We showed a new reference design for a new form factor in our power line transceiver aimed at the home market. The new design puts the full functionality of power line networking into a form factor almost 1/3 smaller than the existing version. Why's that important?
In Europe the standard electrical box is very small, much smaller than in the US. The boxes typically can hold three modules. For example, one could be a switch, one a light sensor, and one a motion sensor. The new design means that companies can put a communicating, power line based node into a single module, leaving the other two module slots available.
This really opens up the market according to Marco Conti, managing director of Powerline Automation Sagl. Marco is really excited about the prospect of putting networking into existing homes using existing outlets. With the new design he plans on bringing out products that give homeowners greater flexibility and functionality from their existing wiring locations. For instance, in a typical kitchen in Italy, Spain or the Middle East, some walls often have just the one light switch (single electrical box with space for three slim modules). He's thinking it wold be really attractive to homeowners to be able to have a networked power line switch AND a standard Schuko socket in the same housing.
Comments