Akros Silicon and Broadcom Interoperability Collaboration Supports New PoE 60 Watt Deployments

Akros Silicon is uniquely suited to collaborate with Broadcom to enable seamless 60W PoE connectivity. Akros’ GreenEdge technology, integrated into a family of PoE system-on-a-chip energy management ICs, allows high-speed digital communication across an integrated isolation barrier. This technology provides necessary handshaking and telemetry information with the power source to allow for safe and controlled power transfer, while eliminating optocouplers and their associated complex compensation networks. The result is significant improvement in reliability, reduced real estate, unmatched efficiency in power conversion and more accurate output-voltage sensing. Additionally, this technology enables significant system-level cost reduction.

Broadcom’s PoE solutions are the most flexible and scalable solutions on the market. The BCM59111 is a highly integrated PSE solution offering world-class thermal performance. The adoption of PoE in the market continues to grow as more devices are connected to the network. Expanding to 60W will allow even more devices to be connected. “Broadcom is pleased to continue efforts in the PoE market and offer solutions capable of providing 60 watts,” said Kevin Brown, Vice President and General Manager, PHY, Broadcom Corporation.

“The AS18xx family of GreenEdge energy management SoCs, introduced in 2009, has established itself as a leading solution in PoE applications adopted by major OEMs worldwide,” said Parviz Ghaffaripour, Akros Silicon’s President & CEO. “The AS1860 is in full production and offers field-proven technology designed to immediately support the 60W requirements. Our flagship digital isolation technology, GreenEdge, allows digital communication, power control and health monitoring across the isolation barrier. These features accommodate flexibility within systems to create robust power management, while eliminating long-term reliability concerns related to optocouplers.”

PoE technology provides DC power from Power Sourcing Equipment over twisted pair Ethernet cables to Powered Devices within enterprise, small business or home networks. The PoE standard has evolved from 13W (IEEE 802.3af) to 30W (IEEE 802.3at) and now the industry is rapidly moving to 60W of power per switch port. This 60W requirement is driven by the need to support applications such as thin clients, monitors, industrial Ethernet, IPTV, building management and lighting control systems, nurse call systems in hospitals, point-of-sale terminals and other higher power applications. The move to 60W PoE will allow deployment of PoE-enabled PDs into new markets while facilitating easier, more energy-efficient power management across the entire enterprise.