Analog Devices' Blackfin Power Siemens' Smart Meter Solution
Apr
7
Written by:
Jeremy Glowacki
4/7/2009 10:30 AM
Continuing its drive to enable next-generation smart energy management, Analog Devices has announced that Blackfin BF531 processors will drive Siemens' Energy Sectors' Automated Metering and Information System (AMIS).
Utilizing Analog Devices' Blackfin convergent processor's powerful processing capacity, AMIS delivers essential, dynamic "demand response" energy usage communication between the consumer and the energy provider, facilitating true whole grid energy management. The low cost, high performance and scalable Blackfin technology positions AMIS smart meters for quick cross regional and multiple standard adoption.
"Our smart metering solution is the result of many years of research," said Alexander Schenk, business segment manager for AMIS systems at Siemens Energy, Power Distribution Division. "The Analog Devices Blackfin enables us to offer sophisticated measurement and communication at the meter level, enabling a true system-wide energy management tool."
Blackfin's exceptional performance, low cost and scalability gives power companies the edge in seamless smart meter implementation. Blackfin calculates the consumer energy usage at the smart meter and performs the powerline modem functions, creating an efficient bi-directional communication flow with the power line concentrator.
With AMIS, power companies are now able to implement energy saving initiatives and respond quickly and effectively to government mandates for increased smart metering. Blackfin's configurability eases a multi-regional power company's expansion into differing community or regional standards. With AMIS, new features and standard adoption simply requires a straightforward software upgrade over the grid. In addition, AMIS facilitates the incorporation of a full range of meters for new alternative energy technologies, creating a consistent, scalable energy management system.
"ADI processors are a natural choice for the dynamic and powerful processing needs of today's smart meter," said Colin Duggan, industrial and instrumentation segment manager for ADI's General Purpose-Digital Signal Processing Division. "We are especially happy to be a part of the larger solution of true demand and energy management which benefits consumers as well as significantly contributing to environmental conservation."
With Blackfin's real-time energy collection and communication capabilities, power companies can now limit negative environmental impact, reduce skyrocketing energy costs, and solicit customer participation in tailored energy conservation programs.