| Class / Patent application number | Description | Number of patent applications / Date published |
|---|
| 340310110 | REMOTE CONTROL OVER POWER LINE | 81 |
| 20080218319 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR LINKING UTILITY CONTROL DEVICES - Utility control devices can, without the necessity for a common controller, be linked together to perform operations, control and/or messaging in unison. In one embodiment, all of the devices that are selected to perform a function based on the operation of a selected one of the devices are tagged and the selected controlling device (called herein the master device) then teaches the other devices to follow the lead of the master device for at least one operation. | 09-11-2008 |
| 20080238634 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR CONTINUAL CABLE THERMAL MONITORING USING CABLE CHARACTERISTIC CONSIDERATIONS IN POWER OVER ETHERNET - A system and method for continual cable thermal monitoring using cable characteristic considerations in Power over Ethernet (PoE) applications. Cable heating in PoE applications is detected through changes in electrical characteristics of the cable itself. By periodically monitoring the electrical characteristics such as insertion loss or cross talk of the cable, it can be determined whether the cable has exceeded certain thermal operating thresholds. | 10-02-2008 |
| 20080252429 | Vehicular power line communication system - Plural communication areas are provided, and plural electronic control units for mutually making communication in each of the communication areas are provided. A vehicular power line communication system includes a power line coupling the respective communication areas to one another, branch power lines coupling the respective electronic control units in each of the communication areas to one another, and a battery for supplying electric power to the electronic control units through the power line and the branch power lines. The power line is formed of a +B line turning to a positive polarity and a ground line turning to a negative polarity, which are cabled to be spaced from each other in a part of the power line. The branch power lines superpose communication data thereon, thereby making data communication. | 10-16-2008 |
| 20080278295 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR POWER LINE CARRIER COMMUNICATION USING HIGH FREQUENCY TONE BURSTS - A communication system and method is utilized to communicate data over an AC power line. Tone burst are superimposed on an AC power signal at predetermined voltage reference levels or at predetermined phase angles to represent bit values. These bit values are represented by either the presence or the absence of the tone burst on the AC power signal. In this manner, control information can be communicated to an apparatus, such as a ballast for a gas discharge lamp. | 11-13-2008 |
| 20080316003 | ELECTRIC LOAD CONTROL SYSTEM HAVING REGIONAL RECEIVERS - A lighting control circuit is provided with a plurality of wireless controls. Each of the wireless controls receives wireless signals from at least one switch, and processes those signals to control components in at least a plurality of rooms. In addition, the controls are operable to dim at least one component supplied with power by the control. | 12-25-2008 |
| 20090002136 | Method of Communication Utilizing Power Line - A method for performing communication by utilizing the AC current in a power line without requiring any modulation or superposition of a high frequency. In the communication method utilizing the AC current in a secondary power line (L), an electric load (e.g. a load current) is imparted to the secondary power line (L), the load current is added to one AC current wavelength of the secondary power line (L), and an AC current including the processed waveform is transmitted as an information signal. | 01-01-2009 |
| 20090002137 | Power Line Coupling Device and Method - A power line coupler for communicating data signals between a communication device and a power distribution system having one or more overhead energized medium voltage power line conductors is provided. One embodiment comprises a first lightening arrestor having a first end and a second end, wherein the first end of the first lightening arrestor is configured to be connected to the first power line conductor and the second end of the first lightening arrestor is configured to be communicatively coupled to a first terminal of the communication device. The embodiment further includes a second lightening arrestor having a first end and a second end and wherein the first end of the second lightening arrestor is configured to be connected to a second power line conductor, and the second end of the second lightening arrestor is configured to be communicatively coupled to a second terminal of the communication device. | 01-01-2009 |
| 20090040029 | TRANSCEIVER AND CHARGING COMPONENT FOR A POWER AGGREGATION SYSTEM - Systems and methods are described for a power aggregation system. In one implementation, a system includes a transceiver device physically coupled to an electric resource, the transceiver device being configured to provide information about the electric resource to a charging component. Additionally, such a system may include a charging component, the charging component being coupled to the electric resource via a charging medium and communicatively coupled to the transceiver device. The charging component may also be configured to receive the electric resource information from the transceiver and, in response, effectuate charge control management of the electric resource. | 02-12-2009 |
| 20090045925 | System, Apparatus, and Method for Communicating Sensor Information of a System Component that is Disposed in a Hazardous Location - A system, apparatus, and method for communicating sensor information of a system component that is disposed in a hazardous location to a system controller including using an advanced hazardous location monitor/controller apparatus (data concentrator) along with power line communications to communicate diagnostic information obtained from a sensor located in a hazardous area to a central monitor/controller located in a non-hazardous area so that in-station diagnostics can be performed. | 02-19-2009 |
| 20090045926 | CONSUMABLE HOLDER WITH TAXONOMY - A consumable holder is provided for use with the appliance configured to perform a physical cycle of operation on an article. The consumable holder is configured to communicate with the appliance using a well formed command according to a taxonomy dataset. | 02-19-2009 |
| 20090051505 | Function Unit for Dual Wiring System - A function unit having easy exchangeability in a dual wiring system is provided. The function unit is detachably connected to a gate device mounted in a wall surface of a structure, and connected to both of an electric power line and an information line previously installed in the structure. The function unit has at least one of functions for supplying electric power from the electric power line, outputting information from the information line and inputting information into the information line when connected with the gate device. The function unit has a module connector, which is configured to simultaneously establish both of supplying the electric power from the gate device to the function unit, and making a signal transmission between the gate device unit and the function unit when connected to a module port formed at the gate device. To improve function expandability, an additional function unit may be detachably connected to the function unit. | 02-26-2009 |
| 20090058620 | Digital Satellite Receiver Controller - This disclosure relates to a satellite receiver controller having a digital to analog circuit with an output having a dynamic range offset voltage, which is adjusted in synchronization with a signal pulse. | 03-05-2009 |
| 20090091429 | COUPLER-INTEGRATED TRANSFORMER - A coupler-integrated transformer for processing power line communication is disclosed. The transformer includes a sensor unit to obtain power and transformer state information, low- and high-voltage power line communication modules to send the power and transformer state information via a low-voltage or high-voltage power line, and to send a communication signal from the low-voltage power line to the high-voltage power line or vice versa via signal amplification, low- and high-voltage power line communication couplers connected to the low- and high-voltage power line communication modules to perform insertion and extraction of the communication signal with respect to a power distribution line, and a microcontroller to process the information from the sensor unit and supply the processed information to the power line communication modules. The transformer enables easy set-up of a communication network system with customers adjacent to the transformer using high-voltage power line communication, achieving a remarkable increase in system capacity. | 04-09-2009 |
| 20090096591 | ROBOT, REFERENCE VOLTAGE GENERATOR CIRCUIT USED IN TRANSMISSION PATH FOR ROBOT, AND HUB INCORPORATING REFERENCE VOLTAGE GENERATOR CIRCUIT - A robot including a controller and servos, each acting as an actuator, a supply voltage generator circuit is connected to a transmission line between a controller, which controls using the RS485 communication protocol, and the servos. The reference voltage generator circuit maintains one of a pair of differential signals (or an inversion signal) at a constant potential between a high level and a low level. As a result, a TTL communication scheme servo can be mounted and controlled, in addition to a RS485 scheme servo. A supply voltage generator circuit is formed of a Zener diode and a voltage divider circuit. Without being limited to incorporation at some midpoint on the transmission path, the supply voltage generator circuit can be incorporated in a controller or a hub for splitting a transmission path. | 04-16-2009 |
| 20090102617 | Method, system and computer program product for controlling a plurality of devices in an environment - In accordance with at least one exemplary embodiment, a method, system and computer program product for controlling a plurality of devices in an environment is disclosed. Exemplary embodiments can include a controller connected to a wireless network, such as a WLAN. The controller can have a control panel interface. The control panel interface can be customizable. Control stations can be connected to a wireless network and can convert instructional commands to device-specific control commands. Infrared remote-controlled legacy devices can be associated with the control stations. The legacy devices can be responsive to the device-specific control commands. Electrical outlet devices and electrical switch devices having microcontrollers and wireless receivers can be connected to the wireless network. Electrical outlet device and electrical switch devices can be responsive to state-changing commands. | 04-23-2009 |
| 20090102618 | Uninterruptible Power Supply Unit - [Object] To allow multiple power line communication (PLC) devices to communicate with one another via power lines without being affected by the power supply state of an uninterruptible power supply unit coupled among the PLC devices. | 04-23-2009 |
| 20090115583 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR DIGITAL SIGNAL INTEGRATED WITH POWER CABLE - A control system for vehicle accessories or similar items remote from the controls is connected via only the power connection to the accessories, the control signal being a pulse train impressed on the power connection. The modulation may be a frequency shift keyed waveform and each accessory may have a differing binary address train. | 05-07-2009 |
| 20090121845 | COMMUNICATION SYSTEM COMPRISING A POWERLINE COMMUNICATION NETWORK AND AT LEAST ONE OTHER COMMUNICATION NETWORK, CORRESPONDING NODE - A communication system is provided, which includes a first powerline communication network via which a plurality of nodes can communicate with one another. Each node includes: a first communication interface, which interfaces the node with the first communication network and implements a first powerline communication protocol, and a component, which controls at least one equipment connected to the node. At least one of the nodes, called a gateway node, further includes: a second communication interface, which interfaces the gateway node with at least a second communication network and implements a second communication protocol, and at least one service provider, which provides at least one service to a terminal connected to the gateway node via the at least one second communication network and the second interface. | 05-14-2009 |
| 20090160626 | Method for Setting Home Code in Network System and Device for Network - The present invention relates to a method for setting a home code in a network system and a device for a network system. The method and device allow a user to conveniently remote control the operation of and monitor the operational state of appliances. Thanks to the method and device, a user, for example, who is locating at home or out-of-home, can control the operation or monitor the operational state of various appliances such as refrigerator or laundry machine through a living network installed at home, such as RS-485 network, a low power RF network, or a power line network. The method of setting a home code in a network system includes a first step of producing a random home code value using a random numbers generation algorithm, a second step of checking whether the random home code value is a unique code, and a third step of setting the random home code value as a home code of all devices connected to a network when it is found that the random home code value is a unique code as the result of checking, so that all the devices connected to the same network have the same home code. The present invention is very useful in ability of effectively setting and managing a unique home code in a network. | 06-25-2009 |
| 20090160627 | POWER LINE COMMUNICATON FOR ELECTRICAL FIXTURE CONTROL - We disclose an apparatus capable of receiving control command data for one or more electrical fixtures and modulating an alternating current by modifying firing phase angles to transmit the data corresponding to the control commands via a power line transmitting the alternating current. | 06-25-2009 |
| 20090174532 | METHOD, SYSTEM, INTEGRATED CIRCUIT, COMMUNICATION MODULE, AND COMPUTER-READABLE MEDIUM FOR ACHIEVING RESOURCE SHARING INCLUDING SPACE AND TIME REUSE WITHIN A POWER LINE COMMUNICATION SYSTEM - A communication system includes communication protocols that allow a single network or multiple neighboring networks to increase resource sharing and reduce mutual interference and increase their overall throughput. Various protocols apply to homogenous networks in which all power line communication (PLC) devices of multiple networks are interoperable with respect to full power line communication in a common PHY (specifications, signaling capabilities, modulation scheme, coding scheme, bandwidth, etc.) and to heterogeneous networks in which devices of some PLC networks are not interoperable with PLC devices of other PLC networks with respect to full power line communication given that the devices of the different networks do not employ a common PHY. With respect to heterogeneous networks, a protocol is provided to enable coexistence via a signaling scheme common to all of the devices of the network that allows resource sharing between the devices of the multiple heterogeneous networks. Homogeneous networks are those in which all nodes can communicate with each other using a common PHY, so that information about one PLC network can be transferred to another PLC network. Heterogeneous networks are those in which not all PLC networks can exchange information using their own native PHY, such as where users in different apartments or houses use different devices having different specifications, different signaling capabilities, modulation scheme, coding scheme, bandwidth and the like. | 07-09-2009 |
| 20090207003 | METHOD FOR CONTROLLING AN ELECTRONIC DEVICE AND ELECTRONIC DEVICE - In a method for controlling an electronic device ( | 08-20-2009 |
| 20090212926 | Baby Monitor - A baby monitor which eliminates potential harmful microwave effect of wireless signal generated by current wireless baby monitors. The baby monitor has a nursery unit, a parent unit, and optionally a gateway. The nursery unit consists of video or audio acquisition, amplifier, microcontroller, microcontroller-controlled band-pass filter, microcontroller-controlled carrier generator and modulator, power line coupling circuitry. It transmits signal to the parent unit or the gateway through power line. Parent unit includes power line coupling circuit, micro-controller, microcontroller-controlled band pass filter, super-heterodyne amplifier, video/audio modulator and video/audio player. Alternatively, the power coupling circuit, microcontroller, microcontroller-controlled band-pass filter and super-heterodyne amplifier in the parent unit can be separated and form a gateway device which then communicates with the parent unit wirelessly. | 08-27-2009 |
| 20090243815 | Electronic Communication Devices and Methods - The present invention provides a system for commanding and monitoring one or more electrical devices. The system includes two or more communication modules or controllers, including a primary controller connected to a DC power source that transmits voltage pulses over a single conductor, and one or more secondary controllers that transmit current pulses over the single conductor. The communication modules or controllers each include a bi-directional communication circuit and a microprocessor. The present invention also provides a method for transmitting and receiving communication signals and power, where the voltage pulses sent by a primary controller can be used to power the secondary controller and one or more electrical devices connected to the secondary controller. | 10-01-2009 |
| 20090256686 | POWER LINE COMMUNICATION SYSTEM AND AN INTELLIGENT METER - A power line communication system including a plurality of intelligent devices in communication with a power line and operable to monitor energy usage at a site and communicate usage data onto the power line, and a controller also in communication with the power line, wherein each intelligent device maintains a routing table identifying a first set of other intelligent devices downstream of it relative to the controller that it can communicate with directly and identifying a second set of other intelligent devices downstream of it relative to the controller that it can communicate with through one or more of the first set of other intelligent devices. | 10-15-2009 |
| 20090284356 | COMMUNICATION APPARATUS AND METHOD - A communication apparatus ( | 11-19-2009 |
| 20090295551 | ELECTRIC POWER AND CONTROL COMMUNICATIONS DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM - An electric power generation and distribution system includes a power distribution panel, a plurality of power distribution nodes in communication with the power distribution panel, and a plurality of interconnect couplings that couple the power distribution panel to each of the plurality of power distribution nodes. Each of the plurality of interconnect couplings communicate both electrical power signals and communication signals across a shared cable system. | 12-03-2009 |
| 20090303021 | Networked Power and Communication Receptacle Devices - A network of power and communication receptacle devices. Each power and communication receptacle device comprises at least one power receptacle, at least one communication receptacle, and a power cable assembly having a dual power head. The power cable assembly is configured to provide electrical power to the at least one power receptacle. The network further comprises a plurality of interconnecting power cables. Each interconnecting power cable has a first power feeder electrically connected to the dual power head of one of the power and communication receptacle devices and a second power feeder electrically connected to the dual power head of a next power and communication receptacle device. The network further comprises a power feeding cable that comprises a power feeder for connection to a dual power head of one of the power and communication receptacles, and a device for connection to a power source. The network further comprises a communication signal switching device that has a plurality of ports wherein the communication receptacle of each power and communication receptacle device is in electronic signal communication with a corresponding port of the communication signal switching device. Other embodiments of the invention are disclosed herein. | 12-10-2009 |
| 20100007473 | INTELLIGENT POWER-ENABLED COMMUNICATIONS PORT - A port that supplies power in accordance with a standard is equipped with a variable power supply and a power line communications module. Power line signals on the power conductors are used to allow a port controller to negotiate power requirements with peripheral devices and the power supply is adjusted accordingly. If the peripheral device does not support such negotiation, power is delivered in accordance with the standard. The port may be a data communications port that supplies power and data in accordance with a standard. | 01-14-2010 |
| 20100013608 | Pluggable Radio Navigation Satellite System Street Light Controller - An RNSS based street light controller pluggable into a standard electrical interface of a street light for drawing power and controlling a lamp of the street light eliminates the need for photosensors, wiring terminals and related components and yields a street light controller with modest installation and configuration requirements and robust performance and failure recovery characteristics. In some embodiments, the RNSS based street light controller comprises an RNSS receiver, a first electrical interface and a lamp controller, wherein the first electrical interface is adapted to couple with a second electrical interface of a street light and the lamp controller is adapted to regulate a supply of power to a lamp of the street light via the first electrical interface based at least in part on information received by the RNSS receiver. | 01-21-2010 |
| 20100013609 | METHOD FOR CONTROLLING A GROUP OF WIRELESSLY CONTROLLED APPLIANCES - A method for controlling a group of wirelessly controlled appliances comprising at least one appliance in a home automation network comprising a master controller, characterized in that it comprises:
| 01-21-2010 |
| 20100019889 | DEVICE THAT ENABLES PLC BASED SMART DIMMERS TO FUNCTION WITH NO NEW WIRES - A device that enables “smart” dimmers comprising electronic circuits beyond those found in traditional rotary dimmers to be installed in existing houses with no need for any new electrical wires. In addition, for smart dimmers comprising PLC (power line communication) modems, the device overcomes the large attenuation imposed on power-line communication (PLC) transmissions, introduced by a lamp in series with the smart dimmer, and eliminates the large noise and ringing otherwise introduced by the switching device, inside dimmers. As opposed to prior art, that compromises either the amount of current for the electronic circuits, or the PLC attenuation or both, this disclosure overcomes both. | 01-28-2010 |
| 20100039240 | Method for Wiring Devices in a Structure Using a Wireless Network - The present invention provides a method for controlling lighting fixtures over a wireless network that includes connecting a junction box to a power source, connecting a lighting fixture to the junction box, establishing a connection over a wireless network between the junction box and a controller, and controlling a function of the lighting fixture by transmitting a signal from the controller to the junction box over the wireless network. | 02-18-2010 |
| 20100039241 | POWER LINE COMMUNICATION DEVICE - A terminal best in the reception state for a signal from a controller of a neighboring network is determined as the controller of the own network, to ensure sharing of inter-network control. When the reception state is not good, a terminal worst in reception state is determined as the controller, to make the own network independent from a neighboring network and hence reduce interference of a reference signal and a control signal outputted from the own terminal with the neighboring network. | 02-18-2010 |
| 20100045447 | Power Line Communications Device and Method - In one embodiment, a power line communication system network element is provided that provides communications to one or more user devices. The device may also receive data from one or more sensors, such as current sensors, a voltage sensor, a video camera, a temperature sensor, a barometer, a motion sensor, a level sensor, and/or a vibration sensor. The device may include a controller that receives commands that relate to the collection and transmission of the sensed data via a medium voltage power line. | 02-25-2010 |
| 20100052872 | POWER METADATA TRANSFER OVER POWER LINES - The transfer and usage of a modulated carrier signal within a power signal on a power line communication system is described. The modulated signal comprises metadata which is transmitted at a different frequency than the transmitted power. The metadata, including such elements as energy costs, providers, renewable source status and originating location, may be used by consumers to make subsequent purchasing decisions. Additionally, the energy costs of any given computer node commonly distributed in a grid architecture may be collected by a workload dispatcher in order to make more accurate cost and energy source based dispatch decisions. The consumer may be able to communicate directly back to the power provider. The use of computer-readable medium and product containing instructions that are implemented on a computer is also covered. Finally, the invention may be deployed on behalf of the consumer by a third party service provider. | 03-04-2010 |
| 20100052873 | POWER SUPPLY EMPLOYING PULSE-WIDTH MODULATION AND DIGITAL-TO-ANALOG CONVERTER, POWER SUPPLY CONTROL DEVICE, AND MANUFACTURING METHOD OF THE SAME - A power supply for supplying electric power comprises a power circuit which supplies L channels of electric power (L: positive integer), a control circuit board which outputs multiple types of control signals including a digital control signal and a PWM signal, a digital-to-analog converter having M channels (M: positive integer less than L) each of which converts the digital control signal into an analog control signal, and N demodulation circuits (N=L−M) each of which generates an analog control signal by demodulating the PWM signal. The control circuit board is electrically connected to the power circuit via the M channels of the digital-to-analog converter and the N demodulation circuits. N is a positive integer not more than M. | 03-04-2010 |
| 20100052874 | Open-loop monitoring system - In an open-loop monitoring system, a host device is operable to output encoded signals at a coupling end to a single transmission line. Each of monitoring devices includes: a control unit identifying a monitoring signal from the encoded signals from the transmission line; and a detecting unit detecting, in response to the monitoring signal, whether each of electronic devices coupled thereto is activated or deactivated and transmitting a reply signal associated with states of the electronic devices to the transmission line based on a detection result made thereby. The host device receives the reply signal from each monitoring device through the transmission line and the coupling end to obtain state information associated with the electronic devices and determines whether the transmission line is cut off based on the reply signals from the monitoring devices. | 03-04-2010 |
| 20100102936 | REMOTELY CONTROLLABLE POWER SWITCH OF AN APPLIANCE AND METHODS OF EMPLOYING THE SAME - A remotely controllable power switch of an appliance and a method of employing a remotely controllable power switch of an appliance to control the overall load that an electric power distribution network bears. The method may include a method of employing a remotely controllable power switch of an appliance to compute the rate that a particular customer pays for electric power. In one embodiment, the remotely controllable power switch of an appliance includes: (1) a switching device coupled between an input and an output of the remotely controllable power switch of an appliance and (2) communication circuitry coupled to the switching device, addressable only by class and configured to receive a turn-off signal and turn off the switching device in response thereto. | 04-29-2010 |
| 20100102937 | Method and Apparatus for Stimulating Power Line Carrier Injection with Reactive Oscillation - Stimulating power line carrier injection with reactive oscillation comprises exciting a tank circuit to oscillate at the carrier frequency by sinking pulses of current between one node of a capacitor in the tank circuit and the other node of the capacitor. A power transformer is connected to a distribution system to inject power line carrier onto the power line. An excitation circuit sinks short pulses of current between one node of a capacitor and the other node of the capacitor that is connected in a tank circuit arrangement with an inductor and the secondary winding of the power transformer. The tank circuit oscillates at the frequency of the excitation pulses if the resonant frequency of the tank circuit is close to the frequency of excitation. The oscillating current is coupled onto the power line system through the power transformer. The phase of the power line carrier signal is shifted by shifting the phase of the excitation pulses. | 04-29-2010 |
| 20100207743 | CONTROL OF DEVICES BY WAY OF POWER WIRING - A system for controlling one or more devices through a power line comprises one or more control signal generators for generating control signal(s). Each control signal has a frequency within a predetermined frequency band and is injected onto the power line. A filter coupled between the power line and each device. Each filter is configured to pass signals within the corresponding frequency band to the device and block substantially all other signals, such that the device receives electrical power from the high frequency control signal. | 08-19-2010 |
| 20100207744 | System And Method For Power And Data Delivery On A Machine - A machine that includes an electronically controlled engine provides power and communications to attached electrical devices arrayed throughout the machine via a two wire power and data bus. Sensor, driven and communication electrical devices are all connected to the direct current two wire and power data bus by a smart connector. The smart connector includes an alternating current powerline application specific integrated circuit (AC PLC ASIC) with a processor configured to communicate with an outside microprocessor via serial and peripheral interface bus communication. A memory of the AC PLC ASIC is configured to store a unique identifying address. An inductive toroid is configured to enable the AC PLC ASIC to communicate on a predetermined set of frequencies on the direct current two wire power data bus. | 08-19-2010 |
| 20100238003 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR INTELLIGENT ENERGY NETWORK MANAGEMENT CONTROL SYSTEM - A system for providing network infrastructure for energy management and control is disclosed. A controller integrates powerline and wireless networking technologies in order to provide an integrated network. A gateway sends and receives command and control data across the integrated network. Client devices may connect to the integrated network and perform a variety of functions. An appliance module may send and receive data across the integrated network in relation to a particular appliance. A panel meter may send and receive data across the integrated network in relation to data measured at a distribution panel. A serial bridge may connect various devices to the integrated network. Computing devices may remotely or locally connect to the integrated network and send and receive data. | 09-23-2010 |
| 20100265045 | TWO-WIRE COMMUNICATION APPARATUS AND METHOD - A method and apparatus for operating and actuating remote devices using a single pair of wires together with communication and networking protocols necessary for operational control of the remote devices and data gathering activities from the remote devices. The invention leverages the use of existing wiring and is particularly useful in heating and air conditioning systems, sprinkler control systems, security systems, lighting control systems, industrial automation control systems and similar environments. | 10-21-2010 |
| 20100277293 | Capacitor Coupled Ethernet - A system and method for enabling power applications over a single conductor pair. In one embodiment, data transformers are coupled to a single conductor pair using one or more direct current (DC) blocking elements that preserve an alternating current path. Power is injected onto the single conductor pair after the DC blocking elements and power is extracted from the single conductor pair before the DC blocking elements. Saturation of the data transformers by the injection of power onto the single pair is thereby prevented. | 11-04-2010 |
| 20100277294 | POWER SUPPLY APPARATUS AND POWER SUPPLY METHOD - Provided is a power supply apparatus including a power storage for storing power supplied through a bus line connected to the power supply apparatus, on which bus line an information signal representing information is superposed over the power. The power supply apparatus also includes a signal blocker for blocking the information signal from the bus line from draining into another apparatus, a power amount detector for detecting a power amount of the power storage, and a switching controller for switching a server mode for supplying the power from the power storage and a client mode for receiving the power from the bus line in dependence upon a detection result from the power amount detector. | 11-04-2010 |
| 20100283587 | DEVICE FOR TESTING OF A POWERLINE COMMUNICATIONS AUDIO SYSTEM - A system and devices for testing and qualifying the quality, capacity and integrity of a new or existing mains power wiring system to transmit powerline communications (PLC) audio and control signals, including a hub testing device that emulates a PLC interface device of a PLC audio transmission source, and a zone testing device that emulates a zone audio amplifier module, including a plug for insertion of the devices into an outlet of an AC mains wiring system. The devices are used in a method for testing and qualifying a new or existing mains power wiring system to transmit powerline communications (PLC) audio and control signals, having the steps of selecting a hub outlet and plugging a hub testing device into the hub outlet, initiating a search for a zone testing device, selecting and plugging in a zone testing device into an test outlet in a target zone; initiating a test selected from a CQM test and a Streaming Analysis; and correlating the results of the test to determine if the selected hub outlet and the test outlet qualify to transmit powerline communications (PLC) audio and control signals in the target zone. | 11-11-2010 |
| 20100289629 | Load Control Device with Two-Way Communication Capabilities - A load control device having two-way communication capabilities. The load control device can include a conventional load control receiver that receives information, such as load control commands or requests. The load control receiver can include a receiver operable to receive power line carrier signals via a power distribution line. The load control device can further include a power line carrier signal transmitter that couples a power line carrier signal onto the distribution line. The power line carrier signal transmitter can communicate information associated with the load control device and information associated with one or more electrical devices that are controlled by the load control device to a remote device. The information may be transmitted from the load control device to the remote device in response to a request received by the load control device or on a periodic basis. | 11-18-2010 |
| 20100315209 | Systems And Apparatus For Transmitting Remote Control Commands Over A Communication Network - Described herein are techniques for transmitting remote control commands to a controlled device over a communication network. A user provides input to a remote control requesting to remotely operate a controlled device. A remote control command is transmitted from the remote control to the controlled device through an electrical distribution network. The controlled device receives and processes the remote control command and changes its operational state according to the command. | 12-16-2010 |
| 20100315210 | ELECTRONIC DEVICE DOCK WITH REPLICATING STATUS INDICATOR - An adapter may couple an electronic device to a host such as a computer. When coupled in this way, the host may transfer media files to the device. The host may also supply power to the electronic device using power lines in the adapter. The electronic device may have a status indicator such as a light-emitting diode status indicator. The adapter may also have a status indicator. During operation, the electronic device may transmit coded information on the current state of the status indicator in the electronic device by modulating the status indicator or other load in the device at a selected frequency. Control circuitry in the adapter may detect the transmitted state information by monitoring the power lines. The control circuitry may control the status indicator in the adapter so that the status indicator in the adapter replicates the current state of the status indicator in the electronic device. | 12-16-2010 |
| 20100321168 | POWER LINE COMMUNICATION DEVICE AND ITS COMMUNICATION CONTROL METHOD - In a case where to-be-transmitted data is absent, signal output from a PLC apparatus is topped. A PLC modem includes a PLC-IF, and a modem control unit. The modem control unit effects transition to a hibernate state in which signal output from the PLC-IF is stopped, in accordance with a fact that a state in which transmission data that is transmitted to the PLC-IF and reception data that is received via the PLC-IF are absent continues over a predetermined hibernation determination period. In addition, the modem control unit effects transition to a normal working state in which the signal output from the PLC-IF is executed, in accordance with a fact that in the hibernate state an amount of to-be-transmitted data to the PLC-IF has exceeded a predetermined startup threshold or reception of a startup signal by the PLC-IF has been detected. | 12-23-2010 |
| 20100321169 | System and Method for Communication Using an AC Signal From a Powered Device - A system and method for communicating information using Layer 1 from a powered device to power source equipment via Ethernet. In one embodiment, Layer 1 information such as power management, classification, temperature, and disconnect information is transmitted from a powered device to power source equipment using an AC signal that has a cycle defining a first time period during which the AC signal is turned on and a second time period during which the AC signal is turned off. A type of information being sent by the powered device can be determined based on characteristic on/off times of the AC signal cycle. | 12-23-2010 |
| 20110006887 | Programmable Communicating Thermostat And System - A programmable thermostat has two way communication with a utility using a power carrier line signal across distributed low voltage power lines in a building downstream of an HVAC system transformer. The two way PLC communication includes transmission to the utility of response information regarding the response taken by the thermostat to a power “shed” command, and preferably also includes sensed temperature and/or temperature set point information. The HVAC system transformer includes an integral capacitive bypass path for PLC data transmission across the windings of the transformer. The thermostat positions its temperature sensor to avoid heat given off by the PLC receiver/transmitter and its electrical circuits as well as the thermostat microprocessor and the electrical power circuits therefore. | 01-13-2011 |
| 20110032085 | APPARATUS FOR CONTROLLING INTEGRATED LIGHTING BALLASTS IN A SERIES SCHEME - Power line communication (PLC) systems are presented for connecting dimming switches with electronic ballasts for driving compact fluorescent lamps and other applications using a power distribution network, including a transmitter and a receiver connected in a series circuit for transmission of multi-bit data, where the receiver has a load control circuit for selectively adjusting the receiver loading and to sense current interruptions to provide a data output. | 02-10-2011 |
| 340310120 | Modulation technique | 14 |
| 20080218320 | MULTILEVEL INVERTER USING CASCADE CONFIGURATION AND CONTROL METHOD THEREOF - A multilevel inverter using a cascade configuration with a device for equally controlling a power factor for each unit cell includes: a master controller, a plurality of power cells connected in series for each of three AC (Alternating Current) phases, a phase shift transformer for supplying a power cell input voltage, a CAN (Controller Area Network) communication network to provide a communication path between the master controller and each power cell, and cell controllers to control output voltages and output frequencies of the respective power cells according to a voltage command and a frequency command from the master controller, each cell controller having a pulse width modulator to generate a pulse width modulation control signal of a variable voltage and a variable frequency to the connected corresponding power cell, wherein each cell controller is configured to calculate a phase difference value of the corresponding power cell according to a preset total number of connected power cells and the floor number (i.e., the serial connection sequence) of the corresponding power cell to thereafter phase-shift a chopping wave by the calculated phase difference value, thereby compensating for the phase differences between each power cell. | 09-11-2008 |
| 20080252430 | POWERLINE PULSE POSITION MODULATED TRANSMITTER APPARATUS AND METHOD - A transmitting controller is connected to a powerline and on command places a reference signal and a series of signal pulses in the powerline at a series of signal timing positions related to zero voltage crossing points so that the signals pulses are substantially in the powerline temporal quiet zone near zero crossing. The signal pulses are produced from a pair of capacitors and switches which are each sequentially charged a first polarity from the powerline and is discharged in the powerline at the opposite polarity so that the powerline voltage at the time of the pulse is additive to the pulse voltage. The receiving controller is connected to the powerline and has a filter circuit therein which filters away the powerline AC signal and noise to leave the reference and signal pulses. The signal pulses are compared to the position of starting reference pulses to determine in which signal timing position the pulses have occurred. Digital data is communicated over the powerline in accordance with the position placement of the data pulses related to the reference pulse positions. The timing quiet zone for transmission and signals is preferably about 500 to about 1000 microseconds away from zero voltage crossing. | 10-16-2008 |
| 20080258882 | POWERLINE CONTROL SYSTEM AND METHOD - Circuits and methods for transmission of digital data between two or more devices via powerline particularly suited for use in high attenuation, high noise commercial/industrial powerline environments, including transmission of pulses generated by a capacitor charged in the positive half cycle of the sine wave and discharged during the negative half-cycle, placing the pulse at one of two predetermined signal timing positions related to zero voltage crossing points or to previously transmitted pulses so that the pulses are substantially in the powerline temporal quiet zone near zero crossing and so that the powerline voltage at the time of the pulse is additive to the capacitor voltage. | 10-23-2008 |
| 20080278296 | Power line communication apparatus, and method and apparatus for controlling electric devices - A power line communication apparatus, device control apparatus, and device control method are disclosed. By controlling the phase of AC power with reference to a zero cross point during power line communication, the power line communication apparatus enables not only data to be transmitted and received in a manner robust against noise and impedance but also the receiving end to be miniaturized. The power and operation of household devices can be controlled through the power line communication apparatus, thereby eliminating the need for separate communication networks when a remote control system is built in the home. | 11-13-2008 |
| 20090027175 | Data Transmission Method and Device for A/C Systems - A method for modulating the effective power in one or several power consuming devices disposed in an A/C system in order to transmit data on a power supply line thereof by specifically varying the effective power in the connected device. In order to transmit the data, the momentary value of the effective power is randomly varied (increased or decreased), and the data is impressed into the A/C supply line by a unit (transmitter or modulator) and is evaluated by another unit (receiver or demodulator). | 01-29-2009 |
| 20090040030 | Data Interface to the AC Power Line Via Standard Light Bulb Socket - There is disclosed a data receiving device for coupling to an AC power line through a standard light bulb socket. A standard medium lamp base is supported by a frame and connected to a branch circuit of the AC power line. An electrical device having signal terminals and supported by the frame is driven by electrical circuitry having a first input and a first output. The first output is coupled to the signal terminals for driving the electrical device. A data receiver has a second input for receiving both AC power and a data signal from the AC power line. The second input is coupled to the lamp base and a second output is coupled to the first input of the electrical circuitry. | 02-12-2009 |
| 20090072953 | Reliable Redundant Data Communication Through Alternating Current Power Distribution System - A method, system, and computer program product are provided for providing reliable redundant data communications. A programming unit issues a request for data to a set of powered elements using a set of secondary communication channels in response to a reduction in a level of communications being detected. The set of secondary communication channels comprises one or more alternating current power lines and the request is sent as data injected onto the alternating current power lines to the set of powered elements. The programming unit receives the data using the set of secondary communication channels from the set of powered elements, analyzes the data to determine a set of recovery actions to restore the level of communications, and issues the set of recovery actions to the set of powered elements using the set of secondary communication channels. | 03-19-2009 |
| 20090096592 | POWER LINE ADAPTER AND METHOD OF CONTROLLING POWER LINE ADAPTER OPERATED IN POWER-SAVING MODE - A power line adapter and its controlling method to be operated in a power-saving mode are disclosed. The power line adapter includes a power-transmitting module for generating a DC supply voltage and a data-transmitting module for transmitting data. Furthermore, the data-transmitting module at least includes a power line communication circuit and an Ethernet physical layer transceiver. The controlling method comprises steps of: monitoring a link signal generated by the Ethernet physical layer transceiver when the power line adapter is operated in an active mode; and, disconnecting the DC supply voltage to the power line communication circuit and entering the power-saving mode if the link signal indicates a disconnection over a first time period. | 04-16-2009 |
| 20100039242 | APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR DATA COMMUNICATION OVER POWER LINES - A method and apparatus for transferring communication data over power lines, the power lines comprising multiple phase transmission lines and a neutral line. The method includes inserting the communication data between multiple lines, typically between the different phase lines and the neutral, and combining the communication data from any one of the lines, and transmitting the combined signal to multiple lines in a receiving premises. In this way the signal can be picked up from any power socket at the receiving premises irrespective of what line or phase it may be attached to. | 02-18-2010 |
| 20100073149 | SYSTEM, APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR ENABLING OPTIMAL COMMUNICATION OVER POWER LINES - A system, apparatus and method for communication signaling between sending terminals and receiving terminals over power lines, comprises a power level test message configuration unit associated with a respective sending terminal for configuring test signals to send to one or more of said receiving units to determine optimal transmission characteristics for communication between the terminals, the respective test signals being configured per transmission power level. A test message sending unit sends the configured test signals to the various neighboring terminals over the power lines, therefrom to determine optimal transmission power levels for transmission to the various neighboring units. | 03-25-2010 |
| 20100079262 | Systems And Methods For Conveying Information Using A Control Signal Referenced To Alternating Current (AC) Power - Systems and methods convey information from a controller to at least one slave unit using a single wire referenced to an alternating current (AC) power supply. A control signal has a high voltage and a low voltage. The high voltage is greater than a voltage midpoint of the AC power supply and the low voltage is less than the voltage midpoint. The control signal is conveyed through the single wire to each of the at least one slave unit. At each slave unit, a comparison voltage, representative of the voltage midpoint, is generated by dividing substantially midway the potentials between the power lines of the AC power supply and the control signal is compared to the comparison voltage to determine low and high states of the control signal; the low and high states represent the information. | 04-01-2010 |
| 20100123563 | POWER MANAGEMENT INTERFACE - A power management interface is provided and includes a switch, a transmitting circuit, and a receiving circuit. The switch is coupled to an AC power line for controlling a power line signal to a load. The transmitting circuit generates a switching signal to control the switch and achieve a phase modulation to the power line signal in response to a transmitting-data. The receiving circuit is coupled to receive the power line signal for detecting a phase of the power line signal and generating a receiving-data to control power of the load. The receiving-data is generated in accordance with the phase detection of the power line signal and correlated to the transmitting-data. | 05-20-2010 |
| 20100214082 | TRANSMISSION OF POWER AND DATA WITH FREQUENCY MODULATION - In one embodiment, an apparatus includes a circuit coupled to a line, where the circuit may power a device, and where the power is transmitted to the device over the line as a pulse-width modulated signal. The circuit may set a duty cycle of the pulse-width modulated signal in order to transmit a determined power level to the device. The apparatus may vary a frequency of the pulse-width modulated signal to transmit data to the device while the duty cycle of the pulse-width modulated signal is fixed in order to continue to transmit the determined power level to the device. A variation in the frequency of the pulse-width modulated signal may be detectable by the device and represents at least a portion of the data. | 08-26-2010 |
| 20110043340 | Concatenated Repetition Code with Convolutional Code - A system and method for modulating and coding a signal is disclosed. Data from a Media Access Control (MAC) layer is convolutionally encoded. Robust coding of the data from the MAC layer is performed either before or after the convolutional encoding. The coded data is differentially modulating and then Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexed to create an OFDM output signal adapted to be transmitted on a power line network. The robust coding may be a repetition | 02-24-2011 |
| 340310130 | Noise reduction (e.g., filtering) | 5 |
| 20080272894 | Systems and methods for direct current system digital carried message conveyance - The systems and methods of the present invention provide for conductive emissions communication without requiring dedicated communications wires. The systems and methods have the capability to send digital messages over the same wires that are used to power DC, systems. Hardware filter circuits are combined with advanced algorithms in a communications control chip to permit the elimination of the dedicated wires, thereby needing zero additional wires to accomplish the task of digital control. | 11-06-2008 |
| 20080316004 | Powerline communication apparatus and methods - A system, associated components, and methods for improving powerline communications between electrical devices in, for example, a home or office setting. In one embodiment, a control module provides electrical command signals to a plurality of devices coupled to a powerline. A transformer operatively coupled to the control module and is configured to capacitively couple through its center tap to a non-signal line to provide a communication path to the plurality of devices. The transformer configuration provides a low noise communication path for the electrical command signals. Methods for installing and operating the aforementioned system and components are also described. | 12-25-2008 |
| 20090072954 | COMMUNICATIONS METHOD AND DEVICE - The present invention relates to communications devices and methods, particularly in the field of power line networks. The invention has a number of aspects, which in one form, relate to a communication device and/or methods adapted for the automatic meter reading, data concentrator, home gateway, IR gateway and home automation, such as by way of example power point, light switches, curtain control, gas valve control, air conditioner & heater control, remote device and/or appliance control and/or industrial control markets. In a specific form, the invention and one or any combination of its aspects may reside in a power line modem. | 03-19-2009 |
| 20090237225 | Supply line structure for transmitting information between motor-vehicle components - A supply line structure for the energy supply of electrical components of a motor vehicle, and for transmitting information between at least a portion of the components. To reduce the interference susceptibility of the supply line structure in a Powerline Communications, and at the same time to continue to be able to ensure the energy supply of the electrical components via the supply line structure, it is provided that the supply line structure have separate supply lines, electrically isolated from the vehicle body, as return lines from the components to at least one energy source of the motor vehicle. The supply lines of the supply line structure preferably take the form of coaxial lines or twisted pair lines. | 09-24-2009 |
| 20090322494 | CONTROLLING DEVICE AND SYSTEM - A controlling device and a controlling system. The controlling device transmits controlling signals to an electronic device and receives operation statuses thereof through a power line. The controlling device includes a Human-Machine Interface (HMI) device for displaying the operation statuses of the electronic device. The controlling device includes a controller, an HMI device connected to the controller, a power supply for providing an electric power to the controller and the HMI device, and a power line network signal transmit/receive module connected to the controller. | 12-31-2009 |
| 340310150 | Impedance matching (e.g., Y-match or delta match) | 1 |
| 20080316005 | Communication by carrier current for centralized control centers - In an intelligent centralized control panel, in particular for motors in which case it is known under the name of iMCC, communications with the outside are performed by powerline carrier current or PLC. The wiring of the control panels can thereby be greatly reduced. To enable this type of communication to be used in dense systems containing a large number of line starters and therefore a large number of parallel-connected carrier current interfaces, the invention proposes inserting a preferably electronically adjustable impedance in series with the PLC conversion device. Advantageously, an adjustment algorithm enables the values of the added impedances to be optimized according to the geometry and position of the different interfaces. | 12-25-2008 |
| 340310160 | Bi-directional (e.g., with transceiver) | 3 |
| 20090121846 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR COUPLING POWER LINE CONTROL SIGNALS - Repeater systems and methods for coupling a home automation control signal from a first power line operating on a first phase to a second power line operating on a second phase are provided. A power line control repeater includes a power line control signal transceiver, a wireless signal transmitter, a wireless signal receiver, and a processor. The processor is configured to instruct the transmitting component to transmit wireless signals based on power line signals detected by the power line control signal transceiver and further configured to identify wireless signals received at the wireless signal receiver from a similarly configured repeater and to instruct the transceiver to modulate the power signal based on the received signals. A system includes two repeaters in wireless signal communication. | 05-14-2009 |
| 20100117808 | POWERED COMMUNICATIONS INTERFACE PROVIDING LOW-SPEED COMMUNICATIONS BETWEEN POWER-SOURCING EQUIPMENT AND POWERED DEVICE IN NON-POWERED OPERATING MODE - A powered communications interface in a power-over-Ethernet (POE) system has a non-powered operating mode in which it withholds operating power from a powered device and applies relatively low signaling voltages and currents to the conductors of the Ethernet cable which include (a) first signaling voltages and currents of a detection/classification operation, and (b) second signaling voltages and currents of a low-speed communications operation by which the power-sourcing equipment and the powered device exchange operational information. The low-speed communications from the power-sourcing equipment to the powered device are conveyed by values and sequencing of the second signaling voltages, and low-speed communications from the powered device to the power-sourcing equipment are conveyed by values and sequencing of the second signaling currents conducted by the powered device in response to the second signaling voltages from the power-sourcing equipment. Frame-based communications protocols or lookup-table-based communications may be used. | 05-13-2010 |
| 20100231365 | POWER LINE COMMUNICATION SYSTEM AND POWER LINE COMMUNICATION DEVICE - A controller is configured to transmit a controller receiving terminal count, or the number of terminals with which the controller can communicate, to other terminals. Each of terminals operable as a controller other than the controller transmits a signal requesting controller change to the controller and acquires controller authorization if the number of terminals with which the terminal itself can communicate is larger than the controller receiving terminal count. | 09-16-2010 |
| 340310170 | With inductive coupling (e.g., transformer or torroid) | 3 |
| 20080278297 | System for control of lights and motors - A system for independent control of electric motors and electric lights includes a plurality of two-wire wallstations coupled in series via power wires between an alternating-current (AC) source and a light/motor control unit. The light/motor control unit is preferably located in the same enclosure as an electric motor and an electric light and has two outputs for independent control of the motor and the light. The light/motor control unit and the wallstations each include a controller and a communication circuit that is coupled to the power wiring via a communication transformer and communicate with each other using a loop current carrier technique. The light/motor control unit and the wallstations utilize pseudo random orthogonal codes and a median filter in the communication process. | 11-13-2008 |
| 20090085726 | Power Line Communications Coupling Device and Method - A method and device for providing communications via one or more underground power lines is provided. Underground power lines may comprise a plurality of segments disposed in series with each other and carrying a power having a voltage greater than one thousand volts on an internal conductor, and wherein each segment is coaxial in structure and includes a neutral conductor. In one embodiment, the device may comprise a first inductor having a first end connected to a first node and a second end connected to ground, a second inductor having a first end connected a second node and a second end connected to ground, and a transformer having a first winding having a first end and a second end. The first node may be connected to a neutral conductor of a first segment of the power line and to the first end of the first winding of said transformer. The second node may be connected to a neutral conductor of a second segment of the power line and to the second end of the first winding of said transformer. The transformer comprises a second winding configured to be communicatively coupled to a communication device. | 04-02-2009 |
| 20090256687 | MAGNETIC FIELD GUARD RINGS - A magnetic guard ring is provided to reduce the susceptibility of a transformer-based data transmission to an externally generated magnetic field. The guard ring structure comprises strategically placed pieces of ferrite material, such as NiFe, that surround the transformer and “steer” the external magnetic field away from the transformer. | 10-15-2009 |
| 340310180 | With coupling plug | 1 |
| 20080297327 | Coupling of Communications Signals to a Power Line - In one embodiment, a system for coupling a communications signal to a medium-voltage power line includes a surge arrester electrically coupled to a medium-voltage power line and a disconnect device electrically coupled to the surge arrester. The disconnect device is electrically coupled in parallel with a communications device and has a resistance of at least one thousand ohms and a capacitance between one picofarad and twelve picofarads. Furthermore, the disconnect device is electrically coupled to a ground without the use of ferrites. | 12-04-2008 |
