SMSC Launches Low Power Automotive MII/RMII Ethernet Transceiver

SMSC (NASDAQ: SMSC), a leading semiconductor company enabling content-rich connectivity systems, today launched the low-power TrueAuto™ LAN88730 MII/RMII 10/100 automotive Ethernet transceiver. This device is designed specifically to meet the high reliability requirements of automotive applications, such as on-board diagnostics or fast software download interfaces for central gateway and telematics modules, navigation systems, radio head units and connectivity devices. The LAN88730 Ethernet transceiver delivers increased access speed for diagnostics and software downloads when compared with the more traditional interfaces used by the car makers so far. When used within today's complex vehicle electrical systems, the LAN88730 transceiver can help to diagnose issues faster and to lower software maintenance time so repairs are completed more efficiently and at a lower cost.

The TrueAuto quality LAN88730 transceiver has been specifically designed, fabricated, tested, characterized and qualified for the high reliability requirements of the car. The device provides a simple, digital interface via MII (IEEE 802.3u) to a standard MAC layer integrated in an embedded microcontroller. Built into an embedded device within the car, the chip can function as a network branch to the outside world, connecting the car to a personal computer, diagnostic tool or a complex Ethernet network in the repair shop.

“When using today’s traditional diagnostics interfaces, transferring data between the diagnostics bay and the car can be time consuming,” said Dr. Christian Thiel, Senior Vice President and General Manager of SMSC’s Automotive Products Group. “SMSC’s new Ethernet transceiver delivers high data speed with our TrueAuto quality, offering the reliability grade that our automotive customers expect.”

Ethernet is a widely used networking technology in the repair shop IT infrastructure. Its broad proliferation, high-bandwidth and optimized communication for bursts or packets of information make it an excellent connectivity solution for the automobile. It can connect the external Ethernet-based infrastructure of the repair shop to a vehicle in a repair bay to then move large amounts of diagnostic information and software data seamlessly between the two.

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