Product category:
Reference Designs
News Release from: Amino Communications
Edited by the Electronicstalk Editorial
Team on 19 July 2001
Amino and Cyan aim for $3-per-node
powerline nets
Amino Communications and Cyan Technology are collaborating on a powerline communications system that builds control and sensing capabilities into home appliances.
Amino Communications and Cyan Technology are collaborating on a powerline communications system that builds control and sensing capabilities into home appliances Cyan is licensing Amino's IntAct@Home networking protocol to enable ultra-low cost networking of white goods, heating, ventilation and air conditioning, lighting and security equipment
This article was originally published on Electronicstalk on 8 Feb 2001 at 8.00am (UK)
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The price of the microcontroller and connection component that comprise the powerline communications system is targeted at less than $3, in contrast to existing chips which normally sell for around $20.
The low cost communications chip, which includes the powerline modem and transceiver circuitry, is teamed with Amino's IntAct@home networking protocol and will be embedded in home appliances.
The Cyan/Amino powerline signalling does not compete with higher bandwidth systems.
"We believe it doesn't make sense to provide XDSL Internet access to every light switch or pass HDTV-rate MPEG datastreams between the vacuum cleaner and the microwave", said David Griffiths, CEO of Cyan Technology.
"Instead we enable low-frequency, narrowband signalling around the home, at data rates of a few hundred to a few thousand bits per second".
Martyn Gilbert, CEO of Amino Communications, continued: "For domestic appliances, low bandwidth techniques are entirely appropriate.
There is no need for the toaster to be able to tell the microwave that it is working properly, so a low-bandwidth communication method via a central hub is the ideal solution.
Our technology coexists with higher bandwidth systems such as LonWorks and CEBus".
Communication uses a master-slave system rather than a peer-to-peer system where the master node would ideally be a residential gateway.
All the other devices around the building are relatively "dumb" and therefore less costly, less complicated and less likely to fail in a way that brings down the whole network.
The control function is always provided by the master node rather than some arbitrary peer such as the toaster or bathroom light switch.
This approach has important implications for security, as the gateway is able to mediate secured services between the appliances and remote back-office systems.
Behaving as an electronic trusted third party, the gateway operates best-of-breed cryptography to the appliance and more secure, WAN grade cryptosystems to the back office.
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