An Ethernet device having an Ethernet connector comprising first and second pairs of contacts to carry BaseT Ethernet communication signals wherein at least one of the contacts of the first pair of contacts and at least one of the contacts of the second pair of contacts are configured to conduct at least two different magnitudes of DC current flow without interfering with the BaseT Ethernet communication signals.

A system and method for automated shutdown, disconnect, or power reduction of solar panels. A system of solar panels includes one or more master management units (MMUs) and one or more local management units (LMUs). The MMUs are in communication with the LMUs with the MMUs and LMUs “handshaking” when the system is in operation. The MMUs are connected to one or more controllers which in turn are connected to emergency detection sensors. Upon a sensor detection of an emergency, the associated MMU is notified which in turn instructs associated LMUs to take appropriate action. In the event that communication with the MMUs has been cut off, the LMUs take the initiative to shut down, disconnect, or reduce the output of associated string(s) of solar panels.

A method for optimizing a home automation system is provided having a plurality of communicating devices capable of exchanging information therebetween via a local low bandwidth PLC (Power Line Communication) network. The method includes a phase in which the PLC transmission power is adjusted for each new device added to the network. The phase includes the following successive steps: installing (10) the new device configured to transmit at a predefined maximum power on said PLC network; cutting off (20) all ongoing communications on the PLC network except for the new device; testing communication for each pre-existing device on the PLC network with which the new device is to be paired and, if communication fails, ensuring an automatic incremental increase (30) of the PLC transmission power of the pre-existing device until a first PLC transmission power value is reached at which PLC communication can be initialized between the pre-existing device and the new device; and ensuring an automatic reduction (40) of the PLC transmission power of the new device while communication between each pre-existing device and the new device is active.

A battery monitoring system includes a self-contained measurement device configured to mount to a battery cell. The self-contained measurement device includes a sensor configured to monitor an operational parameter of the battery cell, and a communication module configured to output a signal indicative of the operational parameter.

A network unit may be operatively attached to power lines of an interconnected power system and/or a device such as a power module that may further include a communication interface. The network unit may be operable to superimpose a first signal representative of a sensed parameter of the power system onto the power lines, thereby to transmit the first signal to other power modules in the interconnected power system or to a power device in interconnected power system. The network unit may receive a second signal of the parameter superimposed onto the power lines from another network unit.

The present invention improves power supply efficiency during power line communication. This electronic device, comprising at least a portion of a constant current circuit connected to a predetermined load, has a circuit unit that controls the voltage to be applied to the predetermined load on the basis of a state related to the predetermined load. The circuit unit has: a path (a path from end to end via a constant voltage diode) in which at least a portion of the voltage to be applied to the predetermined load is generated when a constant current flowing in the constant current circuit flows therein; and a field effect transistor serving as a switch unit for switching between short-circuiting the path and undoing the same. A control unit controls the voltage to be applied to the predetermined load by switching the state of the switch unit.

A downhole system has a plurality of telemetry systems and a control system configured to obtain information from one or more sensors and transmit that information on one or more of the plurality of telemetry systems. The configuration of a controller may be changed so as to change which information is transmitted on a given telemetry system and how the information is to be transmitted on the given telemetry system.

A split-type in-wall smart switch module comprises a switching signal generation unit, a mechanical switch, a switching signal receiving and processing unit, a wireless module unit, a switching unit and a load, wherein the switching signal generation unit is connected to a live wire in mains electricity, the mechanical switch and the switching signal receiving and processing unit, respectively; the switching signal receiving and processing unit is also connected to the wireless module unit and a neutral wire in mains electricity respectively; the other end of the wireless module unit is connected to the switching unit; the other end of the switching unit is connected to the load; and the other end of the load is connected to the neutral wire in mains electricity. The switch can realize the control of turning-on and turning-off by means of a switch panel.

A transmission device includes a coupler configured to convert a transmit signal to transmitted guided electromagnetic waves that propagate along a surface of a transmission medium without requiring an electrical return path, the coupler further configured to convert to a receive signal, received guided electromagnetic waves that propagate along the surface of the transmission medium without requiring an electrical return path. A housing is configured to provide environmental protection to the coupler. The housing includes an aperture section configured to pass the transmitted guided electromagnetic waves from the coupler through an aperture side of the housing, the aperture section further configured to pass the received guided electromagnetic waves to the coupler through the aperture side of the housing. The housing also includes a non-aperture section configured to absorb radio frequency (RF) signals in a frequency range of the transmit signal and a frequency range the receive signal.

Disclosed are a carrier channel control method and apparatus, a storage medium and a processor. The carrier channel control method includes: applying an air conditioner control signal to a power line carrier to obtain a power line communication (PLC) signal, wherein, the power line carrier comprises a plurality of communication subcarriers; determining PLC noise values respectively corresponding to each of the communication subcarriers used to transmit the PLC signal; generating state data of carrier channels respectively corresponding to the communication subcarriers based on each of the PLC noise values which corresponds to one of the communication subcarriers, wherein each of the carrier channels respectively corresponds one of the communication subcarriers; and controlling each of the carrier channels respectively according to the state data of each of the carrier channels.