There is a growing need to add network connectivity to every embedded system. On the basis of reports by Forrester Research, by the year 2010, up to 95% of the devices used to access the Internet will be non-PC devices that use an embedded system. In other words, the network connectivity of machine-to-machine (M2M) communication will be a primary market demand for embedded networking systems to satisfy in the years to come.

The Ethernet's ease of use, cost effectiveness, high bandwidth, stability, security, and high degree of compatibility make it a natural solution for accessing the Internet. In addition to SOHO and corporate networks, the Ethernet is gradually making its way into consumer and household devices as a primary way to access the Internet, thus providing both the stability and reliability demanded by industrial users and the bandwidth and multimedia connectivity demanded by home consumers.

ASIX Electronics is a leading fabless semiconductor supplier with a focus on networking, communication, and connectivity applications. ASIX was founded in May 1995 in Hsinchu Science Park, Taiwan. ASIX Electronics specializes in network connectivity solutions and provides Ethernet-centric silicon products such as non-PCI Ethernet controllers, USB-to-LAN controllers, and network system-on-a-chip SoC products for embedded networking applications.

Fig 1 ASIX Product Portfolio for Ethernet Connectivity

ASIX Electronics has established a good track record by providing the following products, which are the world's first:

Non-PCI Gigabit Ethernet Controller: AX88180

USB2.0-to-Gigabit Ethernet Controller: AX88178

Single-chip Microcontroller with TCP/IP, 10/100M Fast Ethernet MAC/PHY, and flash memory: AX110xx series

The industry's smallest single-chip embedded Ethernet MCU in an 8x8mm 80-pin TFBGA package: AX11005BF

ASIX Provides Three Different Embedded Ethernet Solutions

ASIX Electronics provides innovative, and yet cost-effective products to the customers for emerging communication and networking applications. The current offerings are as follows:

Embedded Ethernet (Non-PCI or Local Bus):
	-	Non-PCI Gigabit Ethernet Controller: AX88180
	-	Non-PCI Fast Ethernet Controller: AX88796, AX88796B, AX88196B, and AX88780
	-	PCMCIA Fast Ethernet Controller: AX88790
High-speed USB-to-LAN:
	-	USB2.0-to-Gigabit Ethernet Controller: AX88178
	-	USB2.0-to-Fast Ethernet Controller: AX88772, AX88772A, and AX88172A
Embedded Network SoC:
	-	Single-chip Microcontroller with TCP/IP, 10/100M Fast Ethernet MAC/PHY, and flash memory: AX11001, AX11005, AX11015, and AX11025

Fig 2 Embedded networking Solution Provider

Embedded Ethernet

This solution targets devices that have a microcontroller, which comes with a non-PCI or SRAM type interface. In this solution, the highly integrated non-PCI bus Ethernet MAC+PHY controller is used to connect these devices to the Ethernet. This solution provides the easiest way to connect the embedded system to the network because the majority of microcontrollers support a non-PCI local bus interface. Engineers are able to design very-low-cost, and yet high-performance embedded systems, which offer remote access capabilities in addition to Internet connectivity. This solution is suitable for home appliances, factory/building automation, industrial equipment, security systems, remote control/monitoring/management, streaming media, and multimedia networking. In addition, for broadband applications such as POS terminals, WLAN AP, broadband routers, VoIP, content distribution, IP STB, IP cameras, digital video recorders, DVD recorders/players, high-definition TV (HDTV), digital media adapters, game consoles, home gateways, and IPTV, this solution can also be attractive and cost effective.

Fig 3 Monitor, Control, or Access Your Device over the Internet

High-Speed USB-to-LAN

This solution targets microcontrollers that already have a USB host interface embedded. In this case, an internal or external USB-to-LAN controller can be used to connect these devices to the Ethernet.

The proliferation of the broadband infrastructure and the associated new business model has made services such as IPTV and media on demand (MoD) possible. In the future, users will demand higher-quality multimedia content that can be downloaded through a home broadband connection and transferred onto mobile devices.

The so-called USB-to-LAN approach converts an USB 2.0 signal to the Fast Ethernet/Gigabit Ethernet interface through an USB-to-LAN controller used in the cradle or docking station for the mobile devices. Because the USB 2.0 uses a compact four-pin connector, this solution reduces many of the pin-out connections between the cradle/docking station and the mobile devices. Another, more flexible way is to use an external USB-to-LAN dongle to connect the mobile devices to the network if the microcontroller within the devices has a built-in USB host interface. This will leverage the high-speed and serial bus characteristic of USB2.0, to improve the performance of the devices.

This solution is suitable for computer peripherals, handheld devices, home electronics and appliances, streaming media, broadband media, and other consumer electronics such as USB-to-Ethernet converters, USB WiMax adapters, docking stations, cradles, and USB KVM Ethernet switches.

Fig 4 This USB LAN Solution is a Market Leader

Embedded Network SoC

This solution consists of microcontrollers, that already integrate both Ethernet MAC and PHY functions, the so-called single-chip SoC solution. The AX110xx family is the world¡¦s first high-performance 8-bit microcontroller to deliver the 10/100Mbps Fast Ethernet MAC/PHY, the TCP/IP accelerator, and the flash memory in a single chip. With this highly integrated system-on-a-chip solution, the AX110xx family provides a very small form-factor solution to enable embedded system designers to design compact, low-power, high-performance, yet low-cost, embedded and industrial Ethernet applications for the growing embedded networking markets. This solution is suitable for home appliances, factory/building automation, industrial equipment, security systems, remote control/monitoring/management, and streaming media applications such as POS terminals, vending machines, IP cameras, Internet radios, automatic meter reading, environmental monitoring systems, network sensors, networked UPS, serial-to-Ethernet adapters, and Ethernet-to-ZigBee bridges.

Fig 5 Network MCU Connecting Directly to the Internet

Please visit our website at http://www.asix.com.tw/news.php?op=AsixWhitePaper for ASIX white paper.