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
.
