Itron selects Accent single chip solution for smart metering apps

MILAN, ITALY & LIBERTY LAKE, USA:Accent S.p.A., a leading fabless SoC provider offering highly differentiated platform-based SoC solutions, and Itron, a leader in advanced metering technology, announced Itron’s selection of Accent to supply a newly developed integrated circuit for its OpenWay CENTRON smart meter product line.

The new design will integrate the latest ARM processor technology, a complete ZigBee wireless solution (RF, baseband and protocol stack), as well as an LCD driver and on-chip embedded flash memory to deliver best-in-class performance, highly reduced BOM and lowest system cost.

Powerful processing capability combined with broad range analogue, digital and RF hardware peripherals will enable a single processor core solution for communication, control as well as user application software, thus eliminating the need for multiple processors while significantly reducing power consumption. In order to meet the processing demands of the utility advanced metering infrastructure (AMI) industry, the product offering will utilize the Cortex-M3 CPU from ARM.

The new device integrates a complete ZigBee PRO solution, including an IEEE 802.15.4 RF transceiver, PHY, MAC and communication stack including Smart Energy profile focused on AMI applications. ZigBee PRO provides utility companies a global, open standard for implementing secure, easy-to-use home area networks while also enabling consumers to choose interoperable products for precise management of energy consumption.

The IC will also incorporate embedded flash memory to provide a single chip solution with unprecedented integration. Working from Itron’s product and system requirements, Accent has completed the design of the IC and will provide all necessary software up to the customer’s application layer. Silicon will be available during 4Q09; Itron plans to start mass deployment of Accent’s IC from 2010.