmissions to the connector.

Power line coupling device and method of using the same

Power line communication system and method

A power distribution monitoring system includes a number of power line mounted monitors. Each monitor can acquire data regarding the delivery of electrical power in the power line, wirelessly transmit and receive messages, and electromagnetically acquire and store operating electrical power from electrical current flowing in the power line. The system also includes an aggregator that can wirelessly transmit and receive messages and wirelessly output beacon messages. In response to beacon signals wirelessly output by the aggregator, each monitor co-acts with the aggregator to dynamically build a wireless communication network for the wireless communication of the data acquired by the monitor regarding the delivery of electrical power in the power line to the aggregator.

Power Distribution Monitoring System And Method

There is provided an inductive coupler (180) for coupling a data signal to a phase line (105) of a power line. The inductive coupler (180) includes a split magnetic core (100) having an aperture (120) formed by an upper magnetic core and a lower magnetic core. The aperture (120) permits the phase line (105) to pass therethrough as a primary winding, the upper magnetic core is for making electrical contact with an outer surface of the phase line (105), and the lower magnetic core makes electrical contact with the upper magnetic core.

Construction of medium voltage power line data couplers

There is provided an inductive coupler. The inductive coupler includes (a) a housing having an aperture that extends lengthwise through the housing, a gap that extends lengthwise along a side of the housing, and a flexible region that enables the gap to be opened or closed, wherein the gap, when opened, permits the inductive coupler to be installed on a conductor by having the conductor routed through the aperture. The inductive coupler also includes (b) a magnetic core; and (c) a winding wound around a portion of the magnetic core. The magnetic core and the winding are secured to the housing such that a position of the magnetic core and a position of the winding are maintained relative to one another. The inductive coupler, when installed on the conductor, couples a signal between the conductor and the winding via the magnetic core.

Housing for inductive coupler for power line communications

There is provided a method that includes (a) accessing a data structure that (i) represents a plurality of nodes in an electrical power grid, and (ii) contains data indicative of an event reported by a node in the plurality of nodes, and (b) presenting, on a user interface, an element that represents the plurality of nodes, in aggregate, and indicates an existence of the event. There is also provided a system that performs the method, and a storage medium that contains instructions that cause a processor to execute the method.

Aggregating nodes for efficient network management system visualization and operations

This paper expands upon the power line communications (PLC) applications discussed in "Demonstration of the technical viability of PLC systems on medium and low voltage lines in the United States". The focus of this paper was on the potential application of PLC for incipient fault detection on Consolidated Edison's overhead primary system and presents some preliminary findings obtained through Ambient Corporation's PLC field trials.

Field trials of utility applications employing Ambient Corporation power line communications at Consolidated Edison

There is provided an inductive coupler including (a) a housing having an aperture that extends lengthwise through the housing, a gap that extends lengthwise along a side of the housing, and a flexible region that enables the gap to be opened or closed, wherein the gap, when opened, permits the inductive coupler to be installed on a conductor by having the conductor routed through the aperture The inductive coupler also includes (b) a magnetic core, and (c) a winding wound around a portion of the magnetic core The magnetic core and the winding are secured to the housing such that their positions relative to one another are maintained constant The inductive coupler, when installed on the conductor, provides the opportunity for signal removal from the conductor to the winding via the magnetic core

Ramdas Sitaram Rao

Papers

Construction of medium voltage power line data couplers

Housing for inductive coupler for power line communications

Aggregating nodes for efficient network management system visualization and operations

Field trials of utility applications employing Ambient Corporation power line communications at Consolidated Edison

Housing of an inductive coupler using for power line communications