Patents by Inventor William Douglas Rannard

William Douglas Rannard has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Power line communications method
    Patent number: 6987444
    Abstract: A method of communicating over a power line is disclosed, the method comprising the step of modulating a current component of an AC power signal present on the power line. Also disclosed is a communications protocol for communication between a monitoring unit and an appliance, the protocol having two modes of operation, the first mode being an on-line single direction protocol for communications from the appliance to the monitoring unit via modulation of a current component of an AC power signal between the monitoring unit and the appliance, and the second mode being an off-line protocol for communications at least from the monitoring unit to the appliance, the second mode being operable only when the power signal is not present between the monitoring unit and the appliance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2006
    Assignee: Pacific Solar Pty Limited
    Inventors: Stephen Leonard Bub, William Douglas Rannard
  • Power line communications method
    Publication number: 20030156013
    Abstract: A method of communicating over a power line is disclosed, the method comprising the step of modulating a current component of an AC power signal present on the power line. Also disclosed is a communications protocol for communication between a monitoring unit and an appliance, the protocol having two modes of operation, the first mode being an on-line single direction protocol for communications from the appliance to the monitoring unit via modulation of a current component of an AC power signal between the monitoring unit and the appliance, and the second mode being an off-line protocol for communications at least from the monitoring unit to the appliance, the second mode being operable only when the power signal is not present between the monitoring unit and the appliance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 18, 2003
    Publication date: August 21, 2003
    Inventors: Stephen Leonard Bub, William Douglas Rannard