Icron Technologies is demonstrating a prototypical USB hub that connects over standard home electrical wiring. The prototype, which is on display at the Computex trade show in Taipei this week, is based on Panasonic's HD-PLC (high-definition powerline communication) chip, and connects any USB device at throughputs up to 190Mbps, the company claims.

Icron specializes in USB and DVI (digital video interface) cable replacement and extension technologies. It was recently awarded several patents related to USB extension methods and equipment, and earlier this year, shipped a USB extender based on standard 802.11g WiFi.

Icron's as-yet unnamed USB-PLC technology is based on Panasonic's HD-PLC, a chip widely used in powerline Ethernet adapters. The technology is claimed to offer bandwidth up to 190Mbps — nearly double the data rates supported by the latest WiFi technology.

Icron says its USB-PLC technology works with any USB 1.1 or 2.0 device, including webcams, biometric security devices, keyboards, printers, flash drive, and hard drives. The initial prototype has four ports, and works without additional software drivers on Linux and other popular PC OSes, the company said.

Icron CEO Robert Eisses stated, “Power line technology [is] poised to be a major catalyst for converged home network solutions.”

Robin Sweeten, group manager of strategic marketing at Panasonic, stated, “A growing number of companies [are] supporting HD-PLC as the technology of choice for the throughput speed and stability it delivers.”

Availability

Icron's USB-over-PLC technology is currently in the prototyping stages. Meanwhile, the company offers USB extension technologies based on CAT 4 and fiber optic cable, as well as 802.11g WiFi and UWB.

 
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