Leveraging the programmable analog and digital capabilities of Cypress's PSoC® programmable system-on-chip architecture, the new Cypress Powerline Communication (PLC) solution integrates multiple functions beyond communication, including power measurement, system management, and LCD control. In addition to its flexibility and integration capabilities, the new solution offers maximum reliability, with a packet transmission success rate exceeding 97% without retries and 100% success rates without retries built into the solution's coding. The solution provides communication flexibility across high- and low-voltage power lines for applications such as lighting and industrial control, home automation, automatic meter reading, and smart energy management.
Unlike existing solutions that require external microcontrollers and filters, the Cypress PLC solution integrates a Frequency-Shift Key (FSK) modem PHY, network protocol, and application code with the analog and digital programmable blocks and microcontroller of the PSoC architecture. This combination provides a single hardware platform for multiple applications, reduces bill of materials costs, board size, and chip count, and improves manufacturability. Cypress offers reference designs for 110–240 VAC and 12–24 VAC/DC coupling circuits based on boards compliant with FCC (Federal Communications Commission) and ENELEC (European Committee for Electrotechnical Standardization) standards. Pre-certified boards provide developers with a complete solution and a fast time to market.
The PowerPSoC family offers the market's first single-chip solution for controlling high-power LEDs. The Cypress PLC solution integrates support for LED control.
Other features and benefits of the Cypress PLC solution include:
- Support for bidirectional half-duplex communication.
- Flexibility to use the complete solution (PHY, Protocol code, and Application) or parts of the solution (PHY and Protocol, or PHY only).
- Variable transmission speeds up to 2400 bps.
- Built-in power supply that draws power from the power line bus.
The Cypress PLC family includes a cost-optimized, fixed-function device with an I2C interface (CY8CPLC10), PSoC-based programmable devices (CY8CPLC20), and PSoC-based programmable devices optimized for LED support (CY8CLED16P01). The CY8CPLC10 is available in a 28-pin SSOP package, while the CY8CPLC20 and CY8CLED16P01 are available in 28-pin SSOP, 48-pin QFN, and 100-pin TQFP packages.
Cypress also offers several evaluation and development kits.
