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Learn how to design high-speed TCP/IP network systems by integrating the WIZnet W5300 Ethernet controller with an FPGA. This post covers PoE-based power design, hardware architecture, and real-world application in an electronic warfare system.

What is the WIZnet W5300?

The WIZnet W5300 is a standalone Ethernet controller with a built-in TCP/IP hardware stack. It supports 8 independent sockets and is suitable for microcontroller or FPGA-based systems via a 16-bit parallel bus.

Supported Protocols: TCP, UDP, IP, ARP, ICMP

Interface: Parallel data bus with CS, RD, WR, and RESET control signals

Power over Ethernet (PoE) support with external circuitry

 System Architecture: W5300 + FPGA Integration Overview

The system described here is based on a real-world design used in an RF signal processing system developed at a Russian technical university (SUT).

 Key Components

📷 Ethernet ↔ W5300 ↔ FPGA ↔ Transceiver ↔ RF Signals

 W5300-to-FPGA Interface Design

Data Bus: 16-bit wide (D[15:0])

Address Decoding: A[3:0] used for internal register access

Control Signals: Chip Select (CS), Read (RD), Write (WR), Reset (RESET)

Interrupt (INTn): Optional, used to indicate receive events

💡 Tip: FSM-based bus controllers are recommended to manage WR/RD timing and bus hold intervals.

 Use Case: Electronic Warfare System

The W5300 is optimized for high-throughput, real-time data transmission, making it suitable for use in tactical embedded systems.

Real-Time Scenarios

Signal Acquisition: FPGA receives I/Q samples from LMS6002D and transmits via Ethernet

Signal Transmission: Predefined RF patterns are sent through W5300 to a remote server

Status Feedback: FPGA controls LEDs and logs system status via UART console

 Hardware Design Considerations

Reset Timing: Apply reset after power stabilization (LOW → HIGH sequence)

Clock Domain Crossing: Insert synchronizers if FPGA and W5300 clocks differ

PoE Safety: Add ESD and surge protection circuits for 802.3af compliance

Conclusion & Design Summary

The W5300 enables hardware-accelerated TCP/IP offloading, significantly reducing resource usage on the FPGA while maintaining stable communication performance.

Recommended Design Strategies

Use a dedicated FSM for register access timing

Map W5300 control/status registers carefully in your FPGA logic

Design board layout to accommodate PoE and ESD protection

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