Smart Grid/Home

The Smart Grid relies on a family of technologies to form a communications network that provides connectivity between electrical utility infrastructure and major electrical loads in homes and small businesses. This connectivity enables utilities to operate distribution systems more efficiently and to reduce loads when necessary to prevent service outages.

Consumers can benefit from the Smart Grid primarily by having access to time-of-use (ToU) programs. Lower energy prices at off-peak hours (typically between midnight and 5 AM) will provide the economic incentive to consumers to shift demand away from peak demand hours (generally 2 – 5 PM). As shown in Figure 1, Smart Meters and major electrical loads such as appliances, heating, ventilation, & air conditioning (HVAC) systems, and eventually plug-in electric vehicles (PEVs), will be connected via a Home Area Network (HAN). The HAN will allow consumers to efficiently monitor and control energy usage.

Qualcomm Atheros WLAN and Powerline Products are Ideal for HAN Applications

Qualcomm Atheros has a unique set of products ideally suited for HAN applications. HAN clients can be networked wirelessly using our robust and market-proven family of low-power Wi-Fi-compliant products or using the home’s existing power circuits with Qualcomm Atheros’ HomePlug-compliant family of powerline communications (PLC) solutions. They can also be connected using a hybrid combination of PLC and Wi-Fi.

To lower the power utilization of HomePlug-enabled appliances and sensors, the HomePlug Alliance has developed the HomePlug Green PHY (HPGP) specification, designed expressly for HAN applications.. For more information on the power-saving benefits of networking the HAN with HomePlug Green PHY-enabled solutions, see Qualcomm Atheros’ whitepaper on the HomePlug Green PHY Overview.

Smart Grid Applications

  • Power Meters
  • Household Appliance
  • Programmable Communicating Thermostats (PCT)