Automotive 10/100 Ethernet Controller Speeds Data, Program Access

Built in accordance with the company’s TrueAuto automotive quality process, the LAN89218 high-performance single-chip 10/100 Ethernet controller is designed specifically to meet the reliability standards required by automotive applications. The device provides a simple, parallel host-bus interface to the typical automotive embedded microcontrollers used inside a car. Built into a device embedded in the car, the chip can function as a network branch to the outside world, connecting the car to a personal computer, diagnostic tool, or a complex Ethernet network in the repair shop. The result is faster access speeds for diagnostics and software downloads compared with traditional interfaces in use today. Key features of the controller include power management, wake-on-LAN support to allow a network to wake-up electronic devices from sleep mode, multiple low-power modes, and built-in flow-control support. The device prevents receive memory from overflowing, supports HP Auto-MDIX, and minimizes CPU overhead. It uses either IEEE 802.3 “Pause” packets or “back pressure” (half-duplex links). Samples of the LAN89218 are available today. SMSC, Hauppauge, NY. (631) 435-6000.