NEC Electronics America, Ariane Controls Partner

Tag : electronics

Earlier this year, NEC Electronics America and Ariane Controlsworked closely to develop the Ariane Controls PLM-1 standalone PLCmodem integrated circuit (IC), which offers a wide range ofprogrammable transmission rates and communications frequencies toprovide engineers with increased design flexibility andreliability. This agreement enables customers to purchase PLM-1devices from NEC Electronics America.
"Ariane has developed a cost--effective, flexible PLC modemsolution that can be migrated easily throughout our processtechnologies to provide our ASIC customers with a critical PLCbuilding block and add functionality to our standard solutionslineup for emerging applications in the smart grid, intelligentlighting control and HAN markets," said Kazu Yamada, vicepresident, custom SoC solutions strategic business unit, NECElectronics America.
"Ariane's goal is to create an open, interoperable standardizedsolution for energy management, and we are excited to expand ourrelationship with NEC Electronics America to offer our PLC modem IPto ASIC and standard solutions system designers," said Jean-PierreFournier, president, Ariane Controls. "We are also happy to havethe support of NEC Electronics America and its broad network todistribute our standalone PLM-1 product."
PLC Modem IP for Command and Control Applications
PLC communications technologies allow quick and reliable datacommunications for networking and energy management applications.As more system designers adopt the technology, consumers can expectto see a wide range of solutions, including whole-house commandcenters that control lighting, appliances, climate, security andother systems. The Ariane PLC IP is optimized for use incost-effective, medium data-rate applications used in these commandand control systems. By making this IP available to its ASIC andstandard solutions customers, NEC Electronics America stronglysupports Ariane Controls in its effort to make this technology anindustry standard.
Digital Modem IC Uses Turnkey Gate Array Platform
The standalone PLM-1 integrated circuit incorporates NECElectronics' CMOS-9HD gate array platform in a small, 44-pin,low-profile quad flatpack (LQFP) package, allowing for easyintegration into the powerline transceivers used for theseapplications. The PLM-1 digital modem implements a half-duplextransmitter/receiver for PLCs using a frequency-shift keymodulation technique, with programmable transmission rates rangingfrom 100 to 30,000 baud and communication frequencies ranging from50 to 500 kilohertz (kHz). The IC includes a complete set ofprogrammable functions that allows designers to implementcost-effective PLC networks with increased design flexibility andreliability. In addition, the device is protocol neutral, enablingthe use of multiple protocols within one powerline network and theuse of more than one protocol in a given application. The IC isRoHS-compliant and operates at 3.3 volts (V) with power consumptionlevels as low as 24 milliwatts (mW).
Availability
The PLC IP for ASIC solutions is available today from NECElectronics America. The PLM-1 device is also available from NECElectronics America and Ariane Controls. For more information,visit http://www.am.necel.com/asics/plc .
About Ariane Controls
Ariane Controls is a powerline (PLC) and wireless (RF)communication technology developer offering highly differentiatednetworking solutions. With its unique and enabling technology,Ariane Controls provides components suppliers and systemsintegrators (OEMs) with the least expensive, most reliablesolutions for residential, commercial and industrial buildingautomation and public utilities applications. Ariane Controls is anactive member of the Homeplug Powerline Alliance.(www.arianecontrols.com)
About NEC Electronics America, Inc.
NEC Electronics America, Inc., headquartered in Santa Clara,California, is a wholly owned subsidiary of NEC ElectronicsCorporation (TSE:6723), a leading provider of semiconductorproducts encompassing advanced technology solutions for thebroadband and communications markets; system solutions for themobile, PC, automotive and digital consumer markets; andmulti-market solutions for a wide range of consumer applications.NEC Electronics America offers local manufacturing in Roseville,California, and the global manufacturing capabilities of its parentcompany. In the Americas, NEC Electronics America markets and sellsindustrial-type active-matrix LCD modules from NEC LCDTechnologies, Ltd., a global leader in innovative displaytechnologies. More information about the products offered by NECElectronics America can be found at http://www.am.necel.com/.
NEC Electronics and NEC Electronics America are either registeredtrademarks or trademarks of NEC Corporation in the United Statesand/or other countries. All other marks are property of theirrespective owners.
SOURCE: NEC Electronics America, Inc.
CONTACT: NEC Electronics America, Inc. Klaudeen Shemirani, 1 (408)588-5402 klaudeen.shemirani@am.necel.com or Porter Novelli JessicaKerr, 1 (415) 975-2213 jessica.kerr@porternovelli.com or ArianeControls, Inc. Jean-Pierre Fournier, 1 (418) 874-1919jp@arianecontrols.com Copyright Business Wire 2008