Ethernet bridge offers PCIe 3.1 for automotive and embedded design
Options for embedded and automotive system designers are offered by Microchip with the LAN7430 and LAN7431 Ethernet bridge. It offers Peripheral Component Interconnect Express (PCIe) 3.1 low-power sub-state (LPSS) L1.1 and L1.2 for power savings, adds the company.
The LAN7430 provides integrated power, clocks and an Ethernet physical (PHY) interface while the LAN7431 provides reduced Gigabit media-independent interface (RGMII) for alternative PHYs and switches. The LPSS L1.1 (snooze) and L1.2 (off) modes enable designers to reduce power consumption and improve battery life by snoozing or turning off the high-speed circuits in the PHY when they are not in use.
When connected to an application system on chip (SoC) or processor as host, the LAN7430 and LAN7431 allow the host device to deliver audio, data or video data through the 10/100/1000 Ethernet network.
Connection to the host is via the PCIe 3.1 specification, providing up to 2.5Gtransfers per second in each direction simultaneously. The LAN7431’s RGMII allows the developer to design with alternative link layers such as IEEE 802.3bw-2015 (100Base-T1) for 100Mbits per second and 802.3bp-2016 (1000Base-T1) operation over a single twisted pair cable. It also provides support for real-time Ethernet, IEEE 1588-2008 precision time protocols (PTPs) and IEEE 802.1AS (gPTP). The LAN7431 offers an automotive variant that exceeds AEC-Q100 Grade 2 (-40 to +105 degrees C) qualification.
Microchip believes the LAN7430 and LAN7431 provide customers using PCIe Ethernet bridges product longevity, worldwide technical support, design review services of final designs and fully released drivers for Linux or Windows operating systems.
The single-chip family offers single 3.3V supply operation, removing the need for complex and costly power management support, claims Microchip. Both devices integrate a JTAG (1149.1) test access port (TAP) for enhanced test coverage. Microchip also offers Link MD diagnostics using time domain reflectometry (TDR) to analyse the cabling harness, to identify and locate common cabling problems such as open circuits, short circuits and impedance mismatches.
The LAN7430 and LAN7431 are backed by Microchip’s free LANCheck online design review service that reviews customer designs. Microchip’s MPLAB Connect software tool is provided for programming one-time programmable (OTP) memory, or the optional EEPROM. Microsoft Windows Hardware Quality Labs (WHQL) certified drivers are available along with Linux mainline kernel drivers for both networking and PTP and gPTP synchronisation. Evaluation boards (EVB-LAN7430 and EVB-LAN7431) are also available.
The LAN7430 is available in a 48-lead QFN package. The LAN7431 is available in a 72-lead QFN package.
