Connectivity
Communication links bring new value. Renesas’ technological expertise can help reduce development time while enabling highly sophisticated smart meters.
The biggest feature of smart meters is their communication functionality. This functionality links the power supplier (the power company) and the consumer (the device in the home), and a variety of communication standards are used in different countries and regions.
In Japan, wireless multi-hop, 1:N wireless, and PLC are being considered for communication between the supplier and smart meter. For communication within the home (or building), Wi-SUN wireless communication, supplemented by power line communication (PLC), are the main methods employed.
In the US and Europe, Wi-SUN and PLC hold the dominant positions, while a variety of other methods such as wireless multi-hop, 2G or 3G mobile communication, and ZigBee® wireless communication are under consideration.
Browse Renesas block diagrams for connectivity applications to see how our devices could be used in your next project.
PLC (Power Line Communications)
PLC (Power Line Communication) is a communication method using a power line. By using a power line as a communication network, system designers can reduce costs. For this reason, PLC is attractive as a communications method in smart meters (AMI), HEMS, BEMS and solar panel monitoring systems.
Sub-GHz/Wi-SUN
Sub-gigahertz (sub-GHz) wireless communications technology uses waves around the 920 MHz band. With the proliferation of the Wi-SUN Alliance's international wireless communication standards, sub-GHz wireless communications are being rapidly adopted by the market.