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The GainSpan Smartplug Application Development Kit (ADK) is a complete smartplug reference design based on the GS2100MIP Wi-Fi module and associated embedded and mobile software suite. The Smartplug ADK allows users to add Wi-Fi connectivity to a single socket 100-265V plug and control electrical load using a web browser or a smartphone. Integrated Sigma-Delta ADC on the GS2000 SoC is used for power measurements. The ADK provides a complete suite of embedded and mobile reference applications to greatly ease, and shorten development time.

The Smartplug application consists of two functions:

• Load control to turn load on/off
• Power measurement to measure the following parameters: voltage, current, frequency, instantaneous power, energy and power factor

The GainSpan Smartplug ADK includes the smartplug hardware, a complete hardware design package, embedded software running on the GainSpan Wi-Fi module, web application and mobile reference applications for iOS and Android based smartphones. An evaluation version of the ADK, the Smartplug Application Evaluation Kit (AEK) is also available that will include the smartplug hardware and binary-only software.

Operational Modes

The GainSpan Smartplug may perform as a limited access point (Limited AP mode) or as a client within an existing network infrastructure (Client/Station mode).

In Limited AP mode, the smartplug has a webserver running on the Wi-Fi module and can create connections with multiple clients. Once the smartphone has established connection with the smartplug, the smartplug app discovers and selects a smartplug service profile being advertised by the smartplug and selects it to enable load control and display of electrical parameters.

In Client/Station mode, the smartplug and the smartphone connect to an AP as clients. The smartphone now discovers the smartplug profile, and upon selection, displays the electrical parameters and allows load control. In this mode, the Wi-Fi module runs both a webserver and a web client and allows direct control with a smartphone within the home network, as well as connecting and sending updates to the cloud. The Client/Station mode supports the IEEE PS-Polling mode and is suitable for low-power applications.

Both the Limited AP mode and client/station modes provide mDNS/DNS-SD based discovery methods. The embedded application advertises availability, and clients automatically discover the smartplug profile and connect to it. Discovery allows clients to locate and connect to smartplug without the need to know the URL.

Provisioning of the GainSpan node in Limited AP or Client/Station modes and Over-the-air firmware updates (OTAFU) of the GS2100MIP module firmware can be done using Provisioning and OTAFU web or mobile applications.

Benefits:

• Complete Smartplug reference design to control electrical load and monitor and chart electrical parameters (voltage, current, power, frequency, power factor) using a web browser or mobile smartphones
• Integrated 16-bit Sigma-Delta ADC reduces BOM by eliminating the need for an external power measurement chip
• Target applications are smart plugs and smart power strips
• Accelerated time-to-market using GainSpan’s solution that includes complete hardware design package and software suite (embedded software source and mobile reference apps)

Symmetry Electronics (and its e-commerce division: SemiconductorStore.com) is an authorized GainSpan distributor.