FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

No. 2353

Product Inquiries: Yutaka Kamada Mitsubishi Electric Corporation Tel: +81-3-3218-2391 [email protected]

Media Contact: Travis Woodward Public Relations Department Mitsubishi Electric Corporation Tel: +81-3-3218-2346 [email protected] http://global.mitsubishielectric.com/news/index.html

MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC ANNOUNCES EASILY INSTALLED, EASILY CONFIGURED NETWORK SYSTEM FOR BUILDING AND HOME SYSTEM

Tokyo, February 15, 2005 – Mitsubishi Electric Corporation (President and CEO: Tamotsu Nomakuchi) announced today a network system for building and home equipment control systems. The new network system does not require construction of communication lines. It combines an innovative communication method using metal pipes such as air conditioner refrigerant pipes as a communication medium (a pipe-based transmission system) with a low cost wireless communication method (ZigBee™). The spread of completely wireless network has significantly cut the time and cost of installation and construction work. Additionally, an algorithm has been developed for appliance placement calculation based on wireless signal strength, saving work in network configuration such as setting up the appliance address group.

ZigBee™:

a low cost, energy-efficient wireless network specification for field networks that supports node routing. The specifications are standardized in December 2004 by the ZigBee Alliance. ZigBee™ is a trademark of Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V.

Background and Abstract In networks of building air conditioners and other appliances for housing and building installations, many appliances are often distributed over a wide area, requiring extensive network coverage. People have thus sought less labor-intensive ways to lay the lines for these networks, faster set-up, and easier configuration. This has set the scene for Mitsubishi Electric's development of this network, which uses the metal pipes of appliances (such as air conditioner refrigerant pipes) as a communication medium for a pipe-based transmission system. The network eliminates the need for difficult networks construction work to link indoor and outdoor units. The network, installed indoors and incorporating a remote control and sensors, uses the

low-cost, low-power ZigBee™ wireless communication protocol. This development provides a next-generation appliance network system to integrate all appliances without constructing communication lines.

Main Features I.

Data transfer at 400 kbps with a pipe-based transmission system using air conditioner refrigerant pipes as a communication medium

The network takes advantage of refrigerant pipes of air conditioners as a conductive medium to eliminate the need for construction of communication lines linking indoor and outdoor units. Mitsubishi Electric has developed a communication protocol using a multi-carrier method, which offers highly reliable communication over refrigerant pipes, as well as a transmission method for highly efficient signal propagation. This technology enables a data transfer rate of up to 400 kbps over pipes. Multi-carrier method: a communication method involving modulation of multiple distributed carrier frequency signals. 2. More efficient system construction through automatic calculation of appliance placement and auto-configuration An algorithm has been developed to determine the arrangement of appliances by modeling the distance between multiple nodes (calculated from signal strength) and compensating for errors. Providing these appliances placement information automates system construction work, including configuration of appliance address groups. 3. Savings in time and money for network construction Combining a pipe-based transmission system with a wireless communication protocol enables construction of network systems that do not require wiring for an array of air conditioners and other appliances for housing and office installations. This saves time and money for new construction and renovation alike.

Future Developments System verification testing has been conducted since January 2005 to verify reliability.

Number of Patents 15 patents pending in Japan, 7 overseas ● Innovative Network System from a Pipe-Based Transmission System and Wireless Communication Protocol Two insulated refrigerant pipes are installed between indoor and outdoor air conditioner units. Both pipes form a circuit for refrigerant and are electrically shorted, so they cannot normally transmit electrical signals. By fitting the refrigerant pipes with a coupled circuit of a material that provides impedance (resistance) with respect to high-frequency signals, the pipes can be used as mutually insulated electrical lines. A multi-carrier signal is transmitted over them for data transfer. Out Door Units

Pipes

Multi-carrier Communic ation

Floor n

Indoor Unit

Zigbee

Zigbee

Indoor Unit

Re mote Controller

Sensor

ZigBee TM (Wireless)

Sensor

Pipes

Zigbee

Zigbee

Floor １ Re mote Contr oller

ZigBeeTM (Wireless) Sensor

Sensor

Communication Module

Fig. 1 Sample Application with an Air Conditioning System

● Algorithm for Calculating Appliance Placement After constructing a logical network using ZigBee™, a model is created for the distance calculated between multiple nodes, and distance errors are corrected. Combining placement data with appliance attribute data, linking the controller with the target appliances, and automating group settings facilitates onsite system configuration.

Step１:Appliance placement is identified from relative signal strength of nodes

Step2:Address assignment is determined from an error correction algorithm

Address：１

３

２

Step3：Screens are created automatically and group settings are auto-configured based on the information

グループ番号 ２ リモコン

４

５

６

空調 照明 コントローラ 壁スイッチ

Placement compensation based on the s pring principle

Controller, appliance, and remote control nodes

Relative positions are adjusted using the algorithm for placement compensation

Fig.2 Flow Diagram of the Algorithm to Calculate Appliance Placement

ZigBee: Wireless Control That Simply Works The ZigBee Alliance is an association of companies working together to enable reliable, cost effective, low-power, wirelessly networked, monitoring and control products based on an open global standard. The ZigBee Alliance is a rapidly growing,

non-profit industry consortium of leading semiconductor

manufacturers, technology providers, OEMs, and end-users worldwide. Membership is open to all. Additional information can be found at www.zigbee.org. For further information contact: Bill Chase, ZigBee Alliance +1-925-275-6655

[email protected]

Erin Hanley, Lois Paul & Partners +1-512-638-5309

[email protected]

About Mitsubishi Electric With over 80 years of experience in providing reliable, high-quality products to both corporate clients and general consumers all over the world, Mitsubishi Electric Corporation (TSE:6503) is a recognized world leader in the manufacture, marketing and sales of electrical and electronic equipment used in information processing and communications, space development and satellite communications, consumer electronics, industrial technology, energy, transportation and building equipment. The company recorded consolidated group sales of 3,309 billion yen (US$ 31.2billion*) in the fiscal year ended March 31, 2004. For more information visit http://global.mitsubishielectric.com *At an exchange rate of 106 yen to the US dollar, the rate given by the Tokyo Foreign Exchange Market on March 31, 2004.