Watteco
From Press Release
Watteco, the French manufacturer of “no new wire” Powerline technology components (PLC) devoted to energy efficiency and intelligent home control applications, is pleased to present the version 2.0 of its new WPC(tm) technology. Watt Pulse Communication (WPC) has revolutionised the intelligent home control market, by offering a new, innovative solution. Watteco’s technology makes it possible to save up to 20% in electricity consumption while guaranteeing increased ease, comfort and security.
WPC(tm) technology uses a Powerline communication micro-modem, considerably improving communication between devices and the Grid. Contrary to other traditional PLC systems which
inject energy in the form of carriers, WPC(tm) uses the resonance frequencies of the Grid to communicate with electromagnetic pulses. Tested by the Laboratoire des Applications Numériques (LAN), this revolutionary means of communication has been referred to as the most robust wideband PLC solution on the market today. As a bidirectional transducer (transmission and reception), the WPC(tm) modem assures the command and control of different residential applications. This unique technology, the fruit of many years of R&D, addresses the essential needs of efficient energy management in intelligent homes.
Watteco now offers WPC(tm) version 2.0 which, enriched with new functions and totally independent of any protocol, enables OEM and manufacturers to embed 10kbits/s PLC into their products while conserving their usual protocol. The new WPC(tm) 2.0 incorporates a new and more powerful microcontroller which boasts numerous advantages: increased technological performance with a consumption of less than 10mW, (100 times less than other technologies), improved signal to noise ratio, an integrated CRC (cyclic redundancy check) and increased signal reception sensitivity. In addition to improved performance, the miniscule size of the module (5cm?) and its extremely competitive cost are noteworthy.
The new WPC(tm) version 2.0 forms the basis of a second line of WPC15.4 products that will be launched in early 2009. Thanks to its adaptation to IEEE 802.15.4, the PLC WPC15.4 interoperates with the ZigBee(tm), IP and 6LowPan radio protocols and therefore makes it possible to combine PLC and Radiofrequency on configurations where PLC is not sufficient when used alone in a residential context.
What is WPC ™?
The WPC Protocol: definition of an innovative concept
This technology takes advantage of a physical natural phenomenon: the ignition pulse produced by appliances when connected to an electric network (the Pulse). Watteco has succeeded in harnessing these Pulses and using them to communicate between two points of a given low voltage electric network. WPC(tm) comes in the form of a micro transmitter/receiver module, which uses the grid for reliable and fast wideband communication. This unique revolutionary worldwide patented technology is gradually replacing low data rate PLC.
A multitude of applications: WPC(tm) is a reliable low-power, low-cost technology which offers a new wireless communication tool for a variety of domestic and commercial applications such as energy efficiency, lighting appliance control, electric shutters and security.
