Power line comm supporting SoCs from ST for smart-meter and smart-home
Date: 15/10/2013
Are you looking for a single chip solution for your smart meter design which need to be secure and support Power line Communication! STCOMET10 SoC from ST microelectronics may be the right chip to evaluate for your requirement.
Arm cortex M4 powered STCOMET10 SoC supports power line communications (PLC) and is designed by taking the feedback from power utility companies and smart meter manufacturers. STCOMET10 SoC played a major role in the €27 million SOGRID project in France to develop a comprehensive communication system supporting smart-grid applications.
“As an extremely cost-effective and flexible smart-meter solution, STCOMET10 has a key role in realizing the advantages of the smart grid, including real-time control and adaptability of the grid, integration of decentralized generation from renewable energy sources, and support for multiple communication standards,” said Matteo Lo Presti, Group Vice President and General Manager, Industrial and Power Conversion Division, STMicroelectronics. “Globally there is scope for over 1.7 billion communicating devices connected to the smart grid. STCOMET10 greatly increases the prospects for interoperability among these devices promoting more efficient utilization of energy resources.”
The STCOMET10 SoC features a dedicated fully programmable PLC signal-processing engine for multi-protocol management, a high-accuracy 3-channel analog and digital metering front-end, and security engine. this smart-meter SoC supports important PLC protocols such as METERS AND MORE, G3-PLC, IEEE 1901.2 and PRIME. Its flexibility and broad protocol support allow worldwide deployment and remote reconfiguration to support new protocols in the future, minimizing lifetime ownership costs for operators, says ST.
The metering subsystem exceeds Class 0.2 meter requirements, combining three high-accuracy 24-bit A-to-D converters, integrated filters, and a configurable hardwired DSP for energy calculations. The integrated PLC engine supports output signals up to 28V peak-to-peak and has extended bandwidth of up to 500kHz, while the dedicated security engine supports state-of-the-art cryptography and multiple security modes for privacy and anti-hacking protection, enhancing the SoC’s value, according to ST.
STCOMET10 SoC in a 20mm x 20mm x 1mm TQFP package is available for selected customers now, with production quantities available beginning of 2014.
STMicroelectronics has also released its unique ST2100 STreamPlug System-on-Chip (SoC) targeting smart-home and smart-energy applications to the world market. The device is already powering Smart home devices made by Tatung, a leading electronics company for smart-home solutions.
Claimed by ST as the world’s first intelligent-gateway SoC, it's ST2100 STreamPlug combines a high-performance processing subsystem with Powerline Communication (PLC), security and peripheral features to support hybrid networks utilizing popular wired and wireless standards. The ST2100 is designed to support IEEE 1905.1 that enables customers to converge Ethernet, Wi-Fi and other networking standards in new gateway or hub designs. The ST2100 StreamPlug supports popular PLC protocols such as HomePlug AV and HomePlug Green PHY, as well as IEEE 1901 Broadband Powerline connectivity.
ST said its collaboration with Tatung leveraging the ST2100 STreamPlug SoC has yielded innovations such as Tatung’s Gateway One home networking hub and other smart-energy devices. The Gateway One enables users to setup multi-bearer home networks combining Ethernet, WLAN, PLC and multimedia devices, greatly enhancing opportunities to improve energy efficiency, security, comfort and convenience throughout the home. Tatung’s Meter Bridge and Home-Area Network (HAN) Bridge enable multi-occupancy dwellings to benefit from smart-energy applications, while solving consumption and billing challenges. The M1i and M3 are intelligent devices that provide energy management as well as network connectivity for devices plugged into the AC line. The M1i is optimized for industrial applications, while the M3 is featured for domestic use including charging plug-in electric vehicles, explains ST.
“Tatung has long envisioned an open service platform as key to releasing the full potential of smart energy and the smart home. Gateway One is a significant milestone working towards this vision, and is just one of the fruits of our partnership with ST leveraging the ST2100 STreamPlug SoC,” said W. K. Lin, president of Tatung Co. “Since our first joint announcement around CES 2013 in January, we have made tremendous progress together, combining many valuable skillsets. We appreciate the commitment of ST, as an industry leader in smart home-networking technologies, which has contributed to realizing our vision.”
“The success of our work with Tatung both validates and underlines the capabilities of the unique ST2100 STreamPlug SoC as a platform enabling hybrid networks for smart-energy and Internet-of-Things applications throughout consumer and industrial markets,” said Matteo Lo Presti, Group Vice President and General Manager, Industrial and Power Conversion Division, STMicroelectronics. “This breakthrough IC is now available to designers all over the world, and we are ready to provide the support customers need to ensure successful project completion.”
The STreamPlug ST2100 is available for selected customers, in a 12mm x 12mm TFBGA 373 BGA package.
To know more details Visit www.st.com
Editorial product rating of both smart meter and smart-home SoCs: *** ( very good)
