# Smart Meters and Super Smart Babies

- Show: [EE Times Current](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/ee-times-current)
- Published: 2018-11-10
- Length: 59m
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/ee-times-current/2018-11-10-smart-meters-and-super-smart-babies
- Listen: https://www.eetimes.com/document.asp?doc_id=1333962

## Summary

Vipin Bothra, Director of Market Development at STMicroelectronics, explains the technical evolution of smart meters, focusing on the shift toward higher accuracy (0.2%) and power quality measurement (harmonics, power factor) driven by regulatory and grid efficiency demands. He details how semiconductor trends, such as integrated sigma-delta converters with isolation barriers and high-voltage power management devices (up to 1700V), enable these capabilities while managing noise and cost. The episode also features musician Dani Rabin of the band Marvin, who discusses his philosophy on improvisation, emphasizing the importance of physical practice and live testing over purely analytical study to develop a unique musical voice.

## Chapters

- [0:06](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/ee-times-current/2018-11-10-smart-meters-and-super-smart-babies#t=6) Introduction: Smart Meters and Musical Innovation
- [2:07](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/ee-times-current/2018-11-10-smart-meters-and-super-smart-babies#t=127) Smart Metering Evolution and Challenges
- [3:47](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/ee-times-current/2018-11-10-smart-meters-and-super-smart-babies#t=227) Demand Forecasting and Behind-the-Meter Generation
- [6:07](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/ee-times-current/2018-11-10-smart-meters-and-super-smart-babies#t=367) Measurement Imperatives: Accuracy and Power Quality
- [10:03](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/ee-times-current/2018-11-10-smart-meters-and-super-smart-babies#t=603) Power Factor and Harmonic Distortion Impacts
- [15:33](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/ee-times-current/2018-11-10-smart-meters-and-super-smart-babies#t=933) Semiconductor Architecture in Smart Meters
- [19:40](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/ee-times-current/2018-11-10-smart-meters-and-super-smart-babies#t=1180) High-Voltage Power Conversion and Isolation Trends
- [26:23](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/ee-times-current/2018-11-10-smart-meters-and-super-smart-babies#t=1583) Dani Rabin on Improvisation and Musical Practice
- [44:38](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/ee-times-current/2018-11-10-smart-meters-and-super-smart-babies#t=2678) Analyzing Music: Rhythm, Pitch, and Timbre

## Topics

- [Analog & power electronics](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/analog-and-power-electronics)
- [PCB design & layout](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/pcb-design)
- [Microcontrollers & dev platforms](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/microcontrollers-and-platforms)
- [Chips, FPGAs & semiconductors](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/chips-and-fpgas)
- [Careers & education](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/engineering-careers-and-education)

## Most relevant to

companies scaling up

## Mentioned

- STMicroelectronics (company)
- Silicon Labs (company)
- National Renewable Energy Laboratory (company)
- Marvin (product)
- STM32F4 (chip)
- Cortex-M4 (chip)
- Cortex-A7 (chip)

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- [216: Bavarian Folk Metal](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2017-09-22-216-bavarian-folk-metal) (Embedded.fm)
- [An Interview With Joe Bamberg](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2017-12-11-an-interview-with-joe-bamberg) (The Amp Hour)
- [Episode 14: The Wide World of Sensors](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-circuit/2023-04-11-episode-14-the-wide-world-of-sensors) (The Circuit)
- [Solar, FPGAs and Maxim Integrated - Solar Shopper Sickness](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2013-06-19-solar-fpgas-and-maxim-integrated-solar-shopper-sickness) (The Amp Hour)

## Citing this page

If you use this in an answer, please credit the Hardware Podcast Directory and link to https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/ee-times-current/2018-11-10-smart-meters-and-super-smart-babies. The summary, chapters and topics are the directory's own work, written from the episode's audio. The episode itself, its title and its audio belong to EE Times Current.