Date: 19/01/2011

Micrel cuts power consumption by half in its 5 Port Switch-On-a-Chip

Micrel Inc. has launched the KSZ8895/8875/8864 series, low-power 4/5-port Layer-2 switch-on-a-chip ICs. Micrel says these chips achieve a 50 percent reduction in power consumption compared to the previous generation.

"The continuing adoption of Ethernet in the digital home for both content delivery and interconnection of media devices is driving the demand for higher port count devices,"noted Wiren Perera, Micrel's director of Ethernet Products.

Micrel designed these switch ICs for green market needs by complying with green standards such as ENERGY STAR.

These chips provide QoS-features such as tag and port-based VLAN support and IPv6 priority classification required for IP content based applications in the digital home; IPTV, IP-STB (set top box), VoIP (voice over IP), residential gateways and GPON. These are also suggested for industrial automation and automotive markets. The flexible configurability feature of these chips are meant to use these chips for multiple applications.

The devices support a single 3.3V power supply with an internal 1.2V LDO, with options for 3.3V, 2.5V or 1.8V IO voltages. Feature "Energy Detect Power Down" mode to cut power consumption further. This mode is activated when the cable is unplugged, and the "slow oscillator" mode is activated when the device is not in use.

The product family provides flexible host processor and PHY interfacing via MII or RMII. Flexibility is also provided in terms of copper or fiber media interfaces. On-chip termination, and internal generation of the 50MHz RMII clock saves external components and space

Package: 64-pin QFN for KSZ8864RMN
Availability: Now in samples and volume production starting in Q1, 2011.

Editorial Product Rating: *** (High Value)