Power Line (plc) Patents (Class 340/13.23)
  • Publication number: 20110181401
    Abstract: According to one disclosed embodiment, a smart power management system includes a power conversion unit having a communication module and a power management module that can convert mains power into a form that can be used to power a plurality of electronic devices. In one embodiment, the power conversion unit can selectively disconnect power availability provided for a particular electronic device and reduce phantom load waste by communicating with a connected electronic device and exchanging information. In another embodiment, the power conversion unit can selectively disconnect power availability provided for a particular electronic device by monitoring the electronic device's power usage over time and determining an appropriate power availability based on predetermined power management parameters. In another embodiment, the power conversion unit can communicate with other power conversion units to form a mesh network.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 13, 2011
    Publication date: July 28, 2011
    Applicant: BROADCOM CORPORATION
    Inventors: John Walley, Robert Hulvey
  • Patent number: 7986219
    Abstract: A power line communication system includes: a first electronic instrument and a second electronic instrument, wherein information is received or transmitted between the first electronic instrument and the second electronic instrument which are connected through a communication line using a power line, wherein the first electronic instrument comprises: a key operation unit for accepting a key operation performed by a user; and a transmission unit for transmitting a power-on request signal for requesting the second electronic instrument to be turned on, to the second electronic instrument through the power line based on the key operation in the key operation unit, and the second electronic instrument comprises: a reception unit for receiving the power-on request signal transmitted from the first electronic instrument through the power line; and a power-on control unit for turning on the second electronic instrument based on the power-on request signal received by the reception unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2011
    Assignee: Funai Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Masayoshi Matsuoka
  • Publication number: 20110090067
    Abstract: A frequency band is divided into N subchannels. Sub-channels are first allocated for a power line communication system having a higher priority, such as public communication or the like. Sub-channels for a power line communication system having a relatively low priority, such as in-home communication or the like, are allocated from free subchannels. In this case, the subchannels used by the power line communication system having the high priority are limited to a plurality of consecutive subchannels from an upper side or a lower side of the frequency band.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 22, 2010
    Publication date: April 21, 2011
    Inventors: Go KURODA, Akio Kurobe, Koji Ikeda, Hisao Koga, Yuji Igata
  • Publication number: 20110025477
    Abstract: To facilitate simultaneous PLC communication using first and second PLC protocols that are different from each other, frequency bands are dynamically assigned on demand to first and second PLC home networks that use the respective first and second PLC protocols.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 12, 2010
    Publication date: February 3, 2011
    Inventor: Ryuichi Iwamura