Silicon Labs 90 W Po E Press Image Sized 5e95c9e9bb143

ICs Add 90-W PoE to 5G Small Cells

April 14, 2020

Three new PoE devices bring power to IoT nodes with flexibility and a high degree of integration.

The cost and complexity of adding 90-W Power over Ethernet (PoE) to power-sourcing equipment (PSE) and powered devices (PDs) has decreased thanks to the launch of Silicon Labs’ portfolio of PoE devices. The devices comply with the IEEE 802.3bt standard, which more than doubles standard PoE power and expands the capabilities of wireless access points and IoT wireless gateways. With their higher power capabilities, the portfolio’s devices help make PoE-powered 5G small cells and digital buildings a practical reality.

The 802.3bt PoE portfolio delivers high power, extensive integration, and advanced features to help developers simplify their system designs while meeting stringent power, size and cost budgets. Spanning both ends of the Ethernet cable from 15 W to 90 W, the devices give developers flexible options for a wide range of PSE and PD applications.

The 802.3bt portfolio includes three new PSE and PD products:

· The Si3471 PSE controller is said to be the industry’s first fully autonomous, 90-W, single-port 802.3bt-compliant power-sourcing device. The Si3471 makes it easy to add 90 W power to single-port midspans or “injectors,” and automatically manages all nuances associated with the 802.3bt standard. It requires no external host MCUs, firmware downloads, or software programming, and is simple to configure using three digital I/O pins. The small 38-pin, 5 mm x 7 mm QFN package and simple BOM help reduce system cost and complexity. Si3471 samples and production quantities are available now. Si3471 pricing starts at $1.97 in 10,000-unit quantities. The Si3471 evaluation board (EVB) is priced at $105.

· The Si3474 quad Ethernet-port PSE controller powers up to four 90-W, 802.3bt PoE ports or up to eight 30-W 802.3at/af PoE ports, providing a versatile controller for industrial and commercial Ethernet switches and security recording equipment. The Si3474 can be operated in autonomous mode with full power on each port or in hosted mode, enabling developers to manage power through an I²C interface with a full-featured register map. The Si3474 is available in a 56-pin, 8 mm x 8 mm package with an industry-standard pinout. Si3474 samples and EVBs are planned to be available in April 2020. Si3474 pricing starts at $3.33 in 10,000-unit quantities. The Si3474 EVB is priced at $199.

· The Si34071 single-chip PD device combines an 802.3bt interface with an integrated, high-efficiency dc-dc converter capable of achieving more than 90% end-to-end efficiency. The Si34071 includes a simple, 9600-baud UART interface to the system MCU. The Si34071 delivers high power for 5G small cells, wireless access points, and IoT gateways. A companion to the Si3471 PSE controller, the Si34071 comes in a small 32-pin, 5 mm x 5 mm QFN package. Si34071 samples and EVBs are planned to be available in April 2020. Si34071 pricing starts at $2.13 in 10,000-unit quantities. The Si34071 71 W forward converter EVB is priced at $119.

Silicon Labs, silabs.com/90wpoe

About the Author

David Maliniak | Executive Editor, Microwaves & RF

I am Executive Editor of Microwaves & RF, an all-digital publication that broadly covers all aspects of wireless communications. More particularly, we're keeping a close eye on technologies in the consumer-oriented 5G, 6G, IoT, M2M, and V2X markets, in which much of the wireless market's growth will occur in this decade and beyond. I work with a great team of editors to provide engineers, developers, and technical managers with interesting and useful articles and videos on a regular basis. Check out our free newsletters to see the latest content.

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In his long career in the B2B electronics-industry media, David Maliniak has held editorial roles as both generalist and specialist. As Components Editor and, later, as Editor in Chief of EE Product News, David gained breadth of experience in covering the industry at large. In serving as EDA/Test and Measurement Technology Editor at Electronic Design, he developed deep insight into those complex areas of technology. Most recently, David worked in technical marketing communications at Teledyne LeCroy, leaving to rejoin the EOEM B2B publishing world in January 2020. David earned a B.A. in journalism at New York University.