Appliance Design - January 2009 - (Page 37)

ELECTRONICS frequency shift keying (FSK), phase shift keying (PSK), spread spectrum (SS), or orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM). Among them, the most efficient solution for cost-sensitive, medium data rate applications is narrowband FSK. With this technique, digital data (0 and 1) are represented by two different frequencies, narrowly shifted from the central carrier frequency. Such PLC systems operate by impressing this modulated carrier signal on the wiring system. Different types of PLC systems use different frequency bands. Home control systems usually modulate a carrier signal between 20 kHz and 200 kHz. As transmission rates have risen, designers have proposed PLC as a networking scheme for the interconnectivity of a wider array of electronic products via standard Ethernet or USB interfaces. Today, industry groups are eyeing opportunities for PLC in higher-speed home networks for multimedia or entertainment applications such as highdefinition TVs and home theaters. The HomePlug Powerline Alliance, a U.S.based group of leading network technology, service and content providers, came together in March 2000 to develop and promote a common approach to PLC. The organization’s first act was to define the HomePlug 1.0 specification and outline a certification program to promote interoperability. More recently, the alliance has defined HomePlug AV (HPAV), a higherspeed standard designed to support video distribution with secure connectivity and integrated Quality of Service (QoS). In the meantime, the rapidly rising cost of energy has refocused attention on a potentially vast market for lower-speed, PLC-based command and control applications. For home networking control of lighting, appliances, climate control appliances, and other basic functions, the HomePlug Powerline Alliance has drafted the HomePlug Command and Control (HPCC) specification as a lower-speed, lower-cost complement to HPAV. Using existing household electrical wiring as a transmission medium, PLC offers a lowcost and highly reliable networking solution for remote control of appliances and lighting systems without requiring the installation of additional wiring. The techwww.applianceDESIGN.com AD01084AmerN.indd 1 nology also offers a relatively high level of security. Unauthorized access to the medium is generally difficult when dealing with high voltages, and designers can add encryption with a network key and on-chip security features to further protect information. Networks of this type not only give utilities and building managers more visibility into the electricity distribution and monitoring system, they also enable the use of completely remote, automated meter reading (AMR) as well as instant reporting of outages and system failures. Rather than a human meter reader visiting every customer’s house to manually log power usage, utilities can now track power usage in real time and use smart meters to manage power consumption. Ideally, this capability will enable utilities to respond applianceDESIGN January 2009 37 12/10/07 11:26:17 AM http://www.americannickeloid.com http://www.americannickeloid.com http://www.appliancedesign.com

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Appliance Design - January 2009 Contents Editorial Shipments/Forecasts News Watch Supplier Spotlights Commercial Appliances Plastics & Parts Electronics Motors Design Marts Association Report: NAFEM Advertiser’s Index

Appliance Design - January 2009

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