ICs Manage And Deliver Power Over Ethernet Cable

Representing the first in what promises to be a long list of such products for the company, the TPS2370 and TPS2383 power management ICs allow dc power and data to be delivered and sourced over Ethernet cable. Compliant with the proposed IEEE 802.3af standard, the new devices are groomed for Ethernet-powered applications, such as WLAN access points, IP phones, security systems, and point-of-sale terminals. The TSP2370 power interface switch manages detection, classification and delivery of dc power to powered devices (PDs) over standard Ethernet twisted pair cable, with the TSP2383 power sourcing equipment power manager (PSEPM) capable of independently managing power for up to eight Ethernet ports. The TPS 2370 is designed to provide accurate PD detection through use of an external 25 k? discovery resistor, while operation of the TPS2383 is controlled through register read and write operations over a standard I2C serial interface. The TPS2383 also has five selection pins that permit it to address up to 32 devices. A TPS2370 in eight-pin SOICs or TSSOPs cost $1.25 each/1,000, while the TPS2383 in a 64-pin LQFP is priced at $7/1,000. TEXAS INSTRUMENTS INC., Dallas, TX. (800) 477-8924, ext. 4500.