Grid Microcuits Embedded Communication Modules for Smart Grid Sensing, Control, and Metering August 12, 2009
(Featured article in Control Engineering by David Greenfield, Editorial Director)
August 5, 2009
The EC-2XXX Grid MicroCircuits family products converge energy and communications within the utility, industrial, commercial, and defense products markets. Grid MicroCircuits open-standard products are designed with off-the-shelf microcontrollers and digital signal processors for applications in OEM products and systems including:
· Alternative energy applications (e.g., solar inverters and wind farms);
· Meters, sensors, smart appliances & products;
· Transportation systems and infrastructure; and
· Industrial products, building automation and control systems.
Powered from a single 3.3V or 5V dc power supply and consuming less than 1 Watt of power on average, Grid MicroCircuits can be deployed in a power distribution system or other conductive media to communicate point to point, point to multi-point, or as a self-configuring mesh network. Programmed to be interoperable across multiple protocol standards, handling short and long packets, Grid MicroCircuits provide 128-256 bit AES encryption algorithm implemented internally, and are capable of supporting secure connections as well as application-specific transactions.
Each EC-2XXX is IP enabled and with its embedded interoperability software, is capable of bridging private networks to open standard public networks. In addition, products can be equipped with a bridge to Zigbee, RFID, Bluetooth or other 802.xx solutions. Communication is asynchronous, bi-directional and full duplex.
A configured system can support 60 redundant data paths with each data packet having a throughput of 250 Kb per 16 channels. In “Robust Mode,” Grid MicroCircuits obtain over 99.999% coverage at 19.2K, when set to 8 data bits; 1 stop bit and no parity. Grid MicroCircuits Modules can be Flash programmed and all support SPI, 12C, USB, Ethernet, Parallel, RS-232. RS-485, CAN, Modbus, Serial UART and other interface standards. Data rate focus is for hundreds of Kbps over long distances, and up to 20Mbps streaming over short distances.
