Abstract: Methods and systems are provided that control devices using signals transmitted over power lines in many different applications and configurations. They provide a lower cost approach for controlling devices via signals transmitted over power lines. The methods and systems may control intensity, spectral, and other characteristics of lighting devices, such as light-emitting diodes (LEDs) or assemblies thereof, via power lines. They may also control other types of loads, such as motors, relays, valves or the like. Additionally, techniques for independently controlling intensity and spectral content of selected high efficiency lighting devices are also described. For example, the brightness and color of an LED may be controlled via the power lines that supply power to the LED.

Abstract: A power line communication system includes a plurality of communication nodes, a communication line coupling the communication nodes, a direct current power line coupling a connection point of the communication line with one of a positive terminal of a battery and a supply terminal of a load, and a capacitor coupled between the direct current power line and a ground. The communication nodes communicate with each other by superimposing a high frequency signal having a wavelength of ? to the communication line. The capacitor is coupled with the direct current power line at a position where a line length from the connection point is (n×?/2+?/4), where n is a natural number including zero.

Abstract: A sensor device integrates ZigBee® technology into power switch device to provide monitoring and control of power usage, as well as operational control of connected devices. The sensor device uses a power line communication (PLC) network to transfer collected data and to provide remote control capability to connected appliances. The sensor device, in conjunction with a master switch device, a communication enabled switching device, and the power switch device, provides an integrated home environment for communication, streaming media, monitoring, and remote control of power usage, as well as remote operational monitoring and control of connected appliances in the home.

Abstract: The invention relates to a module for managing the lighting of a lamppost, placed on the power supply network of a set of lampposts and controlled by a command centre. Said module communicates with the command centre by high-speed power line carrier (PLC) and is able to ensure the management of at least one complementary service. The invention also relates to a telemanagement system for public lighting, comprising a command centre for a set of lampposts and at least one such management module, said module communicating with said command centre by high-speed power line carrier (PLC).

Abstract: An approach is provided where a smart socket receives a request over a power line and generates a request based on the received request. The second request is transmitted over a power cord connecting the smart power socket to a device. A response is received from the device and a power setting is identified therefrom. The smart socket regulates electrical current flowing from the smart power socket to the device using the identified setting. In a related approach, the device receives a power down request over a power cord from a smart power socket. The device determines whether power is still needed at the device in order to perform one or more device operations. The device then returns a response to the smart power socket, with the response indicating whether power is still needed at the device.

Abstract: An approach is provided where a smart socket receives a request over a power line and generates a request based on the received request. The second request is transmitted over a power cord connecting the smart power socket to a device. A response is received from the device and a power setting is identified therefrom. The smart socket regulates electrical current flowing from the smart power socket to the device using the identified setting. In a related approach, the device receives a power down request over a power cord from a smart power socket. The device determines whether power is still needed at the device in order to perform one or more device operations. The device then returns a response to the smart power socket, with the response indicating whether power is still needed at the device.

Abstract: Systems and methods for power and bidirectional data transmission using a plurality of wires. A multiphase digital signal is downlinked from a main unit to a remote unit over the plurality of wires and is converted to a DC power signal used to power the remote unit. Uplink data is sent from the remote to the main over one selected wire during a predetermined time period for an uplink transmission by amplitude modulating the received digital signal at the remote. During an uplink, the output impedance of the line driver in the main unit connected to the wire selected for the uplink is increased to allow for the uplink amplitude modulation. The modulated signal is maintained within the noise margins of the digital circuits in the main and remote units.

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: An electrical control system includes one or more master nodes that are adapted to control and monitor the operation of one or more slave nodes. The master nodes and the slave nodes are operably coupled by one or more communication interfaces, such as radio frequency, Internet Protocol, power line, or other conventional communication interfaces. A hand-held radio frequency controller includes a controller that is operably coupled to an radio frequency transceiver. The controller includes an operating system and application programs, including a device engine, a scenes engine, an events engine, a system engine, and an away engine. The device engine, scenes engine, events engine, system engine and away engine permit a user of the hand-held radio frequency controller to customize the operation of at least some of the aspects of the master and slave nodes.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: A control/monitor signal transmission system in which simple communication control can be performed without a control unit, and a wiring allowable distance is larger than a conventional system. A plurality of slave stations which are installed corresponding to the plurality of actuating apparatuses and are connected through a common data signal line, and a mediation station which is connected to the data signal line are equipped, and the data signal line includes a plurality of independent groups which are consolidated to the mediation station. The plurality of actuating apparatuses are divided into one or plural sets including at least two, and the actuating apparatuses which belong to the same set and are different in group of the connected data signal line have a correspondence relationship.

Abstract: A remote lighting control system is for remote lighting control of a plurality of discharge lamps. This system has the installed electronic ballasts of each discharge lamp. Each electronic ballast has a transceiver and a controller, the transceiver exchanges control information with the controller. The control command contains the identifiable information to specify one of a plurality of electronic ballasts. When the transmitter is received the control command, the transceiver transfers the received control command to other electronic ballasts further. Moreover, if the control command is the one that the identifiable information specifies own ballasts, the control information based on the received control command is send to own controller, and the controller control the discharge lamp. According to this system, when a lot of lamps was arranged the factory etc. comparatively widely, the user's remote control is not limited to the narrow scope.

Abstract: A Powerline Communications (PLC) device includes a processing module, memory coupled to the processing module, and a PLC interface coupled to the processing module. The PLC device transmits a plurality of PLC queries, two of the plurality of PLC queries complying with differing and incompatible PLC communication standards. It then receives a plurality of responses from a plurality of other PLC devices, two responses received from respective PLC devices complying with two differing and incompatible PLC communication standards. The PLC device then directs each of the two PLC devices to transmit communications of the differing and incompatible PLC communication standards in an attempt to avoid PLC communication conflicts. The PLC device may establish non-PLC communications with a remote communications device. The PLC device may bridge communications between remote PLC devices and between a remote PLC device and a remote non-PLC device.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided that control devices using signals transmitted over power lines in many different applications and configurations. They provide a lower cost approach for controlling devices via signals transmitted over power lines. The methods and systems may control intensity, spectral, and other characteristics of lighting devices, such as light-emitting diodes (LEDs) or assemblies thereof, via power lines. They may also control other types of loads, such as motors, relays, valves or the like. Additionally, techniques for independently controlling intensity and spectral content of selected high efficiency lighting devices are also described. For example, the brightness and color of an LED may be controlled via the power lines that supply power to the LED.

Abstract: A control module with connection devices for connection to connection terminals of a load feeder is disclosed. The control module may include a device interface for at least one connection, the interface being independent of the bus system, with a shut-off element able to be connected to the at least one connection device and with the load feeder able to be shut off by way of the shut-off element independently of the bus system. The control module may be plugged into connection terminals of the load feeder.

Abstract: A power line communication device includes a power line communication unit, a sensor to sense a physical connection to a second power line communication device other than via a powerline medium and a pairing unit to receive an indication of a physical connection between the power line communication device and the second power line communication device and to initiate a pairing process with the second power line communication device. A method of pairing communication devices which communicate along a non-data-cable medium includes sensing a data cable connection with a second device, entering an appropriate pairing state upon sensing the data cable connection, the pairing state being either an add device state or a join device state and performing pairing with the second device along the non-data-cable connection.

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: Systems and methods for communicating over a power line are configured to substantially simultaneously communicate over a plurality of wideband frequency ranges. Signals may be communicated two or from a communication node at two different frequencies simultaneously. These signals may be exchanged with different nodes and/or include independent data. In some embodiments, some of the wideband frequency ranges are above 30 MHz.

Abstract: In a method for controlling an electronic device (1) with a programmable component and an independent microcontroller (10) and in such an electronic device (1), by the microcontroller (10), the component is monitored, a malfunction of the component is identified and the component is reprogrammed.

Abstract: Systems, devices and methods involving device identification are provided. In this regard, a representative system includes: a first device having a first power line and a first connector, the first connector being coupled to the first power line; and a second device having a second power line and a second connector, the second connector being coupled to the second power line and sized and shaped to mate with the first connector such that the first device electrically communicates with the second device; the first device being operative to modulate impedance exhibited at the first power line; the second device being operative to detect the modulated impedance and correlate the modulated impedance with an identification of the first device.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: A communications system is provided for direct communications between powered elements. A controller hub injects a first message via a modulated communication signal onto a branch circuit using a hub-side power line communication (PLC) coupler. An element-side PLC coupler associated with a powered element in a set of powered elements detects the first message and sends an interrupt to a mini-controller in the powered element. The mini-controller receives the interrupt from the element-side PLC coupler, extracts the first message using the element-side PLC coupler; reads a destination identifier in the first message; compares the destination identifier in the first message to a mini-controller identifier in the mini-controller; sends an acknowledgement message back to the controller hub in response to the destination identifier in the first message matching the mini-controller identifier, and forwards the first message to the powered element.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: 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 and to heterogeneous networks having non-interoperable PLC networks which do not employ a common PHY. As to heterogeneous networks, a protocol herein enables coexistence via a special signaling scheme. In homogeneous networks, 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. In heterogeneous networks, not all PLC networks can exchange information using their own native PHY.

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 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.

Abstract: A power grid event detection apparatus includes an event detection unit to detect a location of an event in a power grid, a customer location unit to determine a location of interest to an interested party, and a rule application unit to determine whether to perform an action designated by the interested party at least when the location of the event corresponds to the location of interest to the interested party.

Abstract: A network architecture for underground communication using redundant interconnected communication systems utilizes an aboveground master control station to send a status request message to a belowground gateway. The gateway may then, in turn, broadcast a status request message to a plurality of communication hubs located throughout an underground region using each of a plurality of potentially available communication systems. In the event that one of the communication hubs fails to respond over the then-current communication system, the master control station may switch the current communication system being used to a truly available system.

Abstract: 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.

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: An embodiment of a communication system can control transmission of a data signal to a power distribution network based on signal data measured from the power distribution network. The signal data may represent an amount of crosstalk or an amount of noise experienced on the power distribution network. The signal data and an identification of at least one active power line coupler unit can be used to determine an adjustment to one or more power line coupler units. A control signal that represents the adjustment can be used to adjust the power line coupler units.

Abstract: A solar powered portable control panel is disclosed herein for wirelessly controlling one or more lights or other devices. An embodiment of the control panel includes a solar panel, a regulator connected to the solar panel, a power storage device connected to the regulator, a wireless transceiver, a controller connected to the power storage device, and a user interface connected to the controller. The user interface is adapted to accept control input and provide it to the controller. The controller is adapted to transmit commands on the wireless transceiver.

Abstract: Apparatus and system for communicating data via a power line. The apparatus comprises a transmitter comprising a modulator for generating a second digital signal based on input data; a digital buffer for amplifying the second digital signal to generate a third digital signal; a filter for filtering the third digital signal to generate an analog output waveform; and a coupler for coupling the analog output waveform to the power line.

Abstract: A system and method is provided for encoding and decoding control signals to an electronic ballast. An encoding circuit is effective to transmit encoded control signals across an AC power line comprising patterns of energy bursts at zero crossings of an AC signal. Eight zero crossings define a set, five specific patterns of energy bursts within a set define distinct symbols, each defined symbol selected such that a Hamming distance between each symbol is greater than three. Four symbols correspond to a first logic condition and one symbol corresponds to a second logic condition. Each received symbol is sequentially associated with a distinct control channel having one or more control parameters. A receiving circuit in the ballast is effective to decode symbols with single-bit error correction by comparing received symbols to defined symbols and determining which symbol is a smallest Hamming distance from a received symbol.

Abstract: A powerline communications device comprises a powerline communications interface and at least one other communications interface configured to communicate over a computing network. The powerline communications interface is further configured to receive electrical power. The computing network may comprise mediums including powerlines, telephone lines, and/or coaxial cables. In some embodiments, the powerline communications interface may communicate with a network apparatus, such as a personal computer, via an Ethernet interface. The powerline interface, the telephone line interface, and/or the coaxial cable interface may all be associated with the same media access control (MAC) address. The powerline communications device may receive a message via a first medium and repeat the message via a second medium based on a quality of service (QoS) metric. In some embodiments, the powerline communications device may communicate using multiple frequency bands.

Abstract: A communication apparatus may include at least one connection terminal configured to connect with at least one external power line coupled to an external apparatus, at least one internal power line configured to carry power and a communication signal to the at least one connection terminal, and a wireless communication circuit connected to the at least one internal power line. The wireless communication circuit may have an input configured to receive the power and the communication signal from the at least one internal power line, and may be configured to separate the communication signal from the power, and to wirelessly transmit the communication signal to the external apparatus. A communication method may include transmitting power and a communication signal via a power line, separating the communication signal from the power via a circuit connected to the power line, and wirelessly transmitting the separated communication signal via a communication antenna.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: A power controller includes an infrared emitting circuit, an infrared receiving circuit, and a switching circuit. The infrared emitting circuit emits an infrared signal received by the infrared receiving circuit which outputs a corresponding control signal. The switching circuit is connected to the infrared receiving circuit to receive the control signal, and is connected to a powering control terminal of a motherboard of a computer to output a pulse signal to turn the computer on and off according to the control signal.

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: The present invention further provides a motor control system, which controls a motor through a power line. The motor control system includes a control apparatus and an actuation apparatus. The control apparatus includes a controller and a first communication module electrically connected to the controller. The controller receives a command and converts the command into electrical control signals. The first communication module receives the electrical control signals from the controller and transmits the electrical control signals to the power line. The actuation apparatus includes a second communication module and a motor actuator electrically connected to the second communication module. The second communication module is connected to the power line to receive the electrical control signals from the control apparatus and convert the electrical control signals into a command. The motor actuator receives the command from the second communication module to change the power supplying to the motor.

Abstract: Coupling a charging station to a power line segment that is terminated at a first end by a charging terminal includes: sensing a communication signal propagating on the power line and being coupled from multiple taps connected to the power line segment, and determining if the communication signal is propagating on the power line segment in the direction from the first end to a second end of the power line segment or in the direction from the second end to the first end.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for coupling a charging station to a power line segment that is terminated at a first end by a charging terminal are disclosed. The apparatus includes multiple taps coupled to the power line segment and circuitry coupled to the charging station and coupled to the multiple taps. The circuitry is configured to differentiate between communication signals propagating on the power line segment in the direction from the first end to a second end of the power line segment and communication signals propagating on the power line segment in the direction from the second end to the first end based at least in part on multiple measurements of respective phase shifts associated with different portions of a communication signal, each portion received over at least a first tap and a second tap.

Abstract: A group of sensor devices is connected to the power line and configured for collecting power usage information and enabling power management to reduce the carbon foot print of the home, as well as to provide local area networking. In one embodiment of the invention, the devices include an intelligent master sensor and its sub-sets, such as a communication and power management sensor and a power control switch sensor. The master device is configured to collect, compile, and communicate the collected data via the web or other communication medium to the outside world. The master device also receives and distributes control instructions that are used to control the power usage via the associated switches in the home or office. The sensors are used in the home or office environment to provide integrated sensing and control of home power usage and power management, while establishing a LAN having communication capability, including streaming media delivery capability.

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 Power Line Communications (PLC) device includes a processing module, memory, and a communication interface. In a first operation, the PLC device determines that the PLC device will service communications with a first remote PLC device according to a first PLC communication standard and configures the communication interface to service communications according to the first PLC communication standard. In a second operation, the PLC device determines that the PLC device will service communications with a second remote PLC device according to a second PLC communication standard and configures the communication interface to service communications according to the second PLC communication standard, wherein the first PLC communication standard and the second PLC communication standard are differing and incompatible PLC communication standards. The PLC device may also configure the communication interface to service non-PLC communications such as LAN, WAN, WLAN, cable modem, and other communications.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: Activity sensing in the home has a variety of important applications, including healthcare, entertainment, home automation, energy monitoring and post-occupancy research studies. Many existing systems for detecting occupant activity require large numbers of sensors, invasive vision systems, or extensive installation procedures. Disclosed is an approach that uses a single plug-in sensor to detect a variety of electrical events throughout the home. This sensor detects the electrical noise on residential power lines created by the abrupt switching of electrical devices and the noise created by certain devices while in operation. Machine learning techniques are used to recognize electrically noisy events such as turning on or off a particular light switch, a television set, or an electric stove. The system has been tested to evaluate system performance over time and in different types of houses. Results indicate that various electrical events can be learned and classified with accuracies ranging from 85-90%.

Abstract: Coupling circuit for coupling a power line communication device to a power line network, including a first network port, a second network port, a third network port, a first modem port, a second modem port, a third modem port, a fourth modem port, a first transformer, a second transformer, a third transformer and at least two capacitors, the first transformer including a first network side winding including two terminals, a first modem side transmitter winding including two terminals, a first modem side receiver winding including two terminals and a center tap, extending from a midpoint between the two terminals of the first network side winding, the second transformer including a second network side winding including two terminals and a second modem side receiver winding including two terminals, the third transformer including a third network side winding including two terminals and a second modem side transmitter winding including two terminals.

Abstract: A telemetry system is described in which a plurality of channels are coupled to a bus. A control subsystem controls the channels so that one of the channels presents to the bus during its designated time period a channel characteristic. The control subsystem interrogates in the analog domain each of the channels during its designated time period, and forms a signal representative of the channel characteristic. The control subsystem may combine one or more of the signals into a digital packet, and transmit the same via transceiver over a wireless network. The channels may be contained within a submersible enclosure and displaced at intervals along the bus, thereby forming an array for monitoring waterborne threats. The array may lie along an ocean floor, may be towed by a marine vehicle, or may suspended from a deployable buoy containing the control subsystem, transceiver, and a remote power source. The array may further comprise a defensive countermeasure deployable responsive to detecting a threat.

Abstract: 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.