Low-voltage power line carrier communication module

    Power line communication (PLC) technology is a strange and mature exists, it's close to our life, but often untouchable. It is a kind of communication technology which realizes data transmission between each node in grid. Today, power line communication technology is not only the complement of wireless communication, but also becoming an irreplaceable means of communication. Power transmission line is no longer limited in transporting electric energy, but also carries the whole world’s perception needs.

   PLC module is the core component of grid electricity information collection system which is integrated in the carrier watt-hour meter or collector, and be used to read the electric energy data automatically. The biggest advantage of the products is relying on the power line data transmission network, without rewiring, convenient construction, and low operating cost. The company has completed the bottom of PLC modulation and demodulation technology development and testing. According to the size of the now sold PLC module, interface and other standardized design, the products can be used in electric meter with corresponding protocol software. The China Electric Power Research Institute estimates that the demand for smart meters nearly one hundred million pieces in 2013 ~ 2014. If considering the smart home (such as home appliances control), the Internet of things (such as street light control, supermarket goods display screen), smart grid (data acquisition) and so on, the national market capacity of PLC module would be at least 50 billion yuan.

    The characteristic of low voltage power grid in our country is huge load fluctuation, strong interference, narrow bandwidth and large signal attenuation. Transmission standard has not been formed at present. With the proposed smart grid, PLC is connecting the two important areas of electronic information and new energy through the power line, which have a huge demand for PLC remote meter reading module. Compared with domestic existing products, the main advantage of our PLC module reflects in:

   1) Fast: unique creation of the MPPSK modulation, the highest rate is up to 100 Kbps.

   2) Long distance transmission: ultra narrow shocking filter enhancing the received signal, and promoting demodulation performance and transmission distance.

   3) Low interference: ultra narrow system bandwidth, strong amplitude limiting to resistance line load dynamic fluctuation, modulation waveform can be controlled and eliminating higher harmonic interference.

    4) Cheap: simple modulator and using ceramic filter in demodulator, the whole system without analog-to-digital converter (ADC) and digital to analog converter (DAC).

    5) efficient: the spectrum utilization efficiency and energy utilization efficiency of bps/Hz/(Eb/N0) index is better than ASK, FSK, PSK, CDMA, OFDM etc. 

    6) Original innovation: core invention patents have been authorized.

    In the next two years, our company will rely on efficient physical layer technology, develop the upper flexible framing mode, reliable relay and networking protocol, support intelligent electric meter factory in technology, jointly push the transmission performance of the power line carrier communication to optimality.