Smart Meters

The benefits and use of remote monitoring continue to rise dramatically. Low power consumption becomes ever more important as these IoT-enabled devices expand into more remote locations without access to power or into areas affected by power outages.

SiTime MEMS µPower timing solutions provide the smallest footprint, highest reliability, and multiple ways to lower system power — from 1-µA NanoDrive devices to higher stability that saves power during sleep mode.

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SiTime MEMS Timing Benefits

Smallest footprint and power

1.2 mm² CSP

Ultra-low power up to <1 µA

NanoDrive™ programmable output swing

Robust clocking solutions

±5 ppm frequency stability

Immunity to power supply noise

LVCMOS enables driving multiple loads

Integrated MEMS, easy to use

No external quartz

No quartz reliability issues

No cover or shielding

Smart meters, whether they be for electric, gas or water, offer tremendous benefits to utility companies. Besides the costs saved by no longer dispatching personnel to read each meter, smart meters enable utility companies to be notified of outages and other problems as they occur.

Several clock sources are needed in smart meters.

Sleep clock: Used to keep track of the time and day. For this reason, it is running when the rest of the system is powered down. It usually operates at 32.768 kHz to low power.
Oscillators for the communication interfaces: Various requirements in terms of frequency, signaling (single-ended or differential), jitter limits, etc.
Microcontroller clock: Usually realized with either a crystal resonator or an oscillator in the 16 to 40 MHz range.

Smart Meters Block Diagram

SiTime MEMS Timing for Smart Meters

Device	Key Features	Key Values
32.768 kHz XO SiT1532 32.768 kHz SiT1534 1 to 32.768 Hz	900 nA typ. power consumption 1.2 V to 3.63 V operation 1.5 x 0.8 mm and 2.0 x 1.2 mm packages	Saves power, maximizes battery life Programmable output swing for further power savings Small footprint saves board space Internal VDD filtering eliminates external bypass capacitor: BOM cost reduction and further space savings
32.768 kHz XO SiT1569 1 Hz to 462.5 kHz MHz	3.3 µA current consumption at 100 kHz ±50 ppm stability 1.5 x 0.8 mm package	Saves power, maximizes battery life Programmable output swing for further power savings Small footprint saves board space Internal VDD filtering eliminates external bypass capacitor: BOM cost reduction and further space savings
32.768 kHz TCXO SiT1552 32.768 kHz	±5 to ±20 ppm 990 nA typ. consumption 1.5 V to 3.65 V supply range 1.5 x 0.8 mm package	Saves power, maximizes battery life Programmable output swing for further power savings Small footprint saves board space Internal VDD filtering eliminates external bypass capacitor: BOM cost reduction and further space savings
MHz Oscillator SiT8021 1 to 26 MHz	Ultra low power: < 270 µA at 6.144 MHz, 1.8 V, 10 pF load 1.5 x 0.8 mm package ±50 and ±100ppm options 1.62 to 3.63 V supply -40°C to 85°C	Saves power, maximizes battery life Saves board space High reliability Small footprint Low power Immunity to EMI

SiTime oscillators offer many advantages for smart meters.

Small footprint: Down to 1.5 x 0.8 mm.
Very low power: <1 mA for MHz oscillators – actual value depending on frequency; <490 nA for 32.768 kHz oscillators).
Immunity to EMI: Due to the small size of SiTime MEMS resonators compared to traditional crystal resonators. This is particularly important in electricity meters where high currents are common.
Frequency accuracy: Better accuracy of the sleep clock allows longer periods of system standby time between re-syncs of the RTC to network time. This contributes to significant power savings of connected, battery powered devices.

MEMS Timing Outperforms Quartz

Lower Power
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Smallest Size, Lower BOM	Best 32 kHz Oscillator Stability
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Drive Multiple Loads	Low Power Feature
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Watch Video: 8 Reasons to Replace Crystals with MEMS Oscillators

Featured Resources

Application Note: AN10037 Optimized SiT15xx Drive Settings for 32 kHz Inputs of Low Power MCUs
Application Note: AN10040 SiT1532-32kHz XO Frequency Stability
Application Note: AN10046 Driving Multiple Loads with 32 kHz Nano-Power MEMS Oscillators
Article: To extend battery life, look at the big picture
Product Brief: SiT8021 μPower MHz Oscillator
Presentation: SiT156x/7x Super-TCXOs Transforming the Timing Industry
Presentation: SiT15xx 32 kHz NanoDrive™ Output
FAQs: SiT8021 µPower Oscillator
FAQs: SiT156x and SiT157x Super-TCXOs
FAQs: SiT1552 32kHz TCXO
FAQs: SiT156x and SiT157x Super-TCXOs
See full list of related resources

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Smart Meters