Renesas Electronics Corporation
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Low-Cost DC Power Line Communication (PLC)

Overview

This design provides a simple alternative to a 1:1 RS-232 bus, capable of transmitting over longer distances than RS-232. The GreenPAK™ is programmed to function as a communication translator, taking serial input/output from the MCU and interposing a high-frequency signal onto the DC power line, which is in turn decoded by a second similar circuit.

System Benefits:

  • Power Line Communication (PLC) eliminates the extra wires required for RS-232, reducing system costs.
  • Enables communication between stations using a high-frequency signal controlled by the MCU UART Tx/Rx lines on the GPIO pins of the GreenPAK device.
  • GreenPAK allows for the low-cost implementation of DC PLC.
  • The DC/DC regulator supports communications over a DC power line carrying up to 36V DC, accommodating a wide variety of applications.

Block Diagram

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EU179 Right arrow.252 Optional Non-Renesas Component Optional Non-Renesas Component.694 Sheet.770 Line.758 Line.759 Sheet.767 Line.758 Line.759 Sheet.761 Line.758 Line.759 Right arrow.252.683 Right arrow.684 EU179 EU179 EU179 DC/DC Master Node DC/DC DC/DC DC PLC Master Node DC PLC DC PLC Connector.287 Down arrow.256 RX Rx Rx TX Tx Tx Line.254 Line.688 Max 36V DC Max 36V DC Max 36V DC 3.3V 3.3V 100µA 3.3V100µA 3.3V 3.3V 3.3V Master Node Master Node Master Node Slave Node Slave Node Slave Node Inductor Air Core.212 Sheet.731 Sheet.732 Sheet.733 Sheet.734 Sheet.735 Sheet.736 Sheet.737 Sheet.738 Sheet.739 1µH 1µH 1µH Line.254.741 Line.742 Line.254.743 Line.254.744 Connector.287.745 Connector.746 Line.254.747 Line.254.748 Connector.287.749 Connector.287.750 Line.254.756 Connector.287.757 Sheet.840 Sheet.834 Line.758 Line.759 Line.254.837 100pF 100pF 100pF Sheet.844 Line.254.841 Line.842 DC/DC Slave Node DC/DC DC/DC DC PLC Slave Node DC PLC DC PLC Arm Cortex-M MCU Slave Node Arm Cortex-M MCU Arm Cortex-M MCU Sheet.984 Arm Cortex-M MCUs Master Node Arm Cortex-M MCU Arm Cortex-M MCU Peripheral UART UART Label Text 10pt.729 GND GND VCC VCC VCC

DC/DC

Buck Regulators (Integrated FETs)

DC PLC

Other GreenPAKs
Application Note

Arm Cortex-M MCU

RA Arm Cortex-M MCUs

DC/DC

Buck Regulators (Integrated FETs)

DC PLC

Other GreenPAKs
Application Note

Arm Cortex-M MCU

RA Arm Cortex-M MCUs

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