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Learn more about SAM4SP32A PLC Solution for PRIME Smart Meters
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The smart grid implements two-way communication channels over existing power distribution networks comprised of a variety of new alternative energy sources. These sources include solar and wind power as well as new types of electric appliances, such as smart appliances and electric vehicles. In many parts of the world, narrowband power line communications (PLC) technology has proven to be a robust and cost-optimized solution in large smart metering deployments.
Atmel offers a family of system-on-a-chip (SoC) PLC solutions designed specifically for narrowband communications using the low-voltage electric grid. Drawing on our deep expertise in PLC modem technology and extensive collaboration with utilities and metering OEMs, we’ve created solutions offering an unprecedented level of integration and performance. Our solutions support various modulation schemes including the PRIME specification, an open and multi-provider industry standard promoted by an industry alliance of more than 30 leading utilities, meter manufacturers and silicon providers.
Key Features
- Full digital implementation with best-in-class sensitivity and high temperature stability.
- Improved analog front end providing outstanding efficiency.
- Price-competitive, high-performance solutions.
- Free software stacks for PLC — This turns the management of PLC networks into a transparent process, so you can focus on top-level applications and access Atmel® PLC software stacks via user-friendly application programming interfaces (APIs).
OFDM-based PLC Solutions
Benefits |
Description |
- Best PRIME-certified SoC solution, including PRIME certified software stack
- Compact, highly integrated, very low-power Cortex™-M4 processor-based solution
- Outstanding analog front end offering best-in-class performance in terms of efficiency and sensitivity
- Well-balanced solution in terms of bill of materials (BOM) cost vs. performance
- Best PRIME-certified SoC solution, including PRIME-certified software stack
- Baud rates up to 128 kbps
- High performance, highly integrated SoC based on Cortex-M4 processor
- Operation in CENELEC A-band, 42 – 89kHz
- Boot loader
- Serial peripheral interface (SPI) to serial Flash and external real-time clock (RTC)
- Outstanding analog front end offering best-in-class performance in terms of efficiency and sensitivity
- Well-balanced solution in terms of bill of materials (BOM) cost vs. performance
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Field proven PRIME compliant physical layer and SOC solutions for module based and single board integrated AMI metering platforms and data concentrators. |
Atmel® orthogonal frequency division multiplexing- (OFDM-) based solutions for narrowband power line communications (PLC) are fully PRIME-compliant and achieve baud rates up to 128 kbps. The combination of specifically designed hardware units (enhanced 8051 microcontroller, Cortex™-M4 processor-based microcontroller, dedicated 128-bit Advanced Encryption Standard (AES) hardware encryption block), our fully digital technology and an optimized analog front end turns the device into a low-cost, high-performance system-on-a-chip (SoC) solution. Atmel OFDM-based ICs are provided with PRIME-certified software and development tools, representing a complete system-level solution. The devices are supported by a full set of PRIME-certified software libraries, project examples, application notes, high-level application examples and a worldwide ecosystem to shorten development cycle time.
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First PRIME-compliant, highly integrated, high-performance, low-power PLC SoC based on Cortex-M4 processor
PRIME-compliant, low-cost, high-performance, high efficiency PLC SoC
PRIME physical layer (PHY) compliant PLC ASIC
Single-Carrier Narrowband PLC Solutions
Benefits |
Description |
- Atmel's Embedded Communications Software Stack (ECSS) for PLC available with no additional cost
- Outstanding performance against noise and at high temperatures
- Outstanding analog front end offering best-in-class performance in terms of efficiency and sensitivity
- Low-cost, high-efficiency PLC solution
- ECSS for PLC available with no extra cost; includes physical layer (PHY), medium access controller (MAC) and optional IEC 61334-4-32 data link layer
- EHS and Konnex compliant
- Programmable baud rate: 600, 1200, 2400 and 4800 bps
- Selectable PLC carrier frequencies between 60kHz and 132.5kHz
- 128kB on-chip SRAM
- Boot loader
- Serial peripheral interface (SPI) bridge to external IC
- Dimmer peripheral able to generate PWM signals, can control up to four TRIACS and/or switches
- Outstanding performance against noise and at high temperatures
- Outstanding analog front end offering best-in-class performance in terms of efficiency and sensitivity
- Low-cost, high-efficiency PLC solution
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Atmel single-carrier PLC solutions combine specifically designed hardware units (enhanced 8051 microcontroller, dimmer peripheral, PLC modem), our fully digital technology and an optimized analog front end, turning our devices into low-cost, high-performance SoC solutions. These ICs have an optional ECSS, offering a complete system-level solution with no additional cost. They are supported by a full set of software libraries, project examples, application notes, high-level application examples and a worldwide ecosystem to shorten development cycle time. |
Atmel® single-carrier power line communications (PLC) solutions combine specifically designed hardware units (enhanced 8051 microcontroller, dimmer peripheral, PLC modem), our fully digital technology and an optimized analog front end, turning our devices into low-cost, high-performance system-on-a-chip (SoC) solutions. These ICs are provided with an optional Embedded Communications Software Stack (ECSS), offering a complete system-level solution with no additional cost. They are supported by a full set of software libraries, project examples, application notes, high-level application examples and a worldwide ecosystem to shorten development cycle time.
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EHS- and KONNEX-compliant, low-cost, high-performance PLC SoC
PRIME-, EHS- and KONNEX-compliant, low-cost, high-performance PLC SoC
