English

News Releases & Briefs

Silicon Labs Launches High Port Count Power Over Ethernet Solution

 -- Si3459 PoE PSE Controller Provides Highly Integrated 8-Port Building Block to Reduce the Cost and Complexity of Ethernet Switches and End Points --

AUSTIN, Texas – July 1, 2015 – Silicon Labs (NASDAQ: SLAB), a leading supplier of IC solutions for Internet infrastructure applications, today announced the first in a next-generation family of high port count Power over Ethernet (PoE) power sourcing equipment (PSE) devices. The new Si3459 8-port PoE PSE controller is designed for high port count enterprise Ethernet switch applications, simplifying the development of PSE applications such as enterprise and small-medium business (SMB) switches and routers, IP-based private branch exchange (PBX) switches and midspan injectors.

The Si3459 PSE controller’s high port count makes it a logical, economical building block solution for switches with eight to 64 or more ports. The 8-port Si3459 controller provides IEEE-compliant PoE/PoE+ port control at a lower implementation cost than competing 4-port controllers. While other PoE component vendors offer PSE controllers, few have introduced greater than 4-port configurations. Silicon Labs’ 8-port configuration reduces deployment costs due to economies of scale; common resources on the chip can be reused to simplify system design and enable the lowest net cost-per-port.

Combining the Si3459 with Silicon Labs’ new Si3483 power management IC enables precision power management. The Si3483 device provides consumption-based power management for up to 64 PSE ports. This combination reduces power supply sizes and improves robustness during power supply failure events.

The Si3459 controller is a key part of Silicon Labs’ comprehensive PSE solutions, which include Si860x I2C digital isolators, evaluation boards and reference designs, and the Si3483 power management IC, enabling rapid integration with industry-leading Ethernet switch chipsets. The combination of these Silicon Labs components and boards provides a one-stop-shop solution for PSE subsystems.

Silicon Labs offers cost-effective development tools for PSE applications based on the Si3459 and Si3483 ICs. The Si3459-KIT simplifies evaluation of the PSE controller, and the Si3459Smart24-KIT supports evaluation of PSE controllers and the Si3483 power manager.

Si3459 PSE Controller Highlights

  • New: Eight ports for high port count (24, 48, 64) enterprise Ethernet switch applications
  • New: Precision power management enabled when teamed with the Si3483 power management controller IC
  • Scalable downward for SMB 8-port switches
  • Provides full IEEE 802.3at-compliant PoE/PoE+ port control
  • On-chip dc-dc converter delivers power for itself as well as neighboring components
  • I2C interface allows access to each port’s supply voltage and current

Si3483 Power Management IC Highlights

  • Enhances system-level power management to optimize power supply sizing
  • Provides consumption-based power management for up to 64 PSE ports
  • Enables supply failure monitoring for improved system robustness

Pricing and Availability

The Si3459 8-port PSE controller is available now in production quantities in a 56-pin, 8 mm x 8 mm QFN package. The Si3459 IC is priced at $4.50 (USD) in 10,000-unit quantities. The Si3483 power manager IC is available now in production quantities in a 24-pin, 4 mm x 4 mm QFN. The Si3483 is priced at $1.97 (USD) in 10,000-unit quantities. To help developers reduce development time and cost, Silicon Labs offers the Si3459-KIT priced at $299 (USD) and the Si3459SMART24-KIT evaluation kit priced at $399 (USD). For more information about the Si3459 8-port PoE PSE controller, Si3483 power management IC and development tools, visit www.silabs.com/PoE.

Silicon Labs

Silicon Labs (NASDAQ: SLAB) is a leading provider of silicon, software and system solutions for the Internet of Things, Internet infrastructure, industrial automation, consumer and automotive markets. We solve the electronics industry’s toughest problems, providing customers with significant advantages in performance, energy savings, connectivity and design simplicity. Backed by our world-class engineering teams with unsurpassed software and mixed-signal design expertise, Silicon Labs empowers developers with the tools and technologies they need to advance quickly and easily from initial idea to final product. www.silabs.com

Cautionary Language

This press release may contain forward-looking statements based on Silicon Labs’ current expectations. These forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties. A number of important factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements. For a discussion of factors that could impact Silicon Labs’ financial results and cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements, please refer to Silicon Labs’ filings with the SEC. Silicon Labs disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

# # #

Note to editors: Silicon Labs, Silicon Laboratories, the “S” symbol, the Silicon Laboratories logo and the Silicon Labs logo are trademarks of Silicon Laboratories Inc. All other product names noted herein may be trademarks of their respective holders.

CONTACT: Silicon Labs, Dale Weisman +1-512-532-5871, dale.weisman@silabs.com

Follow Silicon Labs at http://news.silabs.com/, at http://blog.silabs.com/, on Twitter at http://twitter.com/siliconlabs and on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/siliconlabs.

Explore Silicon Labs’ diverse product portfolio at www.silabs.com/parametric-search.