After achieve G3-PLC Alliance certification, Vango today releases the broadband PLC solution engineered
specifically for smart grid IoT and backward compatible with narrow-band PLC
standards (G3, Prime, etc.)
While the G3-PLC solution serves its purpose for its targeted applications such
as advanced metering infrastructure, there is need for higher speed
connectivity as more devices are connected. The microgrid and distributed
renewable energy generation also call for higher speed communication in order
to manage the energy network timely. However, most known broadband PLC solutions on the
market were originated from in-home applications (Homeplug AV/AV2, DS2 or G.hn) that were designed for in-house short distance high volume data
communication, while some of them (like HomePlug Green PHY) are used for in-home/in-building
smart grid connectivity where loops are relatively short.
For smart grid IoT applications, the data
packets are usually small, not needing to maintain a communication channel
between devices as in conventional communications. Vango’s proprietary
broadband PLC solution is based on the specificity of IoT data packet and it
was engineered for both in-home and out-home smart grid and IoT applications where network robustness and fast exchange of data
packets are the key driving forces, and a mix of short and very long loops is common.
Specifically, with the OFDM based modulation, it
supports a configurable bandwidth up to 8 MHz to allow more flexibility than typical
narrow-band PLC solutions to avoid strong colored noise in low frequency bands
(typically below 500 kHz) that is common in certain communication environments
and regions. It has another inherent merit of flexible operating bands and tone
mask allocations to meet different regional regulation and requirement.
This broadband solution is equipped with a configurable
Reed-Solomon code unit with error correction capability, plus an interleaving block
and a flexible convolutional code encoder. To secure transmitted data which is
essential in IoT applications, a hardware-based AES-128 module is also built-in.
With multiple high speed interfaces and an embedded flash, it can be used for
different IoT applications.
Another important feature in Vango’s broadband PLC
solution, different from current HomePlug
Green Phy based solutions, is that any layer above the PHY can be configured to
be G3-PLC Alliance standard compliant through firmware/software uploading for
backward compatibility consideration. Besides supporting G3, it can also
support other known narrow band PLC solutions (both OFDM based and
single-carrier based). Solution providers can thus perform seamless system
upgrade for their end customers.
Furthermore, when paired with Vango’s proprietary high
driving and highly integrated line driver (V6002), this newly released broadband
PLC solution can handle heavy loading power line communication encountered in
certain extreme cases with minimum external components because of smart
detection/protection mechanisms implemented in this state of art line driver.
Features
Wideband PLC baseband processor with integrated Analog
Front-End
Companion
with high-linearity and high-current drive line driver
(V6002) with integrated receive functions, offering the lowest BOM and
reliable performance for wideband applications.
Supporting operational frequency OFDM bandwidth from 9 KHz
up to 8 MHz
Supporting a burst packet data rate up to 8 Mbps
Supporting a data rate up to 2 Mbps
Supporting modulations: Selectable differential and
coherent BPSK, QPSK, 8PSK, and coherent 16QAM
Supporting IPv6 networking layer and G3-PLC compliant
6LoWPAN adaptation
layer with optimized network formation and mesh routing function
Compliant with DL/T 645-2007 and Q/GDW 1376.2-2013
Supporting HW AES-128
Packages:
V6302P: 80-pin T/LQFP
V6302N: 68-pin QFN
Operating temperature: -40 °C ~ +85 °C