AUSTIN, Texas, Nov 09, 2009 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- Silicon
Laboratories Inc. (NASDAQ: SLAB), a leader in high-performance,
analog-intensive, mixed-signal ICs, today introduced the Si345x family,
the industry's most integrated, energy-efficient quad Power over
Ethernet (PoE) Power Sourcing Equipment (PSE) controllers. Able to
support four independent PoE (IEEE 802.3af) and PoE+ (IEEE 802.3at) PSE
ports, the Si345x controllers offer real-time power measurement
capabilities, energy-efficient powered device (PD) detection and
disconnect algorithms, and the industry's lowest on-resistance power
field-effect transistors (FETs) and sense resistors. These features
enable smaller, highly energy-efficient and lower-cost PoE/PoE+ Ethernet
switches and midspans designed to power multi-radio wireless access
points, industrial automation systems, VoIP phones, and building
security and surveillance systems.
The recently ratified IEEE 802.3at PoE+ standard supports up to 30 W per
port, enabling PoE to be deployed across more power-hungry applications.
However, there is a growing need to make these applications "greener"
through increased power efficiencies. Network administrators
increasingly demand per-port power measurement and dynamic power
allocation to maximize their network's overall power efficiency and
minimize power supply costs.
"Minimizing power consumption is an analog-intensive design issue, and
Silicon Labs has developed an IP portfolio that enables us to tackle
these tough challenges in innovative, cost-effective ways," said Dave
Bresemann, vice president of Silicon Laboratories. "Silicon Labs
designed the Si345x PoE/PoE+ controllers with a system approach,
leveraging our proprietary analog, high-voltage and process technology
expertise to deliver a solution that allows designers to maximize energy
efficiency and reduce BOM costs and PCB area."
Real-Time Power Monitoring
The Si345x controllers incorporate high-precision current and voltage
monitoring capability to measure the power consumed by each port in
real-time, enabling systems to maintain tighter control of power
allocation. This approach enables smaller power supplies and lower
supply overhead and gives system administrators visibility into how much
power is allocated to and consumed by each port in their network. IEEE's
link layer discovery protocol (LLDP) power management is fully supported
by the Si3452 and its Power Manager Software Development Kit, enabling
dynamic power allocation. With LLDP, powered devices can make requests
to increase or decrease their consumption, and the PSE responds with an
acknowledgement or denial based on system power budgets and constraints.
Energy-Efficient Disconnect Algorithm
The Si345x controllers leverage a patent-pending approach to provide a
reliable alternative to traditional ac or dc disconnect methods, further
improving system power efficiency. Using this innovative method, called
dV/dt disconnect, an Si345x controller is able to detect the absence of
a connected powered device through proprietary measurement techniques,
avoiding the use of dc disconnect or power-hungry series diodes and
extra BOM components associated with ac disconnect. The dV/dt disconnect
feature helps eliminate expensive thermal management components, such as
heat sinks and fans, making the Si345x family a truly green PoE
solution. For example, compared to a PoE+ PSE system implemented with an
ac disconnect-based PSE controller, a solution using the Si345x's dV/dt
disconnect algorithm, integrated low on-resistance FETs and current
sense resistors saves nearly 500 mW per port in power consumption or
approximately 24 W in a 48-port system.
Only PSE Controller with Integrated Per Port Power FET, Sense
Resistor and TVS
The unmatched integration of the Si3452 controller decreases the
per-port solution cost and shrinks printed circuit board (PCB) layout
area. Each Si3452 supports four PoE or PoE+ PSE ports, with proprietary
support for power levels up to 40 W per port. A robust, 0.3 ohm power
MOSFET, current sense resistor and a proprietary transient voltage surge
suppressor are integrated on each port, simplifying the bill of
materials to a single capacitor, reducing per port costs by up to $0.20
and saving up to 55 percent in PCB space.
Complete Reference Designs and SDK
The Si345x family is supported by a complete set of development tools,
including a feature-rich Power Manager Software Development Kit and
8-port midspan evaluation system (Si3452MS8-KIT) to enable rapid
integration with software protocol stacks offered by leading Ethernet
switch chipset suppliers. Three complete reference designs are also
available from Silicon Labs to support PSE daughtercard and motherboard
implementations. The complete PSE subsystem solution includes Silicon
Labs' Si840x family of bidirectional I2C isolators, which isolate the
Si345x's I2C bus to the host system controller. Visit www.silabs.com/ISOpro
for more information on the Si840x family.
Pricing and Availability
Fully compliant with the IEEE 802.3at standard, the environmentally
friendly Si3452/3 controllers are available in RoHS-compliant, 6 x 6 mm
QFN packaging. Samples and production quantities are available now.
Pricing for the Si3452/3 controllers is $3.40 (USD) in 10k quantities.
Industrial temperature range devices are also available now. The
Si3452MS8-KIT is available now and priced at $345.00 (USD). Visit www.silabs.com/pr/PoE
for more information about the Power Manager SDK and reference designs.
Silicon Laboratories Inc.
Silicon Laboratories is an industry leader in the innovation of
high-performance, analog-intensive, mixed-signal ICs. Developed by a
world-class engineering team with unsurpassed expertise in mixed-signal
design, Silicon Labs' diverse portfolio of highly integrated,
easy-to-use products offers customers significant advantages in
performance, size and power consumption. These patented solutions serve
a broad set of markets and applications including consumer,
communications, computing, industrial and automotive.
Headquartered in Austin, TX, Silicon Labs is a global enterprise with
operations, sales and design activities worldwide. The company is
committed to contributing to our customers' success by recruiting the
highest quality talent to create industry-changing innovations. For more
information about Silicon Labs, please visit www.silabs.com.
Cautionary Language
This press release may contain forward-looking statements based on
Silicon Laboratories' current expectations. These forward-looking
statements involve risks and uncertainties. A number of important
factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those in
the forward-looking statements. For a discussion of factors that could
impact Silicon Laboratories' financial results and cause actual results
to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements,
please refer to Silicon Laboratories' filings with the SEC. Silicon
Laboratories disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise
any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information,
future events or otherwise.
Note to editors: Silicon Laboratories, Silicon Labs, the "S" symbol, the
Silicon Laboratories logo and the Silicon Labs logo are trademarks of
Silicon Laboratories Inc. All other product names noted herein may be
trademarks of their respective holders.
SOURCE: Silicon Laboratories Inc.
Silicon Laboratories Inc.
Dale Weisman, +1-512-532-5871
dale.weisman@silabs.com
Copyright Business Wire 2009