Telecoms, Datacoms, Wireless, IoT


Power line communications chip targets compact and cost-sensitive remote command and control systems

3 May 2006 Telecoms, Datacoms, Wireless, IoT

STMicroelectronics' power line transceiver, the ST7540, broadens the company's current offering of devices for Narrowband Power Line Communications, to include space constrained and cost-sensitive home and building automation applications and remote monitoring systems.

The ST7540 integrated circuit, available in a 28-pin HTSSOP28 exposed pad package, is a half duplex Binary-FSK (frequency shift keying) transceiver designed for two-way network communication over power lines. It has eight selectable carrier frequencies, covering CENELEC bands A, B and C, and four programmable baud rates from 600 to 4800 bps. Reduced in size and pin count, compared to the earlier ST7538, it maintains the field proven 'core' technology, but without some accessory functions (such as zero-crossing detection and the uncommitted op-amp).

Among its new capabilities, the device integrates a single-ended power amplifier with accessible input and output lines that can be used with just a few external signal components as part of a tunable active filter for the transmission path, providing superior linear power performances and reducing the application's parts count and cost. In addition to the 5 V regulator found on the ST7538, a new on-chip 3,3 V, 50 mA voltage regulator, intended for powering different types of external microcontrollers, provides greater design flexibility.

Other new features include programmable header recognition and frame length count - to increase efficiency and reduce power consumption by activating the external MCU only when a message with a specific header or frame length is detected - and programmable output level freezing, to increase transmission stability in particularly noisy environments. The on-chip available-output-voltage and current loops always allow the transmission levels to be automatically and safely adapted to the line impedance.

The new transceiver enables the design of very compact home and building automation, such as easily integrating a complete PLC node in a socket or switch. It is also highly-suited for 'outdoor' applications, such as small street lighting controllers and cost-effective automatic meter reading systems.

For more information contact Simon Churches, Arrow Altech Distribution, +27 (0)11 923 9600, [email protected]



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