73results about "Powerline communications applications" patented technology

Low-cost intelligent control and communication devices are arranged to communicate with one another over one or more shared physical media, such as a powerline or a radio frequency band. No network controller is needed, because any device can act as a master, slave, or repeater. Adding more devices makes the system more robust, by virtue of a simple protocol for communication retransmissions and retries.

A system including a wall switch device, a system including a power outlet device, and methods for using are described. In one embodiment, the system includes at least one wall switch device and a wireless transceiver base. The wall switch device is fastened to a wall switch module and communicates with a network. The wireless transceiver base enables communication between the wall switch device and the network via a wireless data transfer protocol.

Methods and systems for injecting information into a power signal, and techniques to capture the injected information are disclosed. Various processes for using the information are also presented, which may relate to the type of device receiving the information. Moreover, techniques for determining the distance of a consumer device are disclosed, as have a specific implementation which relates to mobile consumer devices. Also various ways of encrypting both in-band and out-of-band transmission are disclosed.

A method for communication over a network of power lines (34), including establishing a communication link within a selected frequency band over the network between a first transceiver (32B) coupled to the network and a second transceiver (32C) coupled to the network. The method further includes transmitting a first signal over the link from the first transceiver to the second transceiver at a transmission power level that is sufficiently strong that the signal can be decoded by the second transceiver, but is attenuated sufficiently when it reaches a third transceiver (32E) coupled to the network so that the third transceiver can receive a second signal over the network in the selected frequency band substantially without interference by the first signal.

An in-line power tap device that can be deployed in a data communication network in which two ports of the in-line power tap device are interchangeably coupled between any two communicating nodes to pass in-line power and data signals. The in-line power tap device also has a pair of tap ports that are coupled to external analyzers to monitor the quality of data signals without interrupting the on-going communication between the two communicating nodes. The apparatus allows one to tap into an Ethernet unshielded twisted pair data transmission line, or other source of data transmission, without disturbing the in-line power transmission and to maintain the integrity of data transmitted.

A method for concurrently communicating over each phase of an electrical power distribution network (N). A first outbound signal (SO1) is transmitted over one phase (AN-A) of a bus (S) by an outbound modulation unit. The unit is released as soon as the first outbound signal (SO1) is transmitted so the unit can transmit a second outbound signal (SO2) over a second phase (BN-B or CN-C) of the bus. The second outbound signal is transmitted concurrently with an inbound signal (IB1) sent in response to the first outbound signal (SO1). The unit is again released, as soon as the second outbound signal (SO2) is transmitted, so the unit can transmit a third outbound signal (SO3) over the third phase (BN-B or CN-C) of the bus. This third outbound signal is transmitted concurrently with a second inbound signal (IB2) sent in response to the second outbound signal (SO2). The method allows concurrent communications over all three phases of the network (N).

A large number of irrigation system devices connected to a common two-wire cable can be powered and individually controlled from a central location by transmitting over the cable DC pulses of alternating polarity. Control information is conveyed by transmitting a command pulse train consisting of a series of pulses, separated by short no-power intervals, whose polarities indicate logic ones or zeros. Following a command pulse train, a selected watering station decoder acknowledges receipt of instructions by drawing current during a predetermined pulse of an alternating-polarity power pulse cycle, while a sensor decoder returns binary data by drawing current during one or the other of the alternating-polarity pulses of a series of power pulse cycles.

An information signal to be communicated to a roof-mounted light bar or other electrical or electronic device travels over the vehicle's or other environment's power bus or other power conductor. In one exemplary illustrative non-limiting implementation, a modulated current load draws power supply current in an amount that is instantaneously responsive to at least some characteristic of the information signal to be communicated. This modulated current loading induces the vehicular or other power supply (e.g., DC battery) to modulate its output voltage in a manner that is responsive to the modulated current loading. A voltage sensor and demodulator also connected to the power bus senses the resulting voltage fluctuations and demodulates those fluctuations to recover or regenerate the original information signal. The recovered information signal may be used for any purpose including but not limited to controlling aspects of the operation of an emergency vehicle light bar or other audible and/or visual warning system or other device. The data sender and data receiver can be co-located to provide a full duplex or half duplex powerline communicated transceiver.

An access pointer for interconnecting a power line communication (PLC) network of a home network and a wireless network and a method therefor are provided. When data is received from the PLC network through media access control of a data link layer, data on upper layers above a network layer in the received data is converted into a format suitable to a wireless network layer. The converted data is transmitted to the wireless network through the media access control of the data link layer. Accordingly, the PLC network and the wireless network are easily interconnected.

A bicycle electrical system is provided with a first electric component, a second electric component, and a third electric component. The first electric component includes a first electric power line communication section. The second electric component includes a second electric power line communication section. The third electric component includes a third electric power line communication section. The first and second electric power line communication sections are connected with a first electric power line such that the first and second electric power line communication sections conduct communications via the first electric power line. The second and third electric power line communication sections are connected with a second electric power line such that the second and third electric power line communication sections conduct communications via the second electric power line.

Disclosed is a power line broadband communication system having broadband coupler devices capable of direct electrical connection to an energized power line. The coupler includes a conductive portion movable by an adjustable member from a non-conducting retracted position spaced apart from the power transmission line to a forward conducting position in electrical contact with the power line. An insulated arm supports the coupler on the power line. A base on the coupler is engageable with a remotely activated tool in order to accomplish the electrical connection in a safe and secure manner. Broadband data signals are sent to and from customer premises along the shared energized power lines. New coupler connections to the energized power lines allow the additional broadband customers and/or repeaters to join the communication system. Also couplers may provide connections to control electronics, routers, wireless transceivers, and may allow the broadband signals to bypass transformers on the power lines. The invention helps to minimize risk by allowing an installer to be remotely spaced from the energized power line while making the electrical coupling contact with the energized power line.

A coupling apparatus (1) having a mains connection (2) for connection to a low-voltage mains power supply system, and having an appliance connection (3) for connection of any appliance for transmitting and/or receiving an RF signal has a voltage converter (5) and a high-pass filter (6.1, 6.2). The voltage converter converts the mains voltage which is present at the mains connection to a very-low voltage, which is suitable for supplying the appliance connected to the appliance connection. Inductances (4.3 to 4.6) of suitable size are interposed in the appropriate connecting lines as low-pass filters for decoupling the RF signal path from the supply signal path, and for suppressing undesirable, radio-frequency signal components in the supply voltages. RF signals which are transmitted or are to be transmitted via the low-voltage mains power supply system are coupled from the mains connection via the high-pass filter to the appliance connection, and from the appliance connection to the mains connection. In order to supply further appliances with mains voltage, the coupling apparatus has an additional appliance connection (7), which is likewise low-pass-filtered by means of inductances (4.3, 4.4).

The invention discloses an automatic meter reading method employing a broadband carrier communication module, and the method comprises the steps: performing the automatic networking according to a command start concentrator of a concentrator main reading module and a broadband carrier on an intelligent electric meter; starting the reading of the meter after the completing of networking; selectingroute reading when the concentrator just reads the data of several stations; performing the route reading according to the route path of a target address; starting the concurrent reading when the concentrator needs the data of a plurality of stations, and performing the concurrent reading. A broadband carrier module employed in the method is installed on the intelligent electric meter, and achieves the communication connection with the broadband carrier communication module on the concentrator. The broadband carrier module can achieve the power line networking, full-dynamic routing, is high insafety and reliability, is high in communication rate, and can safely and stably read the data in the electric meter.

A diversity circuit uses a plurality of sub-carriers showing CINRs below a lowest threshold, so as to form a sub-carrier group so that combined CINR of the sub-carriers is above the lowest threshold. A diversity tone map generator generates a tope map associated with the lowest primary modulation scheme, based on output from the diversity circuit. A tone map generator generates a tone map associated with primary modulation schemes applied to respective sub-carriers, based on output from the diversity tone map generator.

The invention discloses a hybrid networking method based on power line broadband carrier. The method comprises the following steps: step (A): a hybrid networking architecture is established; step (B): an information security line of hybrid networking is established from five aspects of hybrid networking: terminal verification, communication encryption, authorization management, behavior audit and region isolation according to the hybrid networking architecture; and step (C): adaptive communication with a terminal access is constructed on the hybrid networking after the information security line is established. According to the hybrid networking method based on power line broadband carrier, the remote control function of the controllable loads of resident users can be enabled by hybrid networking; the shunt energy use data of the resident users and the switch running status are provided for an electricity utilization information collecting system; basic data is provided for big-data statistical analysis of the energy use habits of residential users; a technical support is provided for the interaction between power companies and the resident users and the publicity of energy-saving recommendations; and the method is suitable for promotion and has good application prospects.

Exemplary embodiments of the present invention relate to a power line communication (PLC) system. For example, the PLC system may include a PLC server configured to provide electrical power and electronic communications through a PLC bus to a number of electronic devices, such as an instrument cluster, infotainment interface, rear-seat entertainment console, aftermarket accessories, and the like. The PLC system may also include a power system that may be coupled to an electrical grid for charging a battery associated with one or more of the electronic devices. The power system may be communicatively coupled to the PLC bus, enabling the devices coupled to the PLC bus to communicate with a service provider through the electrical grid. The communications between the devices coupled to the PLC bus and remote devices coupled through the electrical grid may be conducted using a common communication protocol.