Network connectivity controller provides the complete device networking platform

Combining Ethernet, PCI, serial and USB connectivity with an ARM9 processor, memory management unit and Linux operating system, the OXETHU954 network connectivity controller from Oxford Semiconductor provides a complete silicon and open source software platform for the development of high performance, feature-rich device networking products.

This highly integrated controller includes a 10/100 Ethernet Mac for wired network connections and supports wireless network requirements via its 32-bit / 33MHz PCI interface.  Four of Oxford’s high-speed UARTs are included, providing full modem control and baud rates up to 1Mbaud over RS232, RS422 and RS485 and two USB2.0 full-speed host controllers capable of operating at up to 12Mbps.  For applications not needing the USB connectivity, a sister chip, the OXETH954 is also available.

A flexible chip architecture provides designers with the freedom to configure the mix of PCI, UART, USB and GPIO resources to closely match the requirements of a range of device networking products in factory automation, point-of-sale and building management applications.  For added flexibility and product customization, the chip can also be configured with a PCI expansion bus to support Ethernet redundancy, high-density serial connectivity as well as wireless networks.

Oxford Semiconductor is supporting its network connectivity controllers with a comprehensive and fully integrated Linux software development kit, which includes operating system and Eclipse-based IDE tools from Wind River and Code Sourcery.  Preconfigured with the Wind River Linux operating system, the chip assures users of transparent access to communication stacks, Oxford Semiconductor’s Board Support Package and root file system.

Selected for its inherent stability and reliability, the Wind River Linux platform is an integral part of the OXETHU954 network connectivity controller.  The industry’s premiere commercial-grade develop and run solution, the platform is based on a stable, tested and validated Linux kernel and includes integrated patches and packages for advanced networking, security, and Carrier Grade functionality.

The controller offers a host of additional features including a selectable 8- or 16-bit DDR1 SDRAM interface supporting up to 64Mbytes of memory, 16Mbytes of Flash, 32Kbytes of Scratch RAM and a 5 channel DMA controller.  The chip is provided in an industrial temperature rated 19mm x 19mm 272 PBGA package.

In 10,000 piece quantities, the OXETHU954 is priced at $12.95.  The software development kit is available in April 2007 and is priced at $1,995.