TI demonstrates commitment to Smart Grid technology with new wired and wireless system solutions

DALLAS, Oct. 5, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Texas Instruments Incorporated (TI) (NYSE: TXN) today announced four new system solutions for Smart Grid and metering applications, enabling designers to further accelerate time to market for PLC-based and low-power wireless products.

Advancing complete solutions for power line communications (PLC), TI introduced the new PLC Development Kit (TMDSPLCKIT-V3) that recently received PRIME certification. Coupling the TMS320F2806x Piccolo™ floating-point microcontroller and new AFE031 analog front end (AFE), the new kit combines the best of analog and digital to deliver all of the key components required for today's advanced Smart Grid applications. It also offers new services that reduce device maintenance costs while increasing system reliability. For more information, please visit www.ti.com/grid-plc-lp.

Key features and benefits:

• AFE031 is the industry's most complete and flexible PLC analog front end that integrates the analog circuitry required for many PLC applications allowing customers to optimize the total bill of material (BOM) costs and board space in their designs, and significantly reduce design time and system complexity
• Piccolo microcontrollers have a smaller package and feature hardware acceleration for PLC alogorithms providing system cost and power consumption optimization
• TI's flexible PLC modem solution is capable of supporting multiple standards and modulation schemes like PRIME, G3-PLC, FlexOFDM™ and PLC-Lite™ libraries, including CENELEC bands A, B, C and D, and Federal Communications Commission (FCC) band, enabling application compatibility with a wide variety of international requirements

Recognizing the need for solutions for the Smart Grid Infrastructure (SGI) and for data concentrator developers, TI introduced the PLC data concentrator reference demo on the SGI evaluation platform. TI's new data concentrator supports various PLC standards, including PRIME, G3, FlexOFDM libraries and more, on the same hardware. For more information, please visit www.ti.com/grid-smartgrid-lp.

Key features and benefits:

• Developers now have the option to add PLC communication supporting different protocol standards in one design, rather than change hardware as previously required
• Based on TI's PLC solution (AFE031+Piccolo MCU) for the PLC Physical layer (PHY) and lower Media Access Controller (MAC), and on Linux-operating-system-enabled AM18x ARM9™ microprocessors or the pin-for-pin compatible OMAP-L138 DSP + ARM® processor, for MAC and upper layer on ARM with optional analytics on the DSP, the data concentrator is fully supported by TI's software solutions and free hardware reference design schematics, BOM and layout gerber files

Additionally, Cygnus Electronics has leveraged TI's technology to develop a new automotive solution that offers the most evolved evaluation module for testing and enabling PLC communications for plug-in electric vehicles. Auto-rem is a narrowband communications solution that connects electric vehicles to electric vehicle supply equipments (EVSEs) over the J1772 pilot wire. Auto-rem (AREM-001) kits are immediately orderable from Cygnus Electronics for $495.00 USD. For more information, please visit www.ti.com/grid-auto-rem-lp and www.cygnuscorp.com.

Key features and benefits:

• Offers plug-and-play DC messaging and provides a direct interface to automotive CAN connections
• Optimized for low-cost and reliable communications between electric vehicles and charging stations, auto-rem features TI's new PLC solution (AFE031+Piccolo MCU)
• Provides all necessary functions to connect the communications path from electric vehicle to off-board charging supply enabling developers to begin power management configuration for electric vehicles, EVSEs and simple energy management systems out of the box.  

TI's new Wireless M-Bus (WMBUS) protocol stack is now available providing a complete system solution for standardized low-power wireless communication and enabling wireless meter reading.  Combined with TI's power solutions, low-power microcontrollers, including embedded FRAM technology, the WMBUS protocol stack provides a cost-efficient system solution for smart metering applications including electricity and data collectors, and optimized battery life for smart water and gas meters. The stack also includes connectivity capabilities via TI's sub-1GHz  CC1101 and CC1120 wireless transceivers and CC430 technology platform. For more information, please contact TI at [email protected].

Key features and benefits:

• WMBUS software available from TI and developed by TI third party, Steinbeis (STZEDN), is optimized for low-cost platforms and includes product support and project integration services
• WMBUS software is written in pure ANSI C to ease integration and provide user flexibility, and it supports all current versions of the WMBUS standard from TI, including the latest open meter specification (OMS)
• PC application tool is available to demonstrate all potential commands for the protocol stack

TI's Smart Grid solutions

TI offers smarter grid solutions through innovative products, leading edge software and compliant integrated system solutions. TI's Smart Grid portfolio uniquely combines readily available silicon, software and support for comprehensive grid infrastructure, utility meters and home or building automation systems.

About Texas Instruments

Texas Instruments semiconductor innovations help 80,000 customers unlock the possibilities of the world as it could be – smarter, safer, greener, healthier and more fun.  Our commitment to building a better future is ingrained in everything we do – from the responsible manufacturing of our semiconductors, to caring for our employees, to giving back inside our communities.  This is just the beginning of our story.  Learn more at www.ti.com.

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SOURCE Texas Instruments Incorporated