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Overview

PLC Modem - Overview

Smart Grid and Intelligent Control Applications | Recommended Parts | Software

TI's Power line communications (PLC) technology gives designers complete hardware and software solutions for introducing flexible, efficient, and reliable networking capabilities to a wide variety of applications. With unique modular hardware architecture and flexible software framework, TI's PLC solutions are the industry's
only PLC-based technology capable of supporting multiple protocol standards and modulation schemes with a single platform, enabling designers to leverage product lines across global markets. The flexibility of the platform also allows developers to optimize hardware and software performance for specific environmental operating conditions while simplifying end-to-end product design. Based on TI's powerful C2000™ microcontroller architecture, developers can select the right blend of processing capacity and peripherals for adding PLC to an existing design or implementing a complete application with PLC communications.

To get started with TI's PLC Modem solutions and introduce networking to your next metering, lighting, or control application, TI offers a variety of demonstration platforms and development kits.

Power Line
Communication Modem

See TI's PLC System Solution

White Paper

TI Delivers Flexible Power Line Communications Solutions (PDF 740 KB)

What's new

News Release - 07 Sep 2010
TI lowers barrier to entry for power line communications with new development kit and software library plcSUITE™

The AFE031 is a fully-integrated analog front-end,

featuring an output drive of 1.5A and an active filter that exceeds CENELEC requirements in a compact 48 lead, thermally enhanced QFN package. Adding the C2000 yields a fully programmable, single footprint solution supporting multiple modulations and protocols that can easily adapt to emerging standards.

TMDSPLCKIT-V3 C2000 Power Line Modem Developer's Kit

Two PLC modems
PLC software supporting OFDM (PRIME, G3 and FlexOFDM) and SFSK communication
Built in USB JTAG emulation
Two F28069 controlCARDs included
All necessary power and connection cables included
32KB limited Code Composer Studio included
$599

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PLC Articles

Smart Grid and Intelligent Control Applications

Power line communications technology enhances intelligence and reliability across a broad range of smart grid applications, including smart electrical meters, lighting, solar, electric car charging, smart appliances, home automation, intelligent building control, and networking. Suited for applications such as smart metering and control applications, TI offers a robust Low Frequency Narrowband PLC technology ensuring data integrity while lowering power consumption and reducing system cost. Developers also speed design, tuning, and testing with the TI plcSUITE™, a comprehensive development platform offering programmable modulation and protocol libraries within a complete software framework. TI's PLC roadmap will provide developers with PLC solutions for every stage of the Smart Grid from utility substations to the entire home area network.

Recommended Analog Front End Products

Fully integrated Analog Front End
Device	Status	Temp (oC)	Package \| Pins	Top Side Marking	Package QTY \| Package Carrier	Samples
AFE031	Sampling	-40 to 125	48-Pin QFN PowerPAD™ Package	TBD	TBD	Contact smartgrid@ti.com

Receiver
Device	Status	Temp (oC)	Package \| Pins	Top Side Marking	Package QTY \| Package Carrier	Samples
PGA112AIDGSRG4	Active	-40 to 125	MSOP (DGS) \| 10	View	2500 \| LARGE T&R	Add to Cart
PGA112AIDGST	Active	-40 to 125	MSOP (DGS) \| 10	View	250 \| SMALL T&R	Add to Cart
PGA112AIDGSTG4	Active	-40 to 125	MSOP (DGS) \| 10 SO	View	250 \| SMALL T&R	Add to Cart

Transmitter
Device	Status	Temp (oC)	Package \| Pins	Top Side Marking	Package QTY \| Package Carrier	Samples
OPA564AIDWPR	Active	-40 to 85	SO PowerPAD (DWP) \| 20	View	2000 \| LARGE T&R	Add to Cart

Filters
Device	Status	Temp (oC)	Package \| Pins	Top Side Marking	Package QTY \| Package Carrier	Samples
OPA365AIDBVRG4	Active		SOT-23 (DBV) \| 5	View	3000 \| LARGE T&R	Add to Cart
OPA4353UA/2K5G4	Active	-40 to 85	SOIC (D) \| 14	View	2500 \| LARGE T&R	Add to Cart
OPA4350UA	Active		SOIC (D) \| 14	View	50 \| TUBE	Add to Cart
TLV2621IDBVR	Active		SOT-23 (DBV) \| 5	View	3000 \| LARGE T&R	Add to Cart

Digital Recommended Products

MCU
Device	Status	Temp (oC)	Package \| Pins	Top Side Marking	Package QTY \| Package Carrier	Samples
TMS320F28069PN	Active	-40 to 85	PN/PFP 80-pin	TBD	TBD	Add to Cart
TMS320F28235PGFA	Active	-40 to 85	LQFP (PGF) \| 176		40	Add to Cart
TMS320F28027PTT	Active		LQFP (PT) \| 48	View		Add to Cart
TMS320F28035PAGT	Active		TQFP (PAG) \| 64	View	1	Add to Cart

Tools


Device	Info
TMDSPLCKIT-V3 C2000 Power Line Modem Developer's Kit	Two PLC modems; PLC software supporting OFDM (PRIME, G3 and FlexOFDM) and SFSK communication; Built in USB JTAG emulation and more.

Other Recommended Products

Power
Device	Status	Temp (oC)	Package \| Pins	Top Side Marking	Package QTY \| Package Carrier	Samples
TPS3828-33DBVR	Active	-40 to 85	SOT-23 (DBV) \| 5	View	3000 \| LARGE T&R	Add to Cart
TPS72118DBVR	Active		SOT-23 (DBV) \| 5	View	3000 \| LARGE T&R	Add to Cart

Power
Device	Info
TMDSPLCKIT-V3 C2000 Power Line Modem Developer's Kit	Two PLC modems; PLC software supporting OFDM (PRIME, G3 and FlexOFDM) and SFSK communication; Built in USB JTAG emulation and more.

Software

SW package	Description Key	Features	Applications
G3 Data Concentrator Request Software	ERDF specs based PLC modem communication standard designed for Medium and Low Voltage Line for Automatic Meter Management and smart grid applications Open, public and non-proprietary telecommunications architecture to enable the building of smart grids. DC = Data Concentrator which manages and maintains the nodes in the network.	Low Frequency Narrowband OFDM Cenelec A Band Up to 46 kbps PHY data rate 6LowPAN adaptation to support IPv6 AES-128 Up to 1024 nodes network point to point, star, mesh network topology Co-exist with IEC61334 Crossing transformers Dynamic channel adaptations	DC for Automatic Electrical Meters remote reading (AMR) MV-MV WAN connection Controller for Grid-to-home access network LED lighting and Solar inverter control center
PRIME Request Software	PRIME = PoweRline Intelligent Metering Evolution. Iberdrola specs based PLC modem standard for Low voltage Line. Open, public and non-proprietary telecommunications architecture to enable the building of smart grids.	Low Frequency Narrowband OFDM Cenelec A Band Up to 128kbps PHY data rate IEC61334-4-32 convergence IPV4 AES-128 Tree network topology	Electrical Meters remote reading Any smart grid application compatible with Cenelec A frequency Band References
G3 Request Software	ERDF specs based PLC modem communication standard designed for Medium and Low Voltage Line for Automatic Meter Management and smart grid applications	Low Frequency Narrowband OFDM Cenelec A/B/C/D up to 46 kbps PHY data rate 6LowPAN adaptation to support IPV6 AES-128 point to point, star, mesh network topology Co-exist with IEC61334 Crossing transformers Dynamic channel adaptations	Electrical Meters remote reading Any smart grid application compatible with Cenelec A, B, C, and D frequency Band References
G3 for the TMDXCNCDH52C1 with Discrete AFE Request Software	ERDF specs based PLC modem communication standard designed for Medium and Low Voltage Line for Automatic Meter Management and smart grid applications	Low Frequency Narrowband OFDM Cenelec A/B/C/D, FCC and ARIB bands up to 141 kbps PHY data rate 6LowPAN adaptation to support IPV6 AES-128 point to point, star, mesh network topology Co-exist with IEC61334 Crossing transformers Dynamic channel adaptations	Electrical Meters remote reading Any smart grid application compatible with Cenelec A/B/C/D, FCC, and ARIB frequency Band References
FlexOFDM™ Request Software	Flexible proprietary PLC implementation approach taking the best of PRIME and G3 and giving flexibility of the protocol stack to user (user can just pick the PHY) with focus on bandwidth, lower data rate, robustness, flexible upper layer stack, smaller MIPS/memory footprint to match specific Smart Grid Applications needs (example: lighting, solar..)	Low Frequency Narrowband OFDM Cenelec A, B, C Band as well as sub 10kHz Scalable bit rate up to 128kbps Standard and ROBO Mode Crossing transformers Scalable to optimize system cost by enabling frequency band selectivity data rate versus complexity trade-off distance versus robustness trade-off	Electrical Meters remote reading Home Area Network Solar, Lighting proprietary implementation
Prime Data Concentrator Request Software	PRIME (PoweRline Intelligent Metering Evolution Alliance) standard for low voltage Power Line Communicaiton. Open, public and non-proprietary telecommunications architecture to enable the building of smart grids. DC = Data Concentrator which manages and maintains the nodes (both intermediate and leaf) in the network.	OFDM Cenelec A Band Up to 128kbps PHY data rate IEC61334-4-32 convergence Up to 1024 nodes network Tree network topology automatic formation PLC FW field upgrade	DC for Automatic Electrical Meters remote reading (AMR) MV-MV WAN connection Controller for Grid-to-home access network LED lighting and Solar inverter control center
PLC-Lite Request Software	Low data rate PLC implementation (up to 21kbps) based on PRIME-OFDM with BPSK and newly defined extra-robust ROBO mode on lower end of c2000 piccolo-B (F28035) device. Basic MAC with CSMA/CA and message interface to host application processor through UART. Support point-2-point or point-2-multipoint communications	Low Frequency Narrowband OFDM Celenec A, B, C PRIME BPSK and ROBO Mode CSMA/CA MAC	Electrical Meters remote reading Home Area Network Solar, Lighting Proprietary implementation