Wifi Revolution

Fabless semiconductor company Connect One reportedly has released Nano LANReach, an embedded LAN module which the company says can quickly and easily connect any embedded device to 10/100BaseT LANs with minimal programming.

 

Established in 1996, Connect One (News - Alert) carries nearly 10 years of experience in M2M (machine-to-machine) device connectivity, with dual expertise in both devices and IP networking. In 1999, the company introduced iChip, the updateable Internet Controller chip. In October, Connect One launched Nano WiReach, a secure embedded Wireless LAN bridge that easily connects embedded devices to 802.11b/g Wireless LANs with minimal programming.

 

The recently announced Nano LANReach measures only 2.5-by-3.5 centimeters with a built-in RJ45 connector. Its extensive firmware functionality makes it the highly affordable and versatile LAN solution for embedded devices.

 

Nano LANReach is built on Connect One’s CO2144 chip, and offers plug-and-play Serial-to-LAN functionality enabling immediate and full–featured LAN connectivity by connecting an Ethernet cable to the onboard RJ45 connector. Moreover, Nano LANReach includes a complete suite of Internet protocols, applications, and security engines.

 

The module, pictured right beside a penny, uses the same pin-out as the Nano WiReach WiFi (News - Alert) module thereby enhancing customer’s flexibility in production planning, allowing for a single PCB design which supports either LAN or WiFi connectivity, depending on the module added during assembly.

 

According to Ariel Shulman (News - Alert), vice president sales at Connect One, customers are looking for easy and cost-effective ways to connect their embedded devices to LAN.

 

“Nano LANReach offers an immediate solution, reducing time to market and allowing customers to launch cost-effective LAN-enabled products,” Shulman said. “Since Nano LANReach is based on Connect One’s iChip, customers can easily switch to a chip-based implementation embedded on their own PCB, which typically reduces the complete solution cost to under $10.”

 

Connect One’s iChip will also allow large-volume customers to build a sub-$10 embedded serial-to-LAN solution identical to the Nano LANReach functionality. By adding an iChip CO2144/2128/2064 and any MII/RMII PHY to the main PCB, companies can migrate to current applications

 

Nano LANReach’s firmware supports several modes of operation which includes; Serial-to-LAN, full Internet controller mode etc. Moreover, it offers a highly advanced level of Internet security, including the latest Internet SSL encryption algorithms. In addition, it serves as an inherent firewall, protecting the embedded application from attacks originating from the Internet.

 

Nano LANReach includes USB, SPI and fast UART interfaces for integration into existing or new designs. In addition to SerialNET, it supports 10 simultaneous TCP/UDP (News - Alert) sockets; two listening TCP sockets; SMTP, MIME, POP3, FTP, Telnet, and HTTP/HTTPS clients; an HTTP/HTTPS embedded web server with a website for the host application and one for configuring the module.

 

The module operates at an industrial temperature range of -40° to 85°C (-40° to 185°F) and is RoHS-compliant. Officials at Connect One say Nano LANReach is available for a starting price of $38. The $160 II-EVB-363ML evaluation board provides an easy environment for developing applications and testing Nano LANReach.

 

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