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Telecommunications

Patent Issued for AC PLC to DC PLC Transceiver

2012 AUG 8 (VerticalNews) -- By a News Reporter-Staff News Editor at Telecommunications Weekly -- Sony Corporation (Tokyo, JP) has been issued patent number 8228924, according to news reporting originating out of Alexandria, Virginia, by VerticalNews editors.

The patent's inventors are Dawson, Thomas (Escondido, CA); Iwamura, Ryuichi (San Diego, CA).

This patent was filed on April 10, 2006 and was cleared and issued on July 24, 2012.

From the background information supplied by the inventors, news correspondents obtained the following quote: "The present invention relates to power line communications, more particularly to DC (direct current) powerline communication (PLC) networks, and AC (alternating current) to DC (direct current) powerline communication (PLC) interfaces.

"Powerline communication (PLC) network technology allows the transfer of computer data signals over power lines, such as alternating current (AC) powerlines commonly found in residential and office buildings. Powerline communication network technology facilitates the networking of (i.e. providing of data interconnectivity within) homes and offices without the additional installation of dedicated Ethernet cables or the reduced reliability and security concerns that come with wireless networks.

"For an overview of powerline communication network technology see Powerline Communications by Klaus Dostert (Prentice Hall, ISBN 0-13-029342-3).

"An example of a powerline communication network technology uses the X10 protocol to transfer data over AC power lines. The X10 protocol is commonly used for home operated devices, such as lights and switches. In the X.10 standard, the transmission of data is synchronized to the zero crossing of the AC signal using a 120 kHz tone burst superimposed on the AC signal. The home operated devices filter and decode these tone bursts to initiate commands that control the properties of these devices.

"Another example of a powerline network technology uses the HOMEPLUG.TM. (Homeplug Alliance) protocol (see www.homeplug.org). The Homeplug protocol is designed to transfer information for devices that use such standards as HDTV, SDTV, and audiophile quality stereo in the house. The simplicity of installing consumer products, simply by plugging in a device, is important feature of the standard.

"The Homeplug standard data is synchronized on the zero crossing of the AC signal. As the voltage on the line rises, Data is transferred with a superimposed AC signal ranges from 1-30 MHz. The frequency of this superimposed signal allows an effective payload transfer transfer rate of about 50-60 Mbs.

"Heretofore, powerline communications are designed to operate on AC power supply lines. In the United States this is typically 120 Volts AC operating at 60 Hz. In most European countries the voltage is 220-240 Volts AC operating at 50 Hz. In Japan the voltage is 100 Volts AC operating at both 50 Hz and 60 Hz.

"In accordance with heretofore known power communications networks, network communication signals are introduced into the 100-240 Volts AC power supply lines via a powerline communications transceiver. These network communication signals may originate either with the power utility provider (external to the structure) or by a device that is internal to the residential, office building, or campus of buildings. These data signals are then received and processed by a powerline communications transceiver. The powerline communications transceiver is connected to the powerline communications network through a plug that is inserted into an AC outlet in a conventional manner."

Supplementing the background information on this patent, VerticalNews reporters also obtained the inventors' summary information for this patent: "The object of the present invention is to provide a communications interface between direct current powerline communication (DC PLC) data format and other data formats. These other formats include the alternating current powerline communications (AC PLC), ethernet, and other proprietary and non-proprietary formats.

"In one of the embodiments the direct current powerline communications interface is configured as a bridging device. In another of the embodiments, the direct current powerline communication interface is configured as a router, providing protocol translation between the direct current powerline communication interface, the alternating current powerline communication interface, and other data formats. In another embodiment, the direct current powerline communication interfaces is configured as a repeater, utilizing passive analog circuitry to perform the translation.

"The direct current powerline communication interface is not limited, but can also provide diagnostic, error checking, and buffering functions on the data that is communicated by the device through the interfaces."

For the URL and additional information on this patent, see: Dawson, Thomas; Iwamura, Ryuichi. AC PLC to DC PLC Transceiver. U.S. Patent Number 8228924, filed April 10, 2006, and issued July 24, 2012. Patent URL: http://patft.uspto.gov/netacgi/nph-Parser?Sect1=PTO2&Sect2=HITOFF&p=41&u=%2Fnetahtml%2FPTO%2Fsearch-bool.html&r=2050&f=G&l=50&co1=AND&d=PTXT&s1=20120724.PD.&OS=ISD/20120724&RS=ISD/20120724

Keywords for this news article include: Asia, Japan, Ethernet, Sony Corporation, Wireless Network, Wireless Technology, Network Technologies.