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Microchip has partnered with Kalki Communication Technologies (Kalkitech) to provide a Device Language Message Specification (DLMS) protocol stack that is optimised for 16-bit PIC microcontrollers (MCUs). The DLMS protocol has become the worldwide standard among smart meter designers for interoperability among metering systems for different types of energy such as electricity, gas, heat and water; in residential, transmission and distribution applications; and over a wide range of communication methods such as RS232, RS485, PSTN, GSM, GPRS, IPv4, PPP and PLC; as well as for secure data access via AES 128 encryption.

To make the DLMS certification process faster and easier, the software stack has been tested and verified by the DLMS User Association and is customised to operate on all of Microchip’s 16-bit PIC microcontrollers and dsPIC Digital Signal Controllers (DSCs). Additionally, the stack has been developed to ensure seamless integration with Microchip’s communication protocol stacks, including TCP/IP, ZigBee and PLC, to cover a broad spectrum of smart energy applications. For European applications, the stack provides support for the IEC 62056-21 Mode E implementation.

The Explorer 16 Development Board can be used to develop DLMS solutions using Microchip’s portfolio of 16-bit MCUs and DSCs. This DLMS stack is available today, in four versions: The free DLMS Evaluation Library for 16-bit MCUs; the DLMS-lite Stack for 16-bit MCUs (SW500160); the DLMS Stack for 16-bit MCUs (SW500162); and the DLMS Explorer (SW500164) Windows based DLMS/COSEM client application.