Austin, Texas, USA – Silicon Labs, a developer of high-performance, analog-intensive, mixed-signal ICs, has introduced a software solution designed to simplify the development of wirelessly connected smart meters for electricity, gas, water and heat resources based on the proven Wireless M-Bus standard.
Silicon Labs’ Wireless M-Bus software complements the company’s industry-leading microcontroller (MCU) and wireless IC products and development kits for the rapidly growing smart metering and smart grid markets.
The Wireless M-Bus specification, based on the European standard EN13757-4, specifies seamless sub-GHz RF communication between various types of smart utility meters, data concentrators, mobile readout devices and heat meters. Wireless smart meter applications require long life for battery-powered meters such as water, gas and heat meters. The Wireless M-Bus communications protocol requires very little overhead for the small amounts of data used by the meter enabling battery life up to 15-20 years.
Proven over the past several years in numerous field tests and deployments in many different countries, Wireless M-Bus has become a widely accepted standard for smart metering in Europe, and interest in the standard is also growing in other world regions.
Silicon Labs’ Wireless M-Bus software solution includes a comprehensive sub-GHz wireless protocol stack that supports the S (868 MHz), T (868 MHz), C (868 MHz) and N (169 MHz) modes from the physical layer to the application layer. The protocol stack includes API-based access for both application and extended data link layers. The software also includes an optional serial command interface to enable control of the Wireless M-Bus solution from an external host processor.
The Steinbeis Transfer Center Embedded Design and Networking (STZEDN) developed the sub-GHz protocol stack, which conforms to the current Wireless M-Bus specification (EN13757-4), the Wireless M-Bus Application Layer (EN13757-3) and the Application Layer of the Open Metering System (OMS) Group. This enables smart meter developers to create competitive products that are easy to install and maintain.
“Our new wireless M-Bus software solution simplifies the process of adding wireless connectivity to smart metering systems,” said Geir Førre, Senior Vice President and General Manager of Silicon Labs’ microcontroller and wireless products. “As a leading supplier of silicon solutions to the world’s top utility meter manufacturers, we also offer an array of sub-GHz RF transceivers, EFM32 MCUs, 8-bit wireless MCUs, Ember® ZigBee®SoCs and digital isolation IC products for smart metering and other Internet of Things applications.”