Accent Announces Company Strategic Focus to Speed Adoption of Smart Grid Devices

• Industry first Smart Grid SoC platform integrating unprecedented technology breadth for 50% IC BOM reductions
• Flexible, modular approach enabling end-product differentiation from Smart Meters to Smart Appliances

MILAN, Italy & SAN JOSE, Calif.-- May 04, 2010--Accent, a world leader in semiconductor integration of communications and metering technologies, launches ASMgrid, the industry first Clean Tech System-on-Chip (SoC) platform. ASMgrid incorporates unprecedented wireless and communications technology breadth for single chip solutions. Dedicated to energy savings and optimization, the platform enables a new class of performance for emerging Smart Meter and Home Area Network (HAN) end-products that will dramatically help decrease C02 emissions.

As the world drives towards implementing Smart Grid technologies, Smart Meters is leading the wave of innovative products which will heavily depend on semiconductors to realize the grid’s full potential. According to a study by American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE), between now and 2030, US electricity bills could be reduced by $1.3 trillion, also eliminating the need of 296 power plants, assuming that the proper investments in semiconductor-technologies and policies are put in place.

ASMgrid addresses a clear need for optimized solutions in this unparalleled market opportunity of rapidly emerging Smart Grid equipment. The platform pre-integrates the functionality typically found in five semiconductor devices in a single chip. This guarantees IC part reduction from electric meters to in-home displays and up to a 50% IC BOM saving. Moreover, with the ASMgrid’s modularity, customers can pick and choose the configuration that maximizes their end-product differentiation, whether on cost, performance, feature set, or all of the above, with mass production in as little as 3-6 months.

"Smart meters are the vanguard of Smart Grid deployments, and will represent a $3.9 billion global market by 2015, with penetration in that year still only reaching 18% of total installed electric meters," says managing director Clint Wheelock, managing director from Pike Research. "Home area networking and energy management devices, which will largely be enabled by smart meters, represent a huge opportunity for vendors and utilities alike over the next several years. As competition in this market intensifies, the kind of differentiation and cost effectiveness targeted by Accent will be critical factors for equipment manufacturers to succeed.”

"The new company focus and ASMgrid are the logical next steps given Accent’s recent traction in the Smart Grid space and the market need for our type of solution,” said Federico Arcelli, CEO of Accent. “Until now, smart meters and smart appliances have required numerous ICs resulting in high product costs that would slow mass adoption. With ASMgrid, we are able to significantly reduce development cost, time, and risk associated with silicon design, enabling a wider range of equipment manufacturers to enjoy the full benefits of silicon integration.”

ASMgrid Product Details And Availability

For those requiring a full-featured ASMgrid configuration and quickest time to market at lowest development cost, Accent offers the ASMgrid1.0 reference silicon, which implements a full-feature platform configuration. The single-chip device integrates an 802.15.4 modem and radio (ZigBeeÒ Pro), powerline modem, ARMÒ CortexTM-M3 processor, LCD controller, and 384 KB Flash. Alternatively, working with Accent, customers can specify unique configurations with production in a fraction of time and cost when compared to a custom silicon approach. ASMgrid includes a complete development environment and turnkey software package including respective protocol stacks, drivers, and reference application code for out-of-the-box system development. The complete ASMgrid platform and deliverables are available now.

About Accent

Founded in 1993, Accent is a ISO 9001:2008 certified world leader in semiconductor integration of communications and metering technologies and with renowned investors such as Sofinnova Partners (France) and Cadence. Accent is a worldwide operation with offices in Italy, China, France, and US. Accent provides products and solutions targeted at fast-growing vertical markets including Smart Grid and Clean Tech. Accent’s market leading technology offerings—in areas such as wireless, analog mixed signal, and low power—and pre-integrated platforms provide rapid time to market to meet critical product cost and performance requirements whilst at low development cost. For more information, please visit: www.accent-soc.com.