TÜV Rheinland Japan has conducted a certification test for P2P-PLC, a new certification program of the G3-Alliance (former G3-PLC Alliance), an industry alliance developing communication standards, and announced that Renesas Electronics Corporation's (Renesas) P2P-PLC platform (PLC modem: R9A06G061) has successfully passed the certification tests and is the first P2P-PLC certified platform in the world.
The G3-Alliance, a consortium to standardize and promote G3-Technologies globally, was established to promote G3-PLC mainly in smart grid applications and is now expanding to many application areas such as smart lighting, buildings, environmental monitoring, and HVAC (Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning)
Because some of these applications require simple topologies or a limited number of devices in the network, there has been a need for lightweight programs that can minimize memory usage designed for point to point communication.
To meet this need, P2P-PLC (Point-to-Point PLC) certification was introduced as a new certification program of the G3-Alliance under the leadership of G3-Alliance Executive member Renesas.
Features of P2P-PLC certification include:
- Covers all existing certification profiles (CENELEC A / CENELEC B / FCC / ARIB)
- Only PHY and MAC layers are certified
- Platform certification is covered (since the goal is to allow product manufacturers to multi-source platforms)
- Uses the same test procedures as G3-PLC certification, but a separate test certificate is issued for P2P-PLC
Using pre-certified platforms based on open standards makes it more efficient and less risky for product manufacturers to launch products in domestic and international markets.