ON Semiconductor has unleashed a power line carrier (PLC) modem SoC geared for smart metering, home automation, solar energy and lighting control. The NCN49597 incorporates a low power 32bit ARM Cortex M0 processor with a high-precision analog front-end. Based on a dual 4800-baud Spread Frequency Shift Keying (S-FSK) channel technology, the device is optimized for power efficiency and performance, while providing excellent robustness and reliability even in harsh environments, noted the company.

The NCN49597 is fully compliant with the IEC61334-5-1 standard and supports building automation standards while keeping pin-to-pin and function compatibility with its predecessor, the AMIS-49587. The device adds various features such as field re-programmability, smart synchronization and automatic half baud rate detection that boost robustness of communication and make its implementation and use simpler.

Programmable carrier frequencies in the CENELEC A to D bands and the ability to operate on both AC voltage, at either 50Hz or 60Hz, and DC voltage enhance the range of applications for which the NCN49597can be used, said ON Semiconductor. This means a single device is suitable for all types of electrical power grid. Ten configurable GPIOs allow connection to peripherals such as LCDs and metering ICs and alleviate the need for external MCUs in applications such as smart plugs. The NCN49597 comes with open source PLC platform code and development environment.

ON Semiconductor also offers a PLC communication reference design kit including a power line driver helping customers to speed up their time-to-market. The NCS5650 is a 2A high efficiency class A/B power line driver that provides flexible 4th order filtering and current limiting, programmable with a single resistor.

The NCN49597 operates from a 3.3V power supply, has a junction operating temperature range of -40�C to 125�C and is housed in an 8 x 8 x 1mm QFN-52 package measuring.

The NCN49597 is priced at $4.99 per unit in 2,500 unit quantities. Samples are available with projected lead-time for production quantities.