Product category:
Power Supply ICs and Controllers
News Release from: Silicon Laboratories | Subject: Si3400
Edited by the Electronicstalk Editorial
Team on 15 June 2006
Controller cuts PoE component count
The Si3400 is the first power-over-Ethernet powered device controller to integrate on-chip diode bridges, a transient surge suppressor and a switching regulator FET.
Silicon Laboratories has announced the industry's most highly integrated IEEE802.3af-compliant, power over Ethernet (PoE) controller for powered device (PD) applications The Si3400 is the only PD controller to integrate on-chip diode bridges, a transient surge suppressor and a switching regulator field effect transistor (FET)
This article was originally published on Electronicstalk on 12 Feb 2004 at 8.00am (UK)
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The Si3400 controller's unprecedented level of integration simplifies PoE design efforts by dramatically reducing the total bill of materials (BOM), printed circuit board (PCB) area and time to market.
Targeted at wireless access points (WAP), voice over IP (VoIP) phones, radio frequency identification (RFID) tag readers, point-of-sale terminals, security systems and cameras, the Si3400 eliminates up to 25 external components compared with competing solutions.
This reduces the PCB footprint by 30 to 50% and the total BOM by as much as $1.50.
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The Si3400 enables PoE system designers to focus on system-level product differentiation and customisation rather than spending valuable time and resources on external components and challenging design issues, such as analogue layout or meeting radiated emissions specifications.
"The Si3400 represents the first product in our power over Ethernet family", said Dave Bresemann, Vice President of Silicon Laboratories.
"Our extensive high-voltage design experience has enabled us to solve several board-level analogue design challenges, which will help lower costs and accelerate the adoption of power over Ethernet technology in a wide array of end products".
Silicon Laboratories achieves unparalleled integration with the Si3400 by leveraging high-voltage and mixed-signal design expertise to deliver a unique, feature-rich and versatile architecture that is fully compliant with IEEE802.3af, while adding features beyond the standard's base requirements.
For example, with direct access to the line side voltages from the Ethernet cable, the integrated diode bridges enable a proprietary early power loss indicator, which provides adequate time to save operating and status information before safely shutting down the powered device.
The diode bridges also allow a direct connection to the RJ45 connector, which minimises the PCB trace lengths between the connector and the Si3400.
This helps limit radiated emissions, speeding certification required by PoE products.
In addition, the integrated transient suppressor activates protection circuitry when high voltages are detected, improving overall device robustness and reliability.
The Si3400 controller includes a complete PD interface with programmable classification and detection signature circuitry, a switching regulator controller, dual current-limited hot swap switch, comprehensive protection circuitry including thermal shutdown capability and support for both nonisolated and isolated applications.
The Si3400 has been designed to operate seamlessly with both 802.3af compliant Power Sourcing Equipment (PSE) and pre-standard (legacy) PSEs that do not comply with the standard's inrush current limits.
Pricing for the Si3400 begins at $2.48 in quantities of 10,000.
Packaged in a lead-free (RoHS compliant), 5 x 5mm, 20-pin QFN, samples are available now, and production is scheduled for Q3 2006.
An engineering evaluationboard (Si3400-EVB) is also available now and will be followed by a complete Ethernet system evaluation kit in August.
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