Abstract: 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.

Abstract: An aftermarket module arrangement for installation into a vehicle having a vehicle bus and an electric power source is disclosed herein. The arrangement includes, but is not limited to, a module configured to communicatively couple with the vehicle bus and to electrically couple with the electric power source via a first electric power line, and further configured to engage in power line communications over the first electric power line. The arrangement further includes an aftermarket module configured to electrically couple with the electric power source over a second electric power line and to engage in power line communications over the second electric power line. The aftermarket module is further configured to communicatively couple with the module via power line communications and to communicate over the vehicle bus through the module.

Abstract: A power device may include channels coupled to conductors in lines, where each one of the channels is coupled to a different one of the lines than the other channels and where the channels deliver direct current power signals over the conductors to the load devices. Each one of the load devices may be powered by a different one of the direct current power signals. The power device may include a power communicator that communicates with the load devices over the conductors that propagate the direct current power signals. The power communicator may determine a target power level for the load devices based on the communication over the conductors. The load device may adjust an amount of power in the direct current power signals in order to match the target power level.

Abstract: A power unit includes an AC/DC converter for converting VAC input to DC, a zero cross unit for modulating the AC/DC converter output to facilitate zero crossing detection based on the output, and a high pass filter (HPF) for filtering data signals, where the data signals are transmitted and received on the same medium from which the VAC input is received. A method for providing power and data signals from a single powerline source, including receiving incoming VAC in an external power unit, converting the incoming VAC to DC, modulating the DC in accordance with zero crossings from the incoming VAC, filtering the VAC to isolate high frequency data signals, where the data signals are transmitted and received on a same medium from which the incoming VAC is received, and providing the DC, modulated DC, and data signals to an embedded processing unit capable of processing the data signals.

Abstract: Household appliance control system, comprising at least one appliance switch, at least one device supplying functional commands, at least one device supplying power and at least one household appliance, wherein the aforementioned devices are at least partially arranged in a building power supply network, and wherein these devices at least partially communicate among each other via said building power supply network, by impressing information independently to their respective zero-crossing either on an alternating voltage or on an alternating current, whereby said information can be read out again from both of the voltage and current, and whereby said information exclusively consists of real power instead of using high frequency modulation or even an additional line for data transmission purpose.

Abstract: A power line communication system transmits a dimming level to an electronic ballast to regulate the power consumed by a lamp. The power line controller has a notch generation circuit that generates notches on an AC power signal with a time duration in accordance with the dimming level of the lamp. A dimming interface associated with the electronic ballast detects the notches on the AC power signal. The dimming interface generates a ballast dimming level signal with a signal level related to the time duration of these notches.

Abstract: A wall control interface for power management includes a transmitting circuit that generates a switching signal to control a switch and achieve a phase modulation to a power line signal in response to a transmitting-data. A receiving circuit is coupled to detect the phase of the power line signal for generating a data signal and a receiving-data in response to the phase of the power line signal. The receiving circuit further generates a control signal to control power of a load in accordance with the data signal or the receiving-data. The phase modulation is achieved by controlling a turn-on angle of the power line signal. The switch remains in a turn-on state during the normal condition, which achieves good power and low current harmonic. The phase modulation is only performed during the communication of the power management.

Abstract: A PLC cable modem is provided which includes an analog electromagnetic field transducer for generating an electromagnetic field based on an analog electrical signal and also for generating an analog electrical signal based on an electromagnetic field. The PLC cable modem also includes an analog signal processing unit operatively coupled to the analog electromagnetic field transducer and a digital signal processing unit for processing signals received from (or to be sent to) the analog signal processing unit. An interface port is provided for communicating digital signals to and from a data transmission or receiving device.

Abstract: A wall control interface for power management includes a transmitting circuit that generates a switching signal to control a switch and achieve a phase modulation to a power line signal in response to a transmitting-data. A receiving circuit is coupled to detect the phase of the power line signal for generating a data signal and a receiving-data in response to the phase of the power line signal. The receiving circuit further generates a control signal to control power of a load in accordance with the data signal or the receiving-data. The phase modulation is achieved by controlling a turn-on angle of the power line signal. The switch remains in a turn-on state during the normal condition, which achieves good power and low current harmonic. The phase modulation is only performed during the communication of the power management.

Abstract: A mechanism is provided for providing reliable redundant data communications. The mechanism 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 mechanism 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.

Abstract: A power device may include channels coupled to conductors in lines, where each one of the channels is coupled to a different one of the lines than the other channels and where the channels deliver direct current power signals over the conductors to the load devices. Each one of the load devices may be powered by a different one of the direct current power signals. The power device may include a power communicator that communicates with the load devices over the conductors that propagate the direct current power signals. The power communicator may determine a target power level for the load devices based on the communication over the conductors. The load device may adjust an amount of power in the direct current power signals in order to match the target power level.

Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention provides a system that uses power-line phase-cut signaling to change energy usage for one or more devices that share a common power signal. During operation, the system receives a request to change power usage. In response to the request, the system inserts a phase-cut notch into the common power signal. A device that is located downstream from the inserted phase-cut notch detects this notch in the common power signal, and in response triggers a power-state change. For instance, the device may trigger a reduced-power state when it detects a phase-cut notch.

Abstract: A method and system for remotely monitoring the status of a standby generator. The system includes a PLC transmitter in communication with the control unit for the generator. The PLC transmitter receives error codes from the control unit of the generator and transmits encoded error codes over the power distribution network in a home using a PLC frequency. A remote status display device can be connected to the power distribution network in the home at any convenient location. The remote status display device includes a PLC receiver that decodes the error codes. The decoded error codes are displayed on a display of the remote status display device for viewing by the home occupant at a location remote from the standby generator.

Abstract: A power line communication system transmits a dimming level to an electronic ballast to regulate the power consumed by a lamp. The power line controller has a notch generation circuit that generates notches on an AC power signal with a time duration in accordance with the dimming level of the lamp. A dimming interface associated with the electronic ballast detects the notches on the AC power signal. The dimming interface generates a ballast dimming level signal with a signal level related to the time duration of these notches.

Abstract: A system and a method effective to transmit information about a load that draws a load current to a recipient. The system includes a sensor effective to generate a first signal containing information about the load and a reference second signal. A first device calculates a ratio of the first signal to the second signal and converts that ratio into a binary number. A second device converts 0 members of the binary number to a first data current and 1 members of the binary number into a second data current that is different from the first data current. A common electrical line transmits a total current that is a sum of the load current plus the first data current or a sum of the load current plus the second data current. The recipient communicates with the common electrical line and converts current modulations to the binary number and the binary number to the information.

Abstract: A system, method and computer program product for processing utility data of a power grid is provided. In one embodiment, the system includes a datamart comprised of a plurality of physical databases storing utility data, a plurality of applications comprising an automated meter application configured to process power usage data from a plurality of automated meters, a power outage application configured to identify a location of a power outage, and a power restoration application configured to identify a location of a power restoration. The system may include an analysis engine comprising a plurality of analysis objects with each analysis object configured to process data to provide a specific analysis, wherein said analysis engine is accessible via one or more of the plurality of applications, and the system may include a report module configured to receive an output from the analysis engine and to output a report.

Abstract: A remote control system (1) comprises a plurality of controlled devices (100, 100a, etc.), a specifying means (101) for specifying one controlled device (100) that the user desires as a remote control target, and a control device (200) for remotely controlling the one controlled device according to first identification information for identifying the one controlled device.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: In one embodiment, an X-ray system includes a handheld X-ray interface device. The handheld X-ray interface device includes a wireless interface for communicating with an imaging system and a tracking device configured to provide a location and/or to track movement of the handheld X-ray interface device relative to the imaging system, wherein the location or tracked movement of the handheld X-ray interface device is communicated to the imaging system as an input for at least one control function of the imaging system.

Abstract: A device and a method are provided for setting adjustment control for a device. The method comprises acts of generating a time base signal that is synchronized to an Alternating Current (AC) voltage, and generating a modulated AC voltage in response to an input control signal, which is referenced to the time base signal. The modulated AC voltage has a setting pattern that is formed by interrupting the AC voltage. The method further comprises acts of using the modulated AC voltage to change the device to a desired setting. The desired setting is determined from the corresponding setting pattern.

Abstract: A controllable light bulb comprises an electrical connector, a receiver module, an electronic switch, a translucent casing, and a light producing element. The electrical connector receives a power signal. The receiver module is powered by the power signal received via the electrical connector and determines control parameters based upon on/off modulation of the power signal. The receiver module generates a control signal based upon the control parameters while the power signal is on. The electronic switch outputs an output power signal and reduces the output power signal based on the control signal. The translucent casing encloses the light producing element. The light producing element receives the output power signal.

Abstract: A method, system, and computer program product are provided for communicating to a powered element in a rack system. A controller injects communication data onto power lines that provides power to a plurality of powered elements. The powered elements determine if the communication data transmitted via the power lines should be used for configuration using an address embedded within the communication data. The powered elements compare an embedded target address within the communication data to the address of the particular element. If there is a match between the addresses, the corresponding powered element processes the communication data to configure the powered element. As a result, data may be communicated over the power lines thereby eliminating the need for separate communication lines. Thus, the amount of cables required to interconnect the powered elements of the distributed data processing system may be reduced by eliminating the communication lines from the system configuration.

Abstract: A controllable light bulb comprises an electrical connector, a receiver module, an electronic switch, a translucent casing, and a light producing element. The electrical connector receives a power signal. The receiver module is powered by the power signal received via the electrical connector and determines control parameters based upon on/off modulation of the power signal. The receiver module generates a control signal based upon the control parameters while the power signal is on. The electronic switch outputs an output power signal and reduces the output power signal based on the control signal. The translucent casing encloses the light producing element. The light producing element receives the output power signal.

Abstract: A power line communications PLC transmitter and receiver device includes a physical communications protocol layer that provides for dynamic selection of a communications signal transmission operating mode from a plurality of such modes, where each has a corresponding transmission data structure that is based on characteristics of the electric power distribution network to which the PLC device is to be coupled and also the communications protocol profile requirements for the network.

Abstract: A controllable light bulb comprises an electrical connector, a receiver module, an electronic switch, a translucent casing, and a light producing element. The electrical connector receives a power signal. The receiver module is powered by the power signal received via the electrical connector and determines control parameters based upon on/off modulation of the power signal. The receiver module generates a control signal based upon the control parameters while the power signal is on. The electronic switch outputs an output power signal and reduces the output power signal based on the control signal. The translucent casing encloses the light producing element. The light producing element receives the output power signal.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for generating data encoded RF (radio frequency) waveform without a separate memory device/chip. The hardware in the proposed method consists of entities performing the operations of time-delay (B), phase shifting (C), attenuation, power dividing (D) and power combining (E). An integral part of the invention is the application of the method in designing radio frequency identification devices or RFID-tags.

Abstract: A PLC cable modem is provided which includes an analog electromagnetic field transducer for generating an electromagnetic field based on an analog electrical signal and also for generating an analog electrical signal based on an electromagnetic field. The PLC cable modem also includes an analog signal processing unit operatively coupled to the analog electromagnetic field transducer and a digital signal processing unit for processing signals received from (or to be sent to) the analog signal processing unit. An interface port is provided for communicating digital signals to and from a data transmission or receiving device.

Abstract: Herein disclosed a power line communication apparatus which may be assigned a band window and a communication band in alternate and cyclical fashion, the band window being one to which a coexistence signal for band reservation is assignable, the communication band being one to which desired information is assignable, the power line communication apparatus may include a reception processor; a coexistence signal detector; a coexistence signal generator; a transmission processor; and a controller.