Analog Devices Enables Secure And Robust Transmission Of Remote Data For Smart Grids And Home And Building Automation

RF transceivers are needed for the secure and robust transmission of this information over short distances, for storing measurement data, and communicating with utility computers over wireless networks. Over the next five years, analysts report that more than 150 million smart meters will be installed worldwide to support the growing number of smart grids coming online.

ADI’s new ADF7022 RF transceiver and ADF7023 RF transceiver are effective for smart grid and other applications operating on the short-range ISM-band (industrial, science and medical) for remote data measurement. These applications include industrial monitoring and control, wireless networks and telemetry systems, security systems, medical devices and remote controls. In addition, the ADF7022 RF transceiver is the industry’s first transceiver with an integrated communications processor to support the io-homecontrol® protocol, which is a technology that enables homeowners to control remotely home systems, such as roller blinds and shutters, awnings, garage doors, roof windows and heating systems.

“Wireless technology is becoming more pervasive as a mechanism to control and monitor energy, as well as control home and business systems,” said Peter Real, vice president, RF Group, Analog Devices, Inc. “Short-range RF transceivers offering robust radio performance are paramount for these applications, and Analog Devices’ new transceivers offer a complete radio solution with the performance, integration and low power consumption required to ensure the transfer of critical data.”

Available to member companies of the io-homecontrol consortia, the new ADF7022 short-range RF transceiver is a low-power, high-performance, highly integrated FSK/GFSK transceiver designed for operation at the three io-homecontrol channels of 868.25 MHz, 868.95 MHz and 869.85 MHz in the license-free ISM band. The ADF7022 is fully compliant to ETSI-300-200 and has enhanced digital baseband features specifically designed for the io-homecontrol standard. This enables the device to perform complex tasks typically performed by a microprocessor, such as media access, packet management/validation and packet retrieval to and from data buffer memory, thereby allowing the host microprocessor to remain in power-down mode. As a result, this capability significantly lowers power consumption and eases both the computational and memory requirements of the host microprocessor.

The ADF7023 short-range RF transceiver is a low-power, low-IF transceiver designed for operation in the license-free ISM bands at 433MHz, 868MHz and 915MHz. The ADF7023 includes enhanced baseband features and offers a low transmit-and-receive current, as well as data rates in 2FSK/GFSK up to 250 kbps. It offers industry-leading blocking resistance and receive sensitivity with very low receive and transmit currents, allowing the radio to operate in environments where interfering signals are greater than four times stronger and more than double the operating range. It operates with a power supply range of 1.8 V to 3.6 V and has lower power consumption in both transmit and receive modes, enabling longer battery life. Other features integrated on-chip include an extremely low-power, 8-bit RISC communications processor; patent-pending, fully-integrated image rejection scheme; VCO (voltage controlled oscillator); Fractional-N PLL (phase locked loop); 10-bit ADC (analogue-to-digital converter); digital RSSI (received signal strength indication); temperature sensors; AFC (automatic frequency control) loop; and battery voltage monitor.