GK Smart Energy Solutions uses Semitech power line communications to deliver industry leading AMI systems

SINGAPORE: Semitech Semiconductor, a provider of power line communications solutions that enable the transformation of the electricity grid into a smart grid, announced that its SM6401 power line communications (PLC) SoC is used in GK Smart Energy Solutions Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI) deployed in Europe.

Headquartered in Munich, Germany, GK Smart Energy Solutions is a leader in Advanced Metering Infrastructure solutions and PLC platforms that allow users to remotely manage smart meters, street lights and connected machines. By enabling connectivity via PLC between utilities and homeowners, utilities can now communicate power information in near real-time, collect power generation information and provide an energy management platform that benefits all parties involved.

"GK SES's individual system approach offers customizable, ecological and economically reasonable integration of each business environment into a future-proof, sustainable AMR/AMI structure," noted Thomas Grieche, CTO of GK SES. "Semitech's SM6401 is a key part of the equation, as it enables highly reliable communications, over long distances with high packet throughput."

As shown at the Metering Asia 2011 show, GK SES developed AMI control systems that cover the entire metering process, from stable mass data up to integration into existing IT structures. These systems support up to 250 end users per concentrator (at 1 x per 30 min.), with data memory stored in meter and concentrator and integrated security (on PLC and IP). GK SES combined the inherent flexibility and advanced features of Semitech's SM6401 with the GK SES software to increase efficiency, reduce installation and maintenance efforts and minimize costs.

System features include:

* Dynamic frequency search.
* Dynamic change of modulation schemes (BPSK, FSK, S-FSK) to ensure robust communications in noisy environments.
* Standard protocols (TCP/IP, RS 232 / 485, M-Bus, DLMS, ANSI, etc.).
* Dynamic frequency change based on the possible use of 8 different frequencies in the CENELC A, B and C bands, enabling the system to manage line noise on the line that may impact data transmission.
* Auto discovery to simplify metering installations (no on site meter configuration required).
* Remote update using the SM6401's remotely reconfigurable FLASH memory.

"GK SES has developed exciting smart grid connectivity solutions that improve reliability and throughput of power line communications," said Mike Holt, Semitech's vice president of marketing and sales. "GK SES has brought their smart grid systems expertise to leverage the unique capabilities of the Semitech products to deliver the industry's best AMI solutions."

SM6401 is a highly integrated and most flexible FSK/S-FSK/BPSK SoC solution. Designed for power line communication network applications, SM6401 integrates a 32-bit application processor with memory (32Kbytes application Flash) and peripherals, a network layer processor and an ultra-reliable and robust FSK/S-FSK/BPSK modem. SM6401 is flexible enough to implement both the Lon and DLMS standards.

In addition, it has been demonstrated to be configurable for interoperability with a wide variety of proprietary Narrowband PLC solutions. This level of integration and flexibility enables most all conceivable Narrowband PLC applications. The SM6401 has been designed with an emphasis on Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI) and Automated Meter Reading (AMR) applications, for which its low cost and high performance features are a natural fit.