STMicroelectronics Introduces Industry's First Smart Meter System Chip

Unprecedented level of integration and programming flexibility for power companies to reduce the cost of building a smart grid network and cost of ownership

China, November 15, 2013 - STMicroelectronics (ST; NYSE: STM), the world's leading semiconductor supplier, unveiled the industry's first full-featured smart meter system across multiple electronic applications Chip (SoC, System-on-Chip). The new product integrates high-precision measurement with flexible programmable processing functions and Power-Line Communication (PLC) and advanced anti-theft safety features on a single chip.

The STCOMET10 SoC integrates STMicroelectronics' more than 20 years of experience in power line communications and smart meters and more than 90 million chips in manufacturing with unprecedented level of integration in the industry. OEMs use this unique, future-proof smart meter platform to simplify smart meter design, reduce time-to-market, and dramatically reduce device usage and material costs.

As a result of the close cooperation between STMicroelectronics and power companies and utility companies, the STCOMET10 system-on-chip plays an important role in France's $ 27 million SOGRID Smart Grid Communications System project.

Featuring a unique modular and integrated mixed-signal design, the STCOMET10 integrates the highest system flexibility and programmability and highest performance on a single chip to meet the needs of dedicated smart meters.

Matteo Lo Presti, Vice President, General Manager, STMicroelectronics and General Manager, Industrial Applications and Power Conversion Products, said: "As a cost-effective and highly flexible smart meter solution, STCOMET10 brings additional benefits and benefits to the smart grid including "With real-time control and adaptive power grids, decentralized grid interconnection with renewable energy and multi-communications standards support, a total of 1.7 billion communications devices are plugged into this smart grid, and STCOMET10 dramatically improves the interoperability and energy efficiency of these devices."

The STCOMET10 system-on-chip features include a fully programmable powerline communications signal processing engine for multi-protocol management; an advanced ARM® Cortex ™ -M4-based application processing subsystem with integrated flash and RAM; high-precision 3-channel analog digital meter measurement Front-end and security engine. In particular, this smart meter system chip supports important PLC communication protocols such as METERS AND MORE ?, G3-PLC ?, IEEE 1901.2 and PRIME ?. The chip's flexibility and extensive protocol enable operators to deploy and remotely deploy smart meters worldwide, supporting future new protocols and minimizing the cost of ownership over the life of the meter.

The meter measurement subsystem is above Class 0.2 meter accuracy requirements and incorporates three high precision 24-bit ADCs, filters, and configurable hardwired DSP processors for power calculations. The internal PLC engine supports up to 28V peak-to-peak output signals and expands the bandwidth to 500kHz, while the dedicated security engine supports the latest cryptographic algorithms and multiple security modes for personal privacy and data security to enhance the system-on-chip products value.

The STCOMET10 SoC is available in a 20mm x 20mm x 1mm TQFP package and production is expected to begin in 2014.