Wurth Elektronik Gigabit Ethernet front-end reference design

     Wurth Elektronik has released its RD016 reference design and corresponding application instructions ANP116. Therefore, it provides valuable information for developing emc compatible gigabit Ethernet applications. Developers will have access to optimized circuit design and optimal layout of the gigabit Ethernet front end as well as all technical data. "Gigabit Ethernet has become the networking standard in office and industrial environments.

     However, there is little information in the technical literature on EMC aspects of gigabit Ethernet interfaces. We are closing this gap with our reference design, "says Gerhard Stelzer, senior technical editor at Wurth Elektronik eiSos. The reference design provides two interfaces, a USB Type C (USB 3.1) and a 1gigabit RJ45/Ethernet interface.

     The Gigabit Ethernet-USB adapter was manufactured based on Microchip's EVB-LAN7800LC evaluation board. The circuit boards are stacked in four layers and powered by USB. The first part of document RD016 provides the technical basics needed to understand the reference design. The second part details the 1GB Ethernet interface all the way up to the physical layer (PHY in the OSI model). EMC aspects are described in detail in App Note ANP116. Design data were used to reconstruct the reference board (Altium Designer/Gerber data).