Google and Microchip Partner on energy monitoring solutions

Microchip is now a strategic partner for Google PowerMeter solutions. Microchip has made available the first Reference Implementation of the Google PowerMeter API for embedded developers. Embedded designers are now offered with Microchip's Google PowerMeter Reference Implementation on Microchip's range of semiconductor chips for energy measurement embedded systems.
This reference implementation of the Google PowerMeter API demonstrates an energy-monitoring device's activation, data transmission (wired or wireless) and status messages, providing a template for developers' own designs. Microchip is offering one-stop-shopping for all of the semiconductors and development tools needed to build a Google PowerMeter device.

"Google is helping to foster an ecosystem of devices and utilities that will provide consumers with access to their energy information, and we're excited to be working with Microchip, a strategic partner in enabling consumer devices," said Ed Lu, Google PowerMeter program manager for advanced projects. "Microchip's Reference Implementation of the Google PowerMeter API will make it much easier to create products that are compatible with Google PowerMeter."

Google PowerMeter is a free software tool that allows consumers to view their energy consumption from their iGoogle-personalized homepage by using information from energy-monitoring devices. The open-source, standards-based Google PowerMeter API allows device manufacturers to build energy-monitoring products that work with Google PowerMeter.

The Microchip's free Reference Implementation code can be downloaded from http://www.microchip.com/get/PLC4