TI Unveils Integrated TPS2384 PoE Solution

Texas Instruments Inc. (TI, Dallas, TX) announced a next-generation power management integrated circuit (IC) that simplifies design of IEEE 802.3af-compliant power source equipment. The quad-port power manager can support operation at -40 °C to +125 °C for a wide range of commercial, industrial and military applications such as sophisticated enterprise systems with up to 128 ports to low-port count hub Ethernet switches for small office/home office applications.

The new TPS2384 Power-over-Ethernet (PoE) manager handles discovery, classification and delivery of dc power source equipment to a powered device. The IC offers increased flexibility and performance over TI's TPS2383 PoE manager, introduced in April 2003, while providing necessary power management control and protection. In addition the ability to detect new PoE-compliant powered devices (PD) coming online, the TPS2384 also can recognize legacy devices.

Three different modes of operation can be selected using the TPS2384 – automatic mode, port-management mode or manual operation. The use of a multi-point or slope-detection method for the PD signature resistor allows accurate detection, even when series steering diodes are present. In auto mode, if a proper PD is not detected, the TPS2384 will alert the system to not connect the power. In the port management mode, the host can read the contents of the A2D resistor register after each discovery is completed, and it can set limits for accepting or rejecting the power device. Also while in port-management mode, the TPS2384 can work with a microcontroller to perform advanced power-management functions and detect legacy capacitance loads.

The TPS2384 power manager is now available in volume. The device is packaged in a 64-pin, HTQFP package. Pricing is $6.00 in quantities of 1,000.