Microchip Announces First IEEE 802.3bt Power over Ethernet USB Type-C Power and Data Adapter

     Today, many consumer, enterprise and industrial devices use the USB Type-C port as the only input power option. While USB-C technology can provide high power and high data rates, it must be installed within a maximum distance of 3 meters from an AC outlet. With the increasing popularity of Power over Ethernet (PoE), power over standard Ethernet cables has become a more common, convenient and at the same time the most practical solution, providing power and data over distances of up to 100 meters. While most adapters on the market only provide power, they provide a limited amount of power, up to 25W. Microchip Technology Inc has released the highest-power PoE-to-USB-C power and data adapter capable of delivering up to 60W of USB output power over an Ethernet cable supported by a PoE infrastructure.

     The new adapter (part number PD-USB-DP60) accepts up to 90W of PoE and converts to 60W output via USB-C, providing power for most cameras, laptops, tablets, and other devices that use USB-C input power power to the device. The adapter simplifies installation by reducing reliance on AC infrastructure. The new adapter can deliver power up to 100 meters away by eliminating the need to rely on an AC outlet and no longer limited by a distance of 3 meters. The new adapter also enhances the remote power management capabilities of USB-C powered devices. The remote power reset feature provided by the PoE source enables power-on reset via the web interface or Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMP), eliminating the need to manually unplug and reboot at the device location.

     Microchip's PoE to USB-C adapters connect to PoE sources deployed with a variety of standards, supporting the newer IEEE 802.3af/at/bt standard as well as legacy PoE standards. With a variety of different implementations of PoE already installed, having a versatile adapter is critical.

     "This new device is ideal for easily deploying USB-C devices and providing them with power and data connectivity over long distances," said Iris Shuker, director of Microchip's PoE business unit. "The adapter features Microchip's USB power delivery ICs and PoE chipsets that work with Our latest PoE injectors and repeaters are a perfect match.”

     The new adapters have the ability to convert 90W input to 60W output, enabling devices that require higher power charging to use PoE that was previously unavailable, while interoperating with Microchip's cost-effective single-port and multi-port (up to 24) PoE injectors/ The repeater is paired with an IEEE 802.3af/at/bt industry-standard switch, providing up to 90W of power per port. If you need lower power to power USB-C devices, you can use IEEE802.3af (15.4W) or IEEE802.3at (30W) PoE source.

     Microchip also offers key integrated circuit solutions supporting PoE to USB-C adapters, including the PD70xxx series of PoE ICs and the LAN7800 USB to Ethernet bridge. This functionality is implemented by Microchip's Power Delivery Software Framework (PSF). PSF is an open source Power Delivery (PD) protocol stack that runs on the UPD301C PD controller and provides full PD 3.0 functionality and customization for Microchip's PD controllers, microcontrollers and USB hubs.