The complexity of smart meter design continues to evolve as different communications solutions are integrated into the framework and as regulatory compliance requirements are mandated. To meet the growing demand for a simple, feature-rich design solution for smart meter development, Microchip Technology announced the PIC32CXMT family of 32-bit microprocessors with a new MPL460 Power-Line Communication (PLC) modem.
The new MCU device suite is a next-generation smart metering platform aimed at industrial IoT, commercial and industrial metering applications. The platform features higher performance with operation at up to 200 MHz and broad scalability with up to 560 KB of memory (SRAM).
To provide developers with optimal flexibility to scale their products, the PIC32CXMT family is offered in three variants based on a single Arm Cortex-M4F core, a dual Arm Cortex-M4 core, and a System-on-chip (SoC) device.
The MPL460 PLC modem integrates line driver for signal amplification, which reduces the bill of materials and maintains a high-performance signal injection efficiency above 40% due to its class D topology. The PLC modem helps to increase the efficiency and reliability based on power delivered to the load and power taken from the source, resulting in an overall reduction in source consumption during transmission.
“The new PIC32CXMT MCUs, combined with an MPL460 PLC modem, offer an unmatched level of scalability and performance to support a wide range of meter architecture,” said Kourosh Boutorabi, director of Microchip's Smart Energy business unit. “This second generation of our highly successful measurement products demonstrates our commitment to offering a broad portfolio of SoCs that enable a flexible and secure smart measurement platform, with options to select from best-in-class metrology to cutting-edge connectivity. ”
The platform offers multiple transceiver solutions including radio/PHY, PLC/PHY or the option to select a PLC+RF hybrid solution. There is also an option for a suite of metrology and communications software that is compatible with American National Standards Institute (ANSI) and International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) measurement standards with accuracy down to 0.2 percent. It also supports standards for wired and wireless communications such as G3-PLC and PRIME.
As smart measuring devices become connected, the need for security is critical in any project. PIC32CXMT MCUs offer standard and proprietary on-chip hardware security features to ensure optimal performance and memory usage.