Intellon Introduces New Firmware for BPL Access and Smart Grid Applications Using HomePlug AV-Class Products

Intellon Introduces New Firmware for BPL Access and Smart Grid Applications Using HomePlug AV-Class Products
Thursday December 11, 10:26 am ET

ORLANDO, Fla.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Intellon Corporation (Nasdaq:ITLN), a leading provider of HomePlug®-compatible integrated circuits (ICs) for home networking, networked entertainment, Ethernet-over-Coax (EoC) and smart grid applications, today announced the introduction of a new firmware release for its HomePlug AV (HPAV) powerline chipsets. Intellon’s HPAV integrated circuits are already deployed in high volume for in-home powerline networking. The new release adds a Frequency Division Multiplexing (FDM) capability to the Intellon feature suite. FDM will make it easier to use HomePlug AV-based solutions for Broadband over Power Line (BPL) communications on outdoor power lines and Smart Grid applications.

The FDM technology divides the available communications spectrum (2.0 – 28 MHz) into smaller sub-bands, allowing pole-top repeater units to communicate both up- and down-stream in full-duplex mode. Because the repeaters can send on one sub-band while receiving on another, better spectral efficiency is obtained in high user-density environments. Intellon employs Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing (OFDM) tone masking as opposed to other solutions which use a variable OFDM symbol length. Field tests have demonstrated the efficacy of Intellon’s approach.

“The new firmware release allows Intellon to better meet the unique needs of BPL access and utility firms using our existing line-up of HomePlug AV-based chipsets,” said Rick Furtney, COO and president of Intellon. “Because these chips are already produced in high volume for in-home powerline networking, the new solution brings increased economies of scale to BPL access and smart grid applications.”