Ariane Controls a Powerline and RF Communication Technology Provider - Support

SUPPORT / Frequently Asked Questions

+ What makes PLC an efficient solution for communication?
- Powerline communication uses the existing electrical lines to transmit data from one device to another. Adding information over the same wires that bring power to different devices constitutes a major advantage over other communication means, since these wires are always present and ultimately link all electrical devices together.
+ What are the advantages of Ariane’s technology versus other competitors?
- A simple technology, mature, robust, proven. Proposed in a partnership approach allowing integration of our IP through licensing. Personalized and complete support, through every steps of your design. An open and multi-sourced low cost low power solution for your powerline communication needs.
+ What frequency range can be used for powerline communication?
- Various standards provide different frequency ranges. The European standard CENELEC EN 50065-1 allows signalling in the frequency range 3 kHz to 148.5 kHz, divided in four sub-bands allocated to different applications. The U.S. FCC part 15 and Japanese ARIB regulations allow the use of broader frequency range between 10 kHz and 450 kHz.
  
  The communication frequency of the PLM-1 modem can be set between 50 kHz and 500 kHz, allowing communicating in any of the bands allocated by worldwide regulations.
+ What is the maximum distance achievable with the PLC technology?
- PLC dynamic range varies from one environment to another and depends on the line characteristics, i.e. noise and signal attenuation. Consequently, specifying an absolute maximum communication distance is difficult and sometimes not relevant.
  
  However, the PLM-1-based transceivers include high power drivers, highly efficient filtering, and advanced processing functions to provide reliable communication in high attenuation and noisy electrical environments. As an example, PLM-1 transceivers were tested on a 1.3 km street light network, with 100% success in bidirectional communication. Also, the performance of Ariane’s technology was proven in many commercial and residential buildings, as well as in utilities applications. See the Case studies section for typical implementations of PLM-1.
+ What data rate can be achieved with Ariane’s PLC technology?
- The PLM-1 modem can be configured up to 30 kbps, meeting the requirements of most automation and monitoring applications.
+ Can your PLC solution work on a DC bus?
- Yes. The PLM-1 transceivers communicate on virtually any DC or AC power line (single-phase and three-phase), as well as on un-powered twisted pair.
+ What is the typical power consumption of your PLC solution?
- In Idle mode, the PLM-1 modem requires about 25 mW. A complete stand-alone transceiver has a typical power consumption of sub 500 mW in stand-by.
+ How much memory is required for the PLC stack?
- Supporting the PLM-1 as a communication modem does not require a lot of memory. On 8-bit microcontrollers the basic firmware stack requires less than 2KB. The RAM requirements depend on each application, but typically are less than 256B.
+ Does PLM-1 comply with international regulations regarding PLC?
- Thanks to its narrowband and programmable carrier, PLM-1 can be used in any of the bands allocated by worldwide regulations. PLM-1 transceivers can be designed to comply with the main international PLC standards (e.g., FCC 15, CENELEC EN 50065-1, ICES-006, ARIB).
+ What kind of applications can be enabled by joining PLC and RF?
- While most devices can be controlled via a hardwire connection, some functions such as gas or water meters or door sensors may not have access to a power line. In other situations, utilities may need to transport commands from one wireless device to another via wired powerline networks. Also, the wireless communication can be used to overcome challenges of powerline communication, e.g. bypassing around three-phase power transformers.