Ethernet Controller (USB to Ethernet)
Add a wired 10/100 Mbps Ethernet port to any device with a USB port.
What is it?
A USB Ethernet controller bridges USB and Ethernet in one chip. It connects to the host as a USB device and drives the twisted-pair line through magnetics and an RJ45 jack, with the USB PHY, the Ethernet controller and the Ethernet PHY all inside. The host needs no Ethernet MAC or PHY of its own. This is how USB-to-Ethernet adapters, docks and many set-top boxes add a wired network port.
When do you need it?
- USB-to-Ethernet adapters and docks.
- Tablets, netbooks and mobile internet devices that need a wired port.
- IP set-top boxes, IPTV, DVR and media players.
- Game consoles and other host chips with a spare USB port but no Ethernet MAC.
How to pick the right one
- Host interface
- USB 2.0 high speed is enough for 100 Mbps Ethernet. On a USB 1.1 full-speed host, throughput is limited to well under 12 Mbps.
- Ethernet speed
- 10/100 Mbps covers most embedded, IoT and media devices. Gigabit links need a different class of controller.
- Driver support
- Check the driver list for every host OS you ship. CDC-ECM class support helps on systems that have a built-in class driver.
- Power management
- Energy Efficient Ethernet (IEEE 802.3az), USB link power management and remote wake-up (Magic Packet, link change) cut idle power.
- Clock and supply
- Most need a 25 MHz crystal. A single 3.3 V supply with internal regulators keeps the BOM short.
- Operating temperature
- Commercial 0 to 70 °C suits consumer products. Industrial or automotive designs need a wider rating.
What Magnias offers
MC72U02C-QRG: USB 2.0 to 10/100 Mbps Ethernet controller with integrated Ethernet PHY, in QFN-24L. It supports IEEE 802.3az EEE, 802.1Q VLAN tagging, 802.3x flow control, automatic crossover correction, IPv4 / IPv6 / TCP / UDP checksum offload, remote wake-up (Magic Packet) and a CDC-ECM driver, and runs from a single 3.3 V supply with internal 1.8 V and 0.9 V LDOs. Drivers cover Windows, Mac OS, Linux, Android, iOS and HarmonyOS 4.0. Operating temperature 0 to 70 °C.