Date: 04/08/2009
Microchip's 100 Mbps Ethernet interface controllers for embedded applications
Microchip has announced the low-cost ENC624J600 standalone, IEEE 802.3 compliant, 100 Mbps Ethernet interface controllers. These Ethernet controllers combine a 10/100Base-TX physical interface (PHY) and a Media Access Controller (MAC) with a hardware cryptographic security engine, and compatible to any PIC microcontroller via an industry-standard Serial Peripheral Interface (SPI) or a flexible parallel interface. Each device has a unique, factory-preprogrammed MAC address and 24 Kbytes of configurable SRAM for packet transmit/receive buffering and data storage.
By adding Ethernet connectivity to an embedded system, microcontrollers can be used to distribute data over a network and can be controlled remotely. Ethernet's infrastructure, performance, interoperability, scalability and ease of development have made it an ideal choice for embedded communications.
"The ENC624J600 Ethernet controllers are well equipped for a wide range of embedded applications that require fast and secure data communications," said Mitch Obolsky, vice president of Microchip's Advanced Microcontroller Architecture Division. "With the introduction of these Ethernet controllers, a whole new class of microcontroller-based applications can be cost-effectively connected to local and global networks."
Each ENC624J600 controller has a unique, factory preprogrammed Ethernet MAC address, which is required for every Ethernet device. This simplifies the design and manufacturing process by eliminating the cost of buying an Organizationally Unique Identifier (OUI) from the IEEE, and the time required to perform serialized MAC address programming during manufacturing.
The configurable, 24 Kbyte SRAM buffer memory provides a reliable data-management system that enables an efficient method for packet storage, retrieval and modification that reduces memory requirements for the host microcontroller.
Microchip offers a TCP/IP stack that can be used for free with any of its 8-, 16- or 32-bit PIC microcontrollers or dsPIC digital signal controllers. The stack includes Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) encryption and a TCP/IP Configuration Wizard to simplify the configuration of Ethernet projects. And the Stack uses standard SSLv3 protocol to secure any TCP connection, while building in support for the HTTP Web server and SMTP e-mail client modules.
Some of the applications are,
Entertainment (Internet radios)
Telecommunications (VoIP phone adapters)
Inventory management (vending machines, hotel mini bars)
Remote diagnostics/alerts (appliances, factory machines, POS terminals, power supplies, servers/networks)
Security (asset monitoring, fire and safety, security panels, access control, fingerprint recognition)
Remote sensing/actuators (industrial control/automation, lighting control, environmental control).
Package:
ENC624J600:
QFN and TQFP for 44-pin package
TQFP for 64-pin package
Price: Starting at $2.49 for 10k pieces
Availability: Now
All of Microchip's Ethernet products, tools, documentation and other design resources can be found on the following link: www.microchip.com/Ethernet