Collaboration to develop world-class IoT solution for innovative home-automation

Microsemi has announced its collaboration with STMicroelectronics on a new electric vehicle car charger solution using Microsemi's innovative PLC line driver. This is the first of several solutions targeting systems architects and designers who develop solutions for the Internet of Things (IoT). The initial collaboration, the module for electric vehicle supply equipment (MEVSE) featuring vehicle-to-grid (V2G) communication and support for a wide range of network and application protocols from Tatung, utilizes the Microsemi Le87501 PLC line driver and the ST2100 STreamPlug SoC from ST, along with a new proprietary state Machine, event-driven- (SMED) based digital power controller and is supported by the OpenV2G software stack. The Microsemi Le87501 PLC drivers are based on Microsemi's proprietary high-speed, high-voltage bipolar process technology, which enables significant performance and cost savings over currently used technologies. Microsemi's industry-leading devices have also been selected by ST for reference designs for its recently announced ST2100 STreamPlug SoC products used in applications where high integration levels and computation performance are required, such as consumer home area networks (HANs), industrial and smart-grid applications, says the company. "Microsemi's high-performance line drivers, along with the STreamPlug SoC, provide a world-class IoT total solution, enabling faster development of innovative power management systems," said Shahin Sadeghi, director of marketing and applications, Microsemi. This is the first collaboration between ST and Microsemi targeting IoT. According to IDC, IoT technology and services spending will generate global revenues of $8.9 trillion by 2020, growing at a compound annual rate (CAGR) of 7.9 percent. Microsemi and ST are enabling additional capabilities with the use of the Microsemi Timberwolf audio processors for command and control as well as audio sensing. The Timberwolf DSP platform enables Microsemi to leverage its extensive expertise and leadership in voice communications to bridge into new and emerging hands-free applications that require clear speech, free of noise and echo. The world's first intelligent-gateway SoC, ST's ST2100 STreamPlug combines a high-performance processing subsystem with power line communication (PLC), security and peripheral features to support hybrid networks utilizing popular wired and wireless standards, including HomePlug AV and HomePlug Green PHY. The STreamPlug SoC also integrates a PLC modem and analog front end. "The ST2100-based platform was developed to enable industrial IoT applications," said Oleg Logvinov, director special assignments for the Industrial and Power Conversion Division, STMicroelectronics. "Its value to the market is being clearly demonstrated in its adoption by Microsemi and Tatung to address new applications and markets that include electrical vehicle charging and the smart home."