About the TCP/IP Chip category

Question

## Hardwired TCP/IP Chips ## iEthernet is the Ethernet controller chip that includes hardwired TCP/IP Core & MAC (&PHY). W3150A+ W5100 W5200 W5300 W5500 For more information, please refer to TCP/IP Chip Product Comparison Table

mikeclery · Answer

Dear All I want to design an interface to a FPGA. This FPGA will output in 16bit data, D0-D15. The data will will be sent to a WIZ145 board (W5300 + ARM32). The data will clocked from the FPGA to the ARM 32 at a data rate of 10MHz. The data file size will be variable, but known. I would like the handshake between the FPGA and the ARM32 to be simple. The ARM32 should handle all of the network protocols/stacks/ARPs transparently to FPGA. Has any used the WIZ145 to do this?

Consul · Answer

Hi, We are using the W5100 in a battery operated system, with Ethernet functionality not needed most of the time. Is there a “software-way” to put this chip in a low power mode? Can a hardware solution be to pull its RESET line low, when Ethernet is not in use? What will the chip current consumption be in a low power or RESET state?

Consul · Answer

Hi, Thank you for quick answer! The datasheet is rather unclear on power consumption, but according to other threads here it looks that about 150mA current consumption on 3.3V will be in the ballpark, that is with Magjack mounted. When I pull the RESET line low I measure a current reduction of about 10mA in the circuit, ie. not exactly a low power mode. And as you write, the datasheet say nothing about this beeing a safe way to prolonged power down of the device, so it may be a bit risky. Powering down 3.3V to the W5100 is a solution, but that I believe will require special buffers to MCU, if any of its interface outputs should go to 3.3V, even shortly. My conclusion so far is that no easy power down mode exisist for the W5100.

Eugeny · Answer

Consul: I believe will require special buffers to MCU If chip has input protection diodes then current limiting resistors may be enough.

mpheyse · Answer

Is there a way to disable the PHY section in the 5100 series chips and get a MII/RGMII interface out? The only chip product I see that doesn’t have a Base-T phy in it is the obsolete/nologer-made W3150A+ I need to connect to NOT a Ethernet cable/magnetics and buying a second external phy chip to get back to an MII interface seems very dumb. I ordered on of the W5100s Eval boards as it seems exactly what I want (minus the Jack, Magnetics, and PHY) which I can do on my own board except how does one disable the phy chip.