Renesas Electronics Corporation
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Low-Cost DC Power Line Communication (PLC)

Overview

This design provides a simple alternative to a 1:1 RS-232 bus, capable of transmitting over longer distances than RS-232. The GreenPAK™ is programmed to function as a communication translator, taking serial input/output from the MCU and interposing a high-frequency signal onto the DC power line, which is in turn decoded by a second similar circuit.

System Benefits:

  • Power Line Communication (PLC) eliminates the extra wires required for RS-232, reducing system costs.
  • Enables communication between stations using a high-frequency signal controlled by the MCU UART Tx/Rx lines on the GPIO pins of the GreenPAK device.
  • GreenPAK allows for the low-cost implementation of DC PLC.
  • The DC/DC regulator supports communications over a DC power line carrying up to 36V DC, accommodating a wide variety of applications.

Block Diagram

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EU179Right arrow.252Optional Non-Renesas ComponentOptional Non-Renesas Component.694Sheet.770Line.758Line.759Sheet.767Line.758Line.759Sheet.761Line.758Line.759Right arrow.252.683Right arrow.684EU179EU179EU179DC/DC Master NodeDC/DCDC/DCDC PLC Master NodeDC PLCDC PLCConnector.287Down arrow.256RXRxRxTXTxTxLine.254Line.688Max 36V DCMax 36V DCMax 36V DC3.3V3.3V 100µA3.3V100µA3.3V3.3V3.3VMaster NodeMaster NodeMaster NodeSlave NodeSlave NodeSlave NodeInductor Air Core.212Sheet.731Sheet.732Sheet.733Sheet.734Sheet.735Sheet.736Sheet.737Sheet.738Sheet.7391µH1µH1µHLine.254.741Line.742Line.254.743Line.254.744Connector.287.745Connector.746Line.254.747Line.254.748Connector.287.749Connector.287.750Line.254.756Connector.287.757Sheet.840Sheet.834Line.758Line.759Line.254.837100pF100pF100pFSheet.844Line.254.841Line.842DC/DC Slave NodeDC/DCDC/DCDC PLC Slave NodeDC PLCDC PLCArm Cortex-M MCU Slave NodeArm Cortex-M MCUArm Cortex-M MCUSheet.984Arm Cortex-M MCUs Master NodeArm Cortex-M MCUArm Cortex-M MCUPeripheralUARTUARTLabel Text 10pt.729GNDGNDVCCVCCVCC

DC/DC

Buck Regulators (Integrated FETs)

DC PLC

Other GreenPAKs
Application Note

Arm Cortex-M MCU

RA Arm Cortex-M MCUs

DC/DC

Buck Regulators (Integrated FETs)

DC PLC

Other GreenPAKs
Application Note

Arm Cortex-M MCU

RA Arm Cortex-M MCUs

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