Microchip Technology on Tuesday launched the 10BASE-T1S transceivers LAN8679 and LAN8680 and the integrated endpoint family LAN8660X/1X/2X, it said.

The product family is designed to support zonal architectures that divide in-vehicle control by functional zones. The new products are designed to meet AEC-Q100, an automotive component reliability standard, and ISO 26262, a vehicle functional safety standard, the company said.

Microchip said automotive, industrial and robotics systems are shifting to Ethernet-based networks. For developers, simplifying structure, reducing wiring complexity and integrating edge nodes remain tasks. The products reinforce Microchip's VelocityDRIVE portfolio by adding solutions with standardized simplified interfaces, starting with multi-drop connectors.

The LAN8679 applies OA3P, a 3-pin Open Alliance interface, in a small 8-pin VDFN package. It reduces pin count and design complexity, making it suitable for space-constrained edge nodes. The LAN8680 adds system basis chip functions. It integrates power management, system standby and sleep control, and watchdog monitoring into a single chip, the company said. Both products are designed to enhance reliability and safety in demanding environments such as automotive and industrial use.

The endpoint family LAN8660X/1X/2X integrates a PMD transceiver into a single-chip remote control protocol solution. This allows developers to configure edge nodes for control systems, lighting and audio without external PHY components, reducing the number of parts compared with previous approaches that required separate components for each node.

In a 10BASE-T1S multi-drop topology, typically at least 8 nodes share a single bus line. Wiring weight and system costs decline and no gateway is needed, making it easier to connect sensors and actuators directly to the network edge. The expanded single-pair Ethernet portfolio supports automotive zonal architectures as well as industrial automation, robotics, and aerospace and defense systems.

Charlie Phony (찰리 포니), vice president of Microchip's networking and connectivity business unit, said, "Microchip's latest 10BASE-T1S portfolio reflects Microchip's ongoing efforts to implement a scalable all-Ethernet network architecture." He said, "These devices combine the simplicity of the OA3P interface with integrated endpoint functions to provide developers with the flexibility to build efficient and reliable systems while significantly reducing complexity at the edge."