PowerNet – Power-over-Ethernet
New PoE board adds to Future Electronics’
Future-Blox prototype development platform
• PowerNet board eases realisation of proofs-of-concept that use Freescale’s MCF52235 Ethernet-enabled microcontroller and National Semiconductor’s LM5072 PoE controller -
The PowerNet Future-Blox rapid prototyping board enables easy realisation of proofs-of-concept that require a combination of low-cost 32-bit processing, Ethernet communications and Power-over-Ethernet (PoE) capability for powered devices up to 25W.
PowerNet is one in a series of Future-Blox boards that share a physical interconnect format and a common bus. All Future-Blox boards plug together and share a common integrated development environment (such as CodeWarrior™, IAR Systems or Keil™). This means that developers can begin compiling, simulating and debugging code as soon as two or more Future-Blox boards are plugged together (or on a single Future-Blox board containing a microcontroller or microprocessor).
PowerNet is aimed at designers of industrial systems requiring Ethernet connectivity and PoE. The board’s Freescale Semiconductor MCF52235 microcontroller provides for a highly integrated solution, as it combines high-performance 32-bit processing with complete on-chip Ethernet functionality.
The board also features the National Semiconductor LM5072, the industry’s first single-chip Power-over-Ethernet solution for higher-power PoE (up to 25W). With this combination, Future’s PowerNet board offers a quick way to build a compact, low-cost, higher-power PoE proof-of-concept.
The PowerNet Future-Blox board includes:
• Freescale Semiconductor MCF52235 microcontroller with 256kB of Flash and 32kB of SRAM
• National Semiconductor LM5072 PoE controller and PWM controller
• Optical isolation using Avago Technologies’ HCPL-181-00DE
• On-board Background Debug Module (BDM) with USB input
• Expansion socket to support Maxstream™'s 'XBee' ZigBee™/802.15.4 module
• 120-position I/O board connector providing access to serial communications ports, interrupts, timers, GPIO and control pins
• PoE RJ-45 jack supporting 10/100Mbit/s Ethernet connection
• 2 UART ports with RS232 DB9 connectors
• 1 CAN2.0B port with DB9 connector
• PCB footprints for user evaluation of I 2C serial Flash memory and SRAM
• TCP/IP stack enabled
• CodeWarrior™ Development Studio v6.3 Special Edition
• Free access to all design files and firmware
Future-Blox boards are available free to members of Future Electronics’ Board Club. Design engineers can apply to receive a Future-Blox development platform and join the Board Club by registering for membership here.