Ethernet PHY extends reach for industrial automation

Texas Instruments (TI) has launched a new Ethernet physical layer (PHY) capable of transmitting 10-Mbits/s Ethernet signals up to 1.7 km through a single pair of twisted wires. The extended cable reach of the DP83TD510E Ethernet PHY transceiver is 1.5 km more than the 200-m requirement set by the the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) 802.3cg 10BASE-T1L single-pair Ethernet specification.

This additional cable length helps designers extend the reach of industrial communications without increasing system weight or cabling costs, as the need to transmit more data to and from nodes at the network continues to grow, said TI.

The DP83TD510E helps designers implement a single communications network, from controller to edge node, that is capable of transmitting full-duplex data over a single pair of twisted wires. This eliminates the need for additional protocols, gateways, and cables for higher-bandwidth communications, said TI.

In addition, designers can simplify network management while improving system control and interoperability in long-distance applications including HVAC valve and actuator control, field transmitters, elevator main controls and fire alarm control panels. Additional streamlining can be achieved by reusing existing two-wire fieldbus infrastructure for data and power transmission when upgrading to single-pair Ethernet from two-wire fieldbus technologies, said TI.

The DP83TD510E is designed for use in intrinsically safe Ethernet advanced physical layer (APL) systems, offering the capability to reduce Ethernet PHY power levels and temperature during system failure conditions. By supporting external termination resistors, the DP83TD510E can reduce inrush current and maintain lower operating temperatures when used in long-distance process automation applications, such as field transmitters, said TI.

The DP83TD510E’s ultra-low power consumption of less than 45 mW at 1 V p2p provides additional power margin that can be reallocated to other critical circuits for increased system performance.

Pre-production versions of the DP83TD510E are available now, only on TI.com, in a 32-pin quad flat no-lead (QFN) package. Pricing starts at $3.20 in quantities of 1,000. An evaluation module, the DP83TD510E-EVM, is available for purchase on TI.com for $149. Volume production is expected at the start of 2021.

TI offers a portfolio of Ethernet PHY transceivers that supports all single-pair Ethernet specification categories. The company recently introduced two new Ethernet PHY transceivers for high-temperature and space-constrained applications and time-sensitive networks (TSNs).