Smart Grid Communications Protocols

Communications Overview

Communications

Overview the number of modems and concen- Each segment is interconnected trators needed to cover the entire through a node or gateway: a An electricity grid without adequate system can dramatically reduce infra- concentrator between the WAN and communications is simply a power structure costs. At the same time, NAN and an e-meter between the “broadcaster.” It is through the the selected technology must have NAN and HAN. Each of these nodes addition of two-way communications enough bandwidth to handle all data communicates through the network that the power grid is made “smart.” traffic being sent in both directions with adjacent nodes. The concentrator Communications enables utilities to over the grid network. aggregates the data from the achieve three key objectives: intel- meters and sends that information ligent monitoring, security, and load Communications networks to the grid operator. The e-meter balancing. Using two-way communi- and protocols collects the power-usage data of the cations, data can be collected from home or business by communicating Communications in the smart grid sensors and meters located through- with the home network gateway or can be broken into three segments. out the grid and transmitted directly functioning as the gateway itself. to the grid operator’s control room. Wide area network (WAN) covers Each segment can utilize different This added communications capabil- long-haul distances from the communications technologies and ity provides enough bandwidth for command center to local neighbor- protocols depending on the trans- the control room operator to actively hoods downstream. mission environments and amount manage the grid. Neighborhood area network (NAN) of data being transmitted. In addition The communications must be manages all information between to the architecture choice between reliable, secure, and low cost. the WAN and the home area network wireless and powerline communica- The sheer scale of the electrical using medium-voltage lines. tions (PLC), there are a variety of wireless and PLC protocols to choose grid network makes cost a critical Home area network (HAN) extends among (Table 1). consideration when implementing communication to endpoints within a communications technology. the end-user home or business. Selecting a solution that minimizes

INBOUND OUTBOUND POWERLINE POWERLINE COMMUNICATIONS COMMUNICATIONS AC LINE AC LINE

MODEM MODEM

DC-DC DC-DC

SERIAL

MULTIPROTOCOL OTHER METERS

RS-232 RS-485

TRANSFORMER DRIVER

WIRELESS COMPLETE RF TRANSCEIVER COMPLETE RF TRANSCEIVER WIRELESS

ADC ADC

DOWN- ADC ADC DOWN- LNA LNA ANTENNA CONVERTER CONVERTER ANTENNA SW SW UP- DAC UP- DRIVER DAC DRIVER CONVERTER MAXIM CONVERTER PA DAC SOLUTION DAC PA DC-DC DC-DC

Maxim offers solutions for powerline, wireless, and serial communications. For a list of Maxim's recommended solutions, please go to: www.maxim-ic.com/communications. www.maxim-ic.com/smartgrid 25 Communications Overview

Table 1: Smart grid communications protocols

Network Protocol Advantages Disadvantages Recommendation WAN Wireless (2G/3G/LTE Extensive cellular infrastructure is readily Utility must rent the infrastructure from a Wireless usually works best cellular, GPRS) available; large amount of aggregated data cellular carrier for a monthly access fee; utility can be communicated over a long haul does not own infrastructure NAN Wireless ISM Long range; leaps transformers Currently proprietary; dead spots complicate Useful in some topologies, such as in the installation and maintenance U.S. IEEE® 802.15.4g Long range; leaps transformers Not yet an accepted standard Useful in some topologies ZigBee® Low cost; low power consumption allows Low data rate; very short range; does not Unlikely to be used in NANs battery operation; well-known standard penetrate structures well First-generation PLC Low cost Unreliable; low bandwidth Bandwidth and reliability inadequate for (FSK, Yitran, Echelon®) the smart grid Early-generation Better range, bandwidth, and reliability Does not cross transformers; does not coexist Not recommended for new designs due to narrowband OFDM than FSK with first-generation PLC cost and compatibility concerns Broadband PLC High data rate Does not cross transformers Increases infrastructure cost, making it too costly for most large-scale deployments G3-PLC Highly reliable long-range transmission; Not yet an accepted standard Excellent for NAN worldwide crosses transformers, reducing infrastructure costs; data rate supports frequent two-way communications; coexists with FSK; open standard; supports IPv6 HAN ZigBee Well-known standard that offers low cost Very short range; does not penetrate Well suited for communication between and low power structures well water and gas meters Wi-Fi® Popular technology with high data rates Medium range; does not penetrate cement Good for consumer applications, but no buildings or basements provisions for meeting utility objectives First-generation PLC Low cost Not reliable in home environments Unlikely to be used in homes due to high (FSK, Yitran, Echelon) levels of interference Early-generation Better range, bandwidth, and reliability Does not cross transformers; does not coexist Not recommended for new designs due to narrowband OFDM than FSK with first-generation PLC cost and compatibility concerns Broadband PLC High bandwidth Short range is not sufficient for NAN Good for consumer applications, but no provisions for meeting utility objectives G3-PLC Highly reliable; sufficient data rate; IPv6 Not yet an accepted standard Excellent for HAN worldwide enables networking with many devices

The WAN is the communications path the network, so most implementa- consumption data with in-home between the grid operator and the tions use proprietary wireless or displays, or enabling a card-activated concentrator. The WAN can be imple- PLC technologies. Several standards prepayment scheme. The arrival mented over fiber or wireless media bodies are currently working with of electric/plug-in hybrid electric using Ethernet or cellular protocols, utilities and technology providers vehicles (EV/PHEVs) presents a special respectively. Cellular or WiMAX® is to define standards for wireless communications scenario for HANs. most commonly used between the and PLC protocols. The IEEE Standards bodies are defining PLC grid operator and the concentrator. 802.15.4g standard targets wireless; protocols for communicating with the IEEE P1901, OPEN meter, and vehicle charging systems. The NAN is the path between the ITU-T G.hnem standards are being concentrator and the meter. It uses developed for PLC (Table 2). In addition to supporting the data either wireless or PLC. Typically, the requirements for smart grid activities, concentrator communicates with The HAN is used by utilities to extend a HAN might also include: peer-to- anywhere from a few to hundreds the reach of their communication peer (P2P) communications between of meters, depending on the grid path to devices inside the home. devices inside the home; communica- topology and the communica- This network can support functions tions with handheld remote-control tions protocol used. Today, there such as cycling air conditioners off devices, lighting controls, and gas or is no standard for this portion of during peak load conditions, sharing water meters; as well as broadband

26 Maxim Smart Grid Solutions Communications Overview

OUTSIDE THE WALL INSIDE THE WALL

WAN NAN HAN

NETWORK SMART GRID OPERATING SMART HOME NETWORK CENTER

NETWORK 00000 MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS ELECTRICITY METER RELAY

00000

CONCENTRATOR CAP BANK/ E-BRIDGE 00000 WAN Ethernet CDMA GSM

00000

SWITCH/ S-BRIDGE GAS METER

00000000

00000

00000000

The smart grid communications architecture.

Table 2: Communication protocols under consideration around the world

Region WAN NAN HAN North America Cellular, WiMAX G3-PLC, HomePlug®, IEEE 802.15.4g, IEEE P1901, G3-PLC, HomePlug, ITU-T G.hn, Wi-Fi, ZigBee, Z-Wave ITU-T G.hnem, proprietary wireless, Wi-Fi Europe Cellular G3-PLC, IEEE P1901, ITU-T G.hnem, PRIME, Wi-Fi G3-PLC, HomePlug, ITU-T G.hn, Wi-Fi, Wireless M-Bus, ZigBee China Cellular, band-translated G3-PLC, RS-485, wireless to be determined G3-PLC, RS-485, Wi-Fi, to be determined WiMAX Rest of the World Cellular, WiMAX G3-PLC, HomePlug, IEEE 802.15.4g, IEEE P1901, G3-PLC, HomePlug, ITU-T G.hn, RS-485, Wi-Fi, Wireless ITU-T G.hnem, PRIME, RS-485, Wi-Fi M-Bus, ZigBee, Z-Wave

www.maxim-ic.com/smartgrid 27 Communications Overview

traffic. Protocols such as RS-485, provide a complete system-on-chip OFDM has been used in many ZigBee, Z-Wave®, and HomePlug (SoC) solution. In other cases, such as modern communication systems are used for this network. If there is a proprietary protocols, a digital ASIC such as digital radio and TV, Wi-Fi, separate home gateway, it is possible and an RF transceiver are used to and WiMAX, as well as early-gener- that additional protocols could be build the complete radio link. Maxim ation narrowband protocols such as used to communicate with appliances, has both standard RF transceivers PRIME. Today, OFDM technology is thermostats, and other devices. as well as custom ASICs that can be enabling exciting new functions and configured as transceivers. capabilities for PLC networks. Among Communications alternatives in the the most significant benefits, it gives HAN can often coexist, but utility Powerline communications the utility industry the bandwidth support will probably be limited to needed to build intelligence into the technologies needed to support Overview of modulation schemes power grid while meeting aggressive the utility's primary objectives. Powerline communications uses cost targets. RF communications AC power lines as the transmission medium. Some systems, such as Advancements offered by Wireless communications is used Maxim’s, work over DC and cold wires G3-PLC technology in some areas for automated meter as well. There are several powerline G3-PLC employs OFDM to optimize reading (AMR). Several proprietary and protocols in the market today. These bandwidth utilization. Since OFDM standardized wireless protocols are protocols break down into one of uses multiple carriers to transmit data, available today. Frequency bands of two basic modulation schemes: interference at a specific frequency interest range from 200MHz to 3.9GHz. frequency-shift keying (FSK) and or frequency-selective attenuation orthogonal frequency-division multi- Several blocks are used to implement can now effectively be eliminated. In plexing (OFDM). RF communications (Figure 3). The addition to increased reliability, this signal is received through an antenna FSK is an older modulation scheme capability allows considerably more and goes through a bandpass filter, that has been used by the utility data to be sent. which rejects frequencies beyond industry in the past for rudimen- Additionally, OFDM’s spectral effi- the one of interest. The signal is then tary purposes, such as infrequent ciency allows the use of advanced switched to the receive signal chain, one-way communications from channel-coding techniques. In where one or more downconverters meters to a concentrator. However, Maxim’s powerline solutions, translate from the carrier frequency to FSK suffers from a significant advanced channel coding is used an intermediate frequency (IF), then drawback: if an interferer coincides along with OFDM to maximize to the in-phase/quadrature-phase with one of the transmit frequen- communication robustness in (I/Q) stage, and then to the baseband. cies, the receiver loses reception. adverse channel conditions. Two As FSK only switches between two More recent architectures eliminate layers of error-correction coding frequencies, bandwidth is not used one or more of the IF downconver- (convolutional and Reed Solomon) efficiently, resulting in low data rates. sion stages with a low-IF or zero-IF are used to ensure reliable data This low data rate is insufficient for sampling architecture. These designs transmission. In addition, data smart grid applications that demand use either a single ADC to digitize is interleaved in both time and bidirectional control. a high- or low-IF signal or, typically, frequency domains across OFDM two ADCs to digitize a complex I/Q Real-world PLC rollouts frequently carriers to decrease the sensitivity to baseband signal. The ADC output require up to several hundred impulse noise and protect against is fed into a DSP or digital ASIC meters to be connected to a single burst errors. where the baseband is processed. data concentrator over the medium- Maxim’s next-generation G3-PLC Sometimes a microprocessor is also voltage (MV) portion of the network. technology includes additional used to handle the higher layers of This requires data communication capabilities: the protocol. For transmission, the across low-voltage/medium-voltage processing path and signal chain are (LV/MV) transformers. Since these • MAC-level security using an reversed, and the signal is sent out to transformers can cause several tens of AES-128 cryptographic engine the antenna. decibels of (frequency-selective) signal • Mesh routing protocol to attenuation to FSK signals, more The system can be partitioned in determine the best path between advanced and robust communication several ways. ZigBee or Maxim’s remote network nodes methods than FSK are needed. Simplelink radios, for instance, can

28 Maxim Smart Grid Solutions Communications Overview

• Adaptive tone mapping for communications network. The differ- ±80V fault protection to eliminate optimal bandwidth utilization ential nature of RS-485 signaling the need for external components • A robust mode of operation to makes it less susceptible to external such as polyswitch limiters and zener improve communication under interference. Moreover, the RS-485 diodes. noisy channel conditions specification supports multidrop configurations, thus allowing the Add a point-to-point link with • Channel estimation to select connection of multiple meters to a RS-232 transceivers the optimal modulation scheme single bus. between neighboring nodes The RS-232 protocol is intended For instance, RS-485 can be used in for short-distance communica- • Coexistence with older S-FSK an apartment building to transmit tion between two devices. Meter systems data from meters in each apartment designers typically use RS-232 for to a central unit that aggregates the implementing a point-to-point G3-PLC is so robust that transmission data from the individual meters, link between a utility meter and a across transformers is achievable which can then be read through computer, remote display, or modem. with an inexpensive coupler. This a wireless or PLC link. A similar reduces the number of concentrators approach can be used in industrial Because the RS-232 port is only needed in smart grid installations, systems that require multiple cost used a fraction of the time, it should saving system implementation cost centers to be metered. include automatic shutdown circuitry and making PLC cost competitive to conserve power. Additionally, with, or even superior to, wireless designers should look for devices Selecting an RS-485 transceiver advanced meter infrastructure (AMI) with extended ESD protection to systems. Distances up to 6km have To maintain signal quality over long prevent damage during handling. been achieved on low- and medium- cable lengths through noisy envi- voltage lines, allowing remote sites to ronments, designers should look Maxim’s RS-232 family combines be monitored as well. The complete for transceivers with the following proprietary AutoShutdown™ technol- G3-PLC profile specification, as well features. ogy with robust ESD protection, fast as specifications for the PHY and MAC data rates, and small footprints— layers, can be downloaded from: ESD protection to prevent damage basically, everything that you need in www.maxim-ic.com/G3-PLC. from handling and connection of the an RS-232 transceiver. transceivers. Maxim provides both high- Multiprotocol transceivers frequency and low-frequency PLC Fail-safe circuitry to protect the chipsets for smart grid applications. design from open- and short-circuit provide design flexibility Maxim recommends using narrow- conditions. In cases where the protocols are band OFDM to transmit data in a either not known in advance or Slew-rate limiting to reduce spectrum consistent with world- where there needs to be flexibility, radiated emissions and data errors. wide spectral power-density Maxim’s multiprotocol transceivers standards for PLC (below ~500kHz Hot-swap capability to eliminate allow you to use a single board in CENELEC®, FCC, and ARIB). false transitions on the bus during layout to support either RS-232 power-up or live insertion of the or RS-485 communication. This Serial communications transceiver. saves time because one design can support different market require- Achieve long cable runs in noisy Isolation to protect against voltage ments, and each board can simply be environments spikes, ground loops, electrical programmed to the desired protocol storms, etc. during production. In harsh and noisy environments, such as multi-unit residential AutoDirection control to save an buildings or industrial settings, an optocoupler by eliminating the need RS-485 bus architecture can be used for an isolated control channel. to implement a low-cost, yet robust

www.maxim-ic.com/smartgrid 29 Communications Featured products

OFDM-based PLC chipset dramatically improves reliability and network data rate

MAX2990/MAX2991 (G3-PLC Lite) Benefits

The MAX2990 modem and the MAX2991 analog front-end (AFE) •• Robust long-distance transmission comprise a PLC chipset that achieves reliable long-range data –– Up to 100kbps data rate at 10kHz to communications. The MAX2990 is a highly integrated SoC that 490kHz; 32kbps at 10kHz to 95kHz combines the PHY and MAC layers using Maxim’s 16-bit MAXQ® –– Built-in AGC with 62dB dynamic range microcontroller core. The MAX2991 is a state-of-the-art, stand-alone and DC offset cancellation IC that features two-stage automatic gain control (AGC) with a 62dB –– Includes forward error correction (FEC), dynamic range and on-chip programmable filters. Both devices CRC16, and CRC32 operate in the CENELEC, FCC, and ARIB frequency bands. –– CSMA/CA controls traffic in multinode networks –– ARQ enhances data transmission reliability •• High integration lowers BOM cost and speeds design –– On-chip band-select filter, VGA, and 10-bit ADC for the Rx path –– On-chip band-waveform-shaping filter, programmable predriver, and 10-bit DAC for the Tx path •• Built-in security protocols prevent tampering –– Fast DES/3DES engine

INTERRUPT DES CONTROL ENGINE CRC32 TIMER/ OFDM PLC PHY CSMA/ MAX2990 PWM ARQ REED- UART FLASH SOLOMON INSERT 32KB PREAMBLE MCU (MAXQ) IFFT AND CYCLIC SPITM DUAL- CONVOLUTIONAL PREFIX PORT ENCODER SRAM GPIO 4KB x 8 PLC MAC REED- AFE SPI INTERFACE SRAM 2 SOLOMON JAMMER I C 4KB BPSK CANCELLER DEMOD FFT VITERBI AND SYNC ROM DECODER 5KB x 8 RTC WATCHDOG JTAG TIMER

VGA1 LPF HPF VGA2 ADC

ADAPTATION 1 RECEIVER PATH ADAPTATION 2

IIR PREDRIVER LPF SERIAL INTERFACE DAC FILTER TRANSMITTER PATH

PROCESS TUNING BLOCK CONTROL REGISTERS MAX2991

Block diagrams of the MAX2990 and MAX2991.

30 Maxim Smart Grid Solutions Communications Featured products

Next-generation OFDM-based PLC modem improves network reliability and coverage over earlier generations MAX2992* (G3-PLC) Benefits

The MAX2992 modem improves long-range data communications •• Reliable long-distance transmission by extending network capabilities to transmission over transform- –– Up to 225kbps effective data rate at 10kHz ers. This highly integrated SoC combines the PHY and MAC layers to 490kHz; 44kbps effective data rate at using Maxim’s 32-bit MAXQ microcontroller core. Two forms of FEC 10kHz to 95kHz with a maximum data rate are added to further improve communication reliability over earlier of 298kbps generations and add backwards compatibility with older FSK-based –– Adaptive tone mapping monitors sub- PLC technologies. This device operates in the CENELEC, FCC, and channel conditions and automatically ARIB frequency bands. When combined with the MAX2991, a full PLC selects the optimal transmission modem can be realized. parameters –– FEC, CRC16, and CRC32 –– CSMA/CA controls traffic in multinode networks –– ARQ enhances data transmission reliability –– Fast AES-128 engine for high data security •• Reduces system cost –– Long-distance (6km) transmission means fewer repeaters –– Communication across transformers requires fewer data concentrators –– Backwards compatibility with FSK-based solutions improves interoperability •• Full IPv6 addressing extends system addressability all the way into the home –– Implements 6LoWPAN adaptation layer supporting IPv6

INTERRUPT JTAG CONTROL FAST COPY Tx DATA Tx MANAGER BUFFER TRANSMITTER WD WATCHDOG TIMERS TIMER 1 TO 7 PMEM UART1 128KB x 8 AFE G3 PHY FFT UART0 ROM INTERFACE MAXQ30 6KB x 8 µC SPI0 SRAM FOR DATA 128KB x 8 Rx DATA Rx MANAGER BUFFER RECEIVER GPIO DUAL RAM 4KB x 8 HF OSC

1.2 AES SPI1 REGULATOR BUFFER MANAGER ENCRYPTION CRC32 MAX2992* SS MISI SCLK MISC

128KB FLASH

Block diagram of the MAX2992.

*Future product—contact the factory for availability. www.maxim-ic.com/smartgrid 31 Communications Featured products

Wi-Fi transceivers enable communication over the longest distances

MAX2830/MAX2831/MAX2832 Benefits

The MAX2830/MAX2831/MAX2832 Wi-Fi RF transceivers support •• Transceivers support industry wireless communication standards in the unlicensed 2.4GHz standards for easier, faster design frequency band. Maxim’s line of Wi-Fi products are direct-conversion, –– Support for the IEEE 802.11b/g standards zero-IF OFDM transceivers providing best-in-class performance to to leverage a large ecosystem of HAN support the longest distances. Custom frequency bands for nonstan- devices dard and multimode applications are also available. •• Low noise and high sensitivity enable larger networks –– Low noise figure (2.6dB) and receive sensitivity (-76dBm) enable the longest range •• On-chip filters eliminate external SAW filter and reduce BOM count and cost –– Integrated PA with +18.5dBm transmit power reduces BOM count and PCB area

90° Wi-Fi PLL 0° TRANSCEIVER OSC

Block diagram of Maxim’s Wi-Fi transceivers.

32 Maxim Smart Grid Solutions Communications Featured products

WiMAX transceivers boost range and throughput for faster data access

MAX2839/MAX2842 Benefits

The MAX2839/MAX2842 WiMAX RF transceivers provide the flex- •• Best-in-class performance extends link ibility to support wireless communication standards in the licensed range 2GHz and 3GHz frequency bands. Maxim’s WiMAX products are –– Lowest noise figure (2.3dB) provides direct-conversion, zero-IF, MIMO OFDM transceivers that use a dual- longest range—18% farther than closest receiver architecture to maximize data throughput and link range. competitor Custom frequency bands for nonstandard and multimode applica- •• Smallest WiMAX transceiver fits the tions are also available. tightest designs –– Tiny 3.6mm x 5.1mm wafer-level package (MAX2839AS) •• Complete frequency coverage with MIMO support to reach customers worldwide –– 2.3GHz to 2.7GHz with 1x2 MIMO support (MAX2839) –– 3.3GHz to 3.9GHz with 2x2 MIMO support (MAX2842)

90° WiMAX PLL 0° TRANSCEIVER OSC

Block diagram of Maxim’ s WiMAX transceivers.

www.maxim-ic.com/smartgrid 33 Communications Featured products

260MHz to 470MHz ISM radio for HANs and NANs extends battery life up to seven years

MAX7032 Benefits

The MAX7032 transceiver offers an inexpensive, low-power solution •• Extends battery life for one-way and two-way reporting from meters in HANs and some –– Low active (< 7mA Rx, < 12mA Tx) and NANs. The transceiver uses the license-free low-frequency radio shutdown (< 1µA) current extends bands in the U.S. (260MHz to 470MHz) and Europe (433.05MHz to battery life 434.79MHz). The radio’s simple ASK or FSK modulation technique, –– Programmable receiver shutdown/ outstanding sensitivity, wide selection of data rates, and low current wake-up cycle for additional current drain make it the perfect choice for local radio links and networks savings in these frequency ranges. The transceiver can achieve link margins better than 120dB, which means that it can reach 1km over open flat •• Compact radio module for space- terrain or maintain a link between an underground water meter and constrained metering applications a local concentrator. The MAX7032 is flexible enough to work with –– Small 5mm x 5mm TQFN package multiple smart grid communication standards. •• Good penetration in buildings

METER SENSOR (WATER OR GAS VOLUME, FLOW, ETC.)

µP

CRYSTAL

SCLK DIO CSB

METER OR READER DATA KEYPAD/CONTROLLER TX/RX1

MAX7032 METER OR READER DISPLAY TRANSCEIVER HVIN SUPPLY, PAOUT AVDD V ANTENNA BYPASS DD MATCHING DVDD NETWORK LNAIN

4 Ls LNASRC LNAOUT 4 Cs

CERAMIC DATA FILTER AND IF FILTER DETECTOR

2 Rs 4 Cs

VDD

System diagram for the MAX7032.

34 Maxim Smart Grid Solutions Communications Featured products

Low-/high-band transmitter for HANs/NANs extends battery life up to seven years

MAX7049* Benefits

The MAX7049 ASK/FSK transmitter offers an inexpensive, low-power •• Extends battery life solution for one-way reporting from meters in HANs and some –– Low active (< 35mA) and shutdown NANs. The transmitter uses the license-free low- and high-frequency (< 0.5µA) current conserves battery life bands in the U.S. and Europe, making it a very flexible solution. The •• Low BOM cost shaped ASK or FSK modulation technique reduces the transmitted frequency bandwidth so that more frequency channels can be used. –– Only crystal and matching components The wide selection of data rates and low current drain make it well are needed suited for local radio links and networks. This IC is flexible enough •• Good penetration in buildings to work with multiple smart grid communication standards and is –– Maximum allowable Tx power (25mW) compatible with modes S and T of the European M-Bus standard. for European ETSI standard

METER SENSOR (WATER OR GAS VOLUME, FLOW, ETC.)

µP

CRYSTAL

HOP ENABLE SDO SCLK SDI CSB

METER OR READER DATAIN KEYPAD/CONTROLLER

MAX7049* METER OR READER DISPLAY TRANSCEIVER SUPPLY, PA+ AVDD V ANTENNA BYPASS DD MATCHING DVDD NETWORK PA-

4 Ls CPVDD CRTL CPOUT 4 Cs VDD

PLL FILTER

1 R 2 Cs

System diagram for the MAX7049.

*Future product—contact the factory for availability. www.maxim-ic.com/smartgrid 35 Communications Featured products

RF expertise to deliver custom-tailored solutions for your specific smart grid needs

ASIC Services Benefits

Maxim’s ASIC services are available to meet your specific application •• Maxim’s expertise gives you a high requirements. Maxim offers flexible engagement options from foundry first-silicon success rate sales through turnkey design to joint-development projects. Our –– Over 15 years of experience in the ASIC smart grid solutions include: business –– Rich analog and RF IP catalog speeds •• Wireless backhaul; distribution asset management your time to market –– WiMAX and rebanded WiMAX transceivers •• In-house process technologies provide •• AMR; fault diagnostics optimal performance-cost tradeoff –– FSK, ASK, OFDM, DSSS transceivers •• AMI –– WiFi, ZigBee/802.15.4 transceivers •• Proprietary solutions –– 400MHz to 5GHz RF/wireless transceivers

www.maxim-ic.com/ASICs

36 Maxim Smart Grid Solutions Communications Featured products

Multiprotocol transceivers enable on-the-fly protocol selection for power-meter communications MAX3160E/MAX3161E/MAX3162E Benefits

The MAX3160E/MAX3161E/MAX3162E are multiprotocol transceivers •• Provide adaptability without additional that allow designers to use a single device to support both RS-232 parts or design work and RS-485 serial communications in power-meter applications. –– Pin-programmable half- or full-duplex These devices offer flexibility and convenience through a pin- communication selectable interface, which makes it easy to program each board to –– Pin-selectable RS-232 or RS-485/RS-422 the desired protocol during production. In addition, the transceivers operation have extra protection against static electricity; true fail-safe circuitry that guarantees a logic-high receiver output when the receiver •• Save board space and cost inputs are open or shorted; a 10nA shutdown mode; short-circuit –– Integrated ±15kV ESD protection limiting; and thermal shutdown circuitry to protect against excessive eliminates external protection circuitry power dissipation. –– Allow up to 256 transceivers on the bus without requiring an extra serial bus, UART, or microprocessor •• Reduce power consumption –– First 3V multiprotocol solution in the industry –– 5x lower supply current than the competition—significantly reduces power dissipation

RS-232 MAX3160E

DUAL CHARGE PUMP

RS-485/RS-422 MULTI- LOGIC CONTROL PROTOCOL UART I/O LOGIC TRANSCEIVER BLOCK

Block diagram of Maxim’s multiprotocol transceivers.

www.maxim-ic.com/smartgrid 37 Communications Featured products

Highly integrated RS-485 transceivers simplify power-meter interface designs

MAX13412E/MAX13413E Benefits

The MAX13412E/MAX13413E are half-duplex RS-485/RS-422 transceivers •• AutoDirection control saves cost and optimized for isolated power meters. These devices reduce design board space complexity by integrating a low-dropout regulator (LDO) and a –– Reduces the number of optical isolators sensing circuit for AutoDirection control. The internal LDO allows needed in isolated applications the devices to operate from a wide, unregulated voltage range (6V •• Built-in LDO offers convenience without to 28V), simplifying power-supply designs. AutoDirection control the worry of providing a regulated reduces cost and board space by eliminating an optocoupler in voltage level isolated power-meter applications. Other features include enhanced ESD protection, fail-safe circuitry, slew-rate limiting, and full-speed –– Operates from an unregulated 6V to 28V operation. power supply and provides 5V/20mA of power to external circuits •• Extended ESD level of ±15kV (Human Body Model) eliminates external ESD protection circuitry •• 1/8-unit load receiver input impedance enables up to 256 peripheral sensors in the system

VREG UNREGULATED ISOLATED POWER SUPPLY V SYS (6V TO 28V)

AutoDirection control eliminates third RO VCC optocoupler R LDO Integrated LDO allows B wide supply range (6V to 28V) MCU AND RELATED RE DETECT CIRCUITRY CIRCUIT

VREG A

5V output VREG supplies up to 20mA to external circuitry VSYS DI GND D

MAX13412E/MAX13413E

System block diagram of the MAX13412E/MAX13413E.

38 Maxim Smart Grid Solutions Communications Recommended solutions