In accordance with one or more embodiments, a directional coupler includes a first dielectric cable is configured to receive a first electromagnetic wave from the first port and to generate a second electromagnetic wave that propagates along a transmission medium in a first direction without requiring an electrical return path. A second dielectric cable is configured to couple a first portion of the second electromagnetic wave to a second port, wherein a second portion of the second electromagnetic wave continues to propagate in the first direction along the transmission medium. A third dielectric cable is configured to couple the second portion of the second electromagnetic wave to a third port and to isolate the third port from a third electromagnetic wave propagating along the transmission medium in a second direction that is opposite to the first direction.

In accordance with one or more embodiments, a splitter includes a first port, a second port and a third port. A first dielectric cable is configured to receive a first electromagnetic wave from the first port and to generate, in response to the first electromagnetic wave, a second electromagnetic wave that propagates in a first direction along a transmission medium without requiring an electrical return path, wherein the transmission medium is a bare or insulated wire. A second dielectric cable in proximity to a first side of the transmission medium is configured to couple a first portion of the second electromagnetic wave to the second port. A third dielectric cable in proximity to a second side of the transmission medium configured to couple a second portion of the second electromagnetic wave to the third port.

A system includes server that performs operations including obtaining, from sensors, measurements of physical parameters related to electrical power transmission and data transfer corresponding to a Broadband over Power Line (BPL) data links and a multi-use power interface configured to be electrically and communicatively coupled to a vehicle via the BPL data links. The operations also include receiving identification and location information, and a timestamp associated with a connector of the multi-use power interface, and then storing the measurements, the identification and location information, and the timestamp. The operations further include detecting a change of the connector, and identifying trends in parameters by comparing the measurements and the identification and location information to historical data. The operations also include predicting, based on correlating the identified trends to the detected change, a pending failure of a network or electrical component, and transmitting an alert indicating the pending failure to a stakeholder.

A system includes server that performs operations including obtaining, from sensors, measurements of physical parameters related to electrical power transmission and data transfer corresponding to a Broadband over Power Line (BPL) data links and a multi-use power interface configured to be electrically and communicatively coupled to a vehicle via the BPL data links. The operations also include receiving identification and location information, and a timestamp associated with a connector of the multi-use power interface, and then storing the measurements, the identification and location information, and the timestamp. The operations further include detecting a change of the connector, and identifying trends in parameters by comparing the measurements and the identification and location information to historical data. The operations also include predicting, based on correlating the identified trends to the detected change, a pending failure of a network or electrical component, and transmitting an alert indicating the pending failure to a stakeholder.

Induction heating power supplies, data collection systems, and induction heating systems to communicate over an induction heating cable are disclosed. An example induction heating power supply includes a power conversion circuit configured to: convert input power into induction heating power and transmit the induction heating power via an induction heating cable, and at least one of a receiver circuit coupled to the induction heating cable and configured to receive data via the induction heating cable or a transmitter circuit coupled to the induction heating cable and configured to transmit data via the induction heating cable.

Aspects of the subject disclosure may include, for example, a method for use with a communication device that includes: communicating in a first frequency band with a remote device via at least one transceiver, wherein the remote device is oriented at a direction relative to the communication device, wherein the communicating is in accordance with first antenna beam steering parameters and a first antenna beam corresponding to the direction; and, communicating in a second frequency band with the remote device via the at least one transceiver, wherein the second frequency band is higher than the first frequency band, wherein the at least one transceiver is pre-initialized with second antenna beam steering parameters to generate a second antenna beam corresponding to the direction, and wherein the second antenna beam steering parameters are generated based on the first antenna beam steering parameters.

A power line communication device including a current path provided between a first terminal and a second terminal. A coupling circuit connected between the first and second terminals includes a first circuit of a first inductor connected in parallel with a first capacitor and a first resistor. A sensor is configured to sense a communication parameter of the coupling circuit. The communication parameter may be a resonance of the first circuit, the quality (Q) factor of the resonance, the bandwidth (BW) of the coupling circuit, the resistance of the first resistor, or the impedance of the first circuit. A transceiver is adapted to couple to the first and second terminal to transmit a signal onto the current path or receive a signal from the current path responsive to the parameter of the coupling circuit and a level of current in the current path sensed by the sensor.

Aspects of the subject disclosure may include, supplying an alternating voltage waveform to a winding coupled to a magnetic core of an inductive power supply to regulate an alternating magnetic flux in the magnetic core. The alternating voltage waveform can be generated by selectively enabling one or more switches coupled to a storage device. The subject disclosure may further include configuring the one or more switches according to a configuration during a portion of a period of the alternating voltage waveform, and measuring a characteristic of an alternating current flowing in a conductor coupled to the magnetic core during the portion of the period of the alternating voltage waveform. Other embodiments are disclosed.

In accordance with one or more embodiments, a communication network includes a surface wave transceiver, mounted on a coaxial cable of a broadband cable network, configured to bidirectionally communicate wireless network data via guided electromagnetic waves that propagate along a surface of the coaxial cable. A plurality of analog surface wave repeater pairs, and a plurality of digital surface wave regenerator pairs, are also mounted on the coaxial cable. A plurality of access points, supported by corresponding ones of a plurality of utility poles that also support the coaxial cable, is configured to wirelessly transmit the wireless network data to a plurality of client devices in accordance with a wireless network protocol and to wirelessly receive client data from the plurality of client devices in accordance with the wireless network protocol. A plurality of surface wave add/drop multiplexer pairs, is also mounted on the coaxial cable.

Aspects of the subject disclosure may include, receiving a signal, and launching, according to the signal, an electromagnetic wave along a transmission medium, where the electromagnetic wave propagates along the transmission medium without requiring an electrical return path, and where the electromagnetic wave has a phase delay profile that is dependent on an azimuth angle about an axis of the transmission medium. Other embodiments are disclosed.