ST Power Line Communications Chipset Solution paves the way for the new smart power infrastructure

Tuesday, October 10, 2017

Programmable Modular Solutions Simplify the design and deployment of new smart meters, smart grid hardware, smart streetlights, home controllers and industrial controllers

STMicroelectronics (STMicroelectronics, ST; NYSE: STM), the world's leading semiconductor supplier, promotes the global wave of energy use and management, introducing new modular power line communications (PLC) Modem chipset. The new chipset allows device manufacturers to flexibly design meters, smart grid nodes, street lights, home controllers, industrial controllers, and this new product is currently used by three world-class smart meter manufacturers to design new solutions.

As a whole solution, the new chipset integrates the protocol processing functions required for data encapsulation and conversion, can send data, has the line-driven functionality needed to send data through the grid, enables customers to develop cost-effective power line communications products, Either a new design of the internal components, it can be the old device external module kernel, can perfectly meet the requirements of certain specific laws and regulations. In these application scenarios, the ST PLC modem chipset is used as an external communication module for connecting an existing or new meter or controller. In addition, flexible programmable features allow multiple different models of products to share the same hardware platform to support software on-site updates, thereby further reducing the cost of ownership.

"Starting from the introduction of the first generation of digital meters, ST is a world-class smart meter manufacturer to serve more than 60 million chipsets today," said Domenico Arrigo, general manager of STMicroelectronics Industry and Converters. The Americas' family and buildings, using the experience gained at the initial stage, the new generation of smart meters and other networking plans around the world, but our new chipset is the best solution to meet new requirements. The group is a flexible and cost effective PLC connectivity solution that enables it to be more easily deployed in the world and supports different PLC standards. "

Market research firm IHS Markit [1] said that the current annual sales of smart meters more than 100 million units, is expected to 2021 sales growth rate of over 8%.

Technical Description

The new chipset consists of two chips: the ST8500 programmable PLC engine and the STLD1 line driver.

The ST8500 is a system chip (SoC) that includes a high-performance quad-core DSP processor and an ARM® Cortex®-M4F core processor for real-time protocol processing for high-level processing and system management. Each processor has its own program and data SRAM memory on the chip. The chip also provides a set of smart meter peripheral peripherals, including the AES encryption engine, but also integrates STLD1 line driver for the analog front end (AFE).

ST8500 receiving power consumption less than 100mW, to ensure that the new smart meter with ultra-low power consumption to meet the latest energy efficiency standards, to minimize the power grid load. STLD1 line driver communication reliability is high, even in the noisy cable communication, in the single-ended 18V or differential mode 36V wide voltage output range, with low impedance, high drive capability and high linearity.

The chip is built into the certified G3-PLC and PRIME power line protocol stacks and conforms to the CENELEC, FCC and ARIB band regulations.

The new chipset is now available for mass production. ST8500 system chip with 7mm x 7mm x 1mm QFN56 package, STLD1 4mm x 4mm x 1mm QFN24 package. For price information and sample applications, please contact your local STMicroelectronics sales office.

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Author ：Brittany Antonia — WIN SOURCE ELECTRONICS