STMicroelectronics has launched new smart-meter chips that will enable utility companies to improve billing by measuring accurately down to extremely low power levels.
The company said that meters featuring ST’s new STPM32, STPM33 and STPM34 ICs will help utilities minimize revenue losses and ensure consistent billing for even the most frugal customers.
ST’s latest chips also enable the development of more economical meters that help utilities in cutting down operating costs.
By performing power-quality calculations on-chip, including RMS voltage and current measurement, apparent-energy computation, and under-voltage/over-voltage detection, the chips can offload the meter’s host processor, the company said.
The STPM3 devices incorporate key functions that simplify hardware design, saving external components and pc-board size.
ST’s STPM32, STPM33 and STPM34 offer two, three or four independent channels respectively, for single- and poly-phase AC applications.
Meanwhile, these devices are fully compliant with applicable International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) and American National Standards Institute (ANSI) standards.
The pricing of STPM32, STPM33 and STPM34 starts below 1$ for order quantities over 1,000 units.