Cypress Introduces Industry's First Programmable, Flexible Powerline Communication Solution Based on PSoC(R) Architecture

Cypress Semiconductor Corp. today introduced the world's first truly programmable solution for data communication over existing power lines. Leveraging the programmable analog and digital resources of Cypress's PSoC(R) programmable system-on-a-chip architecture, the new Cypress Powerline Communication (PLC) solution integrates multiple functions beyond communication, such as power measurement, system management and LCD drive. In addition to its flexibility and integration, the new solution offers industry-leading reliability with greater than 97% packet success rates without retries and 100% success rates with retries built into the solution's coding. The solution offers the flexibility to communicate over high-voltage and low-voltage power lines for lighting and industrial control, home automation, automatic meter reading and smart energy management applications.
Whereas existing solutions require external microcontrollers and filters, the Cypress PLC solution integrates a Frequency-Shift Key (FSK) PHY modem, network protocol and application code with the programmable analog and digital blocks and microcontroller of the PSoC architecture. This combination provides a single hardware platform for multiple applications, reducing BOM cost, board size and chip count while improving manufacturability. Cypress offers reference designs for both high-voltage (110V -- 240V AC) and low-voltage (12V -- 24V AC/DC) coupling circuits based on boards compliant with Federal Communications Commission (FCC) and European Committee for Electrotechnical Standardization (CENELEC) standards. The precertified boards provide developers with a complete solution with fast time-to-market. More information is available at www.cypress.com/go/PLC, and a video on the solution is available at www.cypress.com/go/PLCvideo.
"Smart energy metering, renewable energy, intelligent LED lighting, and advanced industrial applications have the market for powerline communication poised for strong growth," said Linnea Brush, senior research analyst at Darnell Group. "The programmable Cypress PLC solution addresses smart communication, and smart grid connectivity, over existing power lines with no new wires."
"Our lead customers have raved about the unparalleled reliability of our PLC solution, and the versatility it offers with PSoC," said Dinesh Ramanathan, executive vice president of the Data Communication Division at Cypress. "Our PowerPSoC(R) line has helped us build strong expertise with lighting and other control applications, further adding value to our complete PLC solution for customers."
The PowerPSoC family offers the industry's first single-chip solution to control and drive high-power LEDs. The Cypress PLC solution integrates LED driving support.
Additional features and benefits of the Cypress PLC solution include:
-- Support for bidirectional half-duplex communication
-- Flexibility to use complete solution (PHY, Protocol and Application code) or just pieces of solution (PHY and Protocol or PHY only)
-- Variable baud rates up to 2400 bps
-- Onboard power supply derives power from the power line bus.
Availability, Photo and Kits
The Cypress PLC family includes a cost-optimized fixed-function device with an I(2)C interface (CY8CPLC10), programmable PSoC-based devices (CY8CPLC20), and programmable PSoC-based devices optimized for LED support (CY8CLED16P01). The CY8CPLC10 device is available in a 28-pin SSOP package, while the CY8CPLC20 and CY8CLED16P01 devices come in 28-pin SSOP, 48-pin QFN and 100-pin TQFP packages. All of the devices are currently in production. A high-resolution photo of the Cypress PLC solution is available at www.cypress.com/go/pr/PLCphoto.
Cypress also offers multiple evaluation and development kits:
-- The CY3272 High Voltage Powerline Communication Evaluation Kit and CY3273 Low Voltage Powerline Communication Evaluation kit are currently available for US$299 each. Each kit is compliant with FCC and CENELEC standards and includes an evaluation board, quick start guide, multiple cables, a USB cable, a 12V AC power adapter and a CD with test software, datasheets, a user guide, an application note, schematics and Gerber files.
-- The CY3274 Programmable High Voltage Powerline Communication Development Kit and CY3275 Programmable Low Voltage Powerline Communication Development Kit enables system design using CY8CPLC20 devices and are available for US$642 each. The CY3276 Programmable High Voltage Powerline Communication Development Kit and CY3277 Programmable Low Voltage Powerline Communication Development Kit are targeted for lighting application system design using CY8CLED16P01 devices and are available for US$951 each.
Each of the kits listed above are currently available today on the Cypress eShop at www.cypress.com or through authorized distributors.
PSoC -- Because Change Happens
PSoC devices employ a highly configurable system-on-chip architecture for embedded control design, offering a flash-based equivalent of a field-programmable ASIC without lead-time or NRE penalties. PSoC devices integrate configurable analog and digital circuits, controlled by an on-chip microcontroller, providing both enhanced design revision capability and component count savings. A single PSoC device can integrate as many as 100 peripheral functions saving customers design time, board space and power consumption while improving system quality and reducing system cost.
The new PSoC 3 and PSoC 5 architectures include high-precision programmable analog capability (up to 20-bit resolution for an Analog to Digital Converter) and expanded programmable digital resources integrated with powerful, industry-standard MCU cores and ample memory and communications peripherals. PSoC 3 devices are based on a high-performance 8-bit 8051 processor, while PSoC 5 devices include a powerful 32-bit ARM Cortex-M3 processor. The products provide designers with a seamless, programmable design platform, enabling easy migration from 8 to 32 bits. The robust features of these new solutions dramatically expand the applications and markets that PSoC can address, including automotive, portable medical, industrial and many more. The PSoC 1 family is based on a cost-optimized 8-bit M8C core. More information about PSoC products is available at www.cypress.com/psoc and free online training is at www.cypress.com/psoctraining.
About Cypress
Cypress delivers high-performance, mixed-signal, programmable solutions that provide customers with rapid time-to-market and exceptional system value. Cypress offerings include the flagship PSoC(R) programmable system-on-chip families and derivatives such as PowerPSoC(R) solutions for high-voltage and LED lighting applications, CapSense(R) touch sensing and TrueTouch(TM) solutions for touchscreens. Cypress is the world leader in USB controllers, including the high-performance West Bridge(R) solution that enhances connectivity and performance in multimedia handsets. Cypress is also a leader in high-performance memories and programmable timing devices. Cypress serves numerous markets including consumer, mobile handsets, computation, data communications, automotive, industrial and military. Cypress trades on the NASDAQ Global Select Market under the ticker symbol CY. Visit Cypress online at www.cypress.com.
Cypress, the Cypress logo, PSoC, PowerPSoC, CapSense and West Bridge are registered trademarks and TrueTouch is a trademark of Cypress Semiconductor Corp. All other trademarks are property of their owners.