Microchip Introduces SparX‑5i Switches to Power Time‑Sensitive Networking in Industrial Ethernet

The growing digitalization of production demands unprecedented openness, resilience, determinism, and flexibility in industrial communication. Time‑Sensitive Networking (TSN) is erasing the long‑standing boundary between IT and OT networks, delivering precise timing and synchronization for today’s automation systems.

Microchip has launched the SparX‑5i family of Ethernet switches designed specifically for industrial automation. In an interview with Embedded, Andy Ebert, Product‑Marketing Manager at Microchip, explained how TSN delivers dependable, standards‑based real‑time communication – the future of Ethernet.

“Currently there are separate IT and OT networks in the factory. TSN allows for these networks to be combined. TSN with Ethernet offers a standard way to handle the real‑time communication needed in factory automation networks as opposed to current methods that have compatibility issues and don’t scale to the higher bandwidths that are needed as more and more devices become interconnected,” said Ebert.

What Is Time‑Sensitive Networking?

The speed at which factories are embracing digital transformation requires high‑performance, interoperable networks that can handle data from field devices to cloud management systems. Industrial protocols that rely on Ethernet must manage varying traffic priorities – something the base Ethernet standard cannot guarantee. Ebert notes that the next challenge is handling the growing number of interconnected smart devices in automation networks.

Real‑time capabilities allow companies to refine processes, boost quality and productivity, and cut costs. TSN, an extension of industrial Ethernet, achieves deterministic communication through accurate time synchronization and traffic scheduling, forming the foundation for the convergence needed to deliver transparency.

Ethernet Switches

Demand for precision timing and synchronization has traditionally required multi‑chip proprietary solutions, increasing complexity and cost. Microchip’s SparX‑5i addresses this by offering a single‑chip, IEEE‑standard‑based Ethernet switch family that delivers the industry’s most complete TSN feature set.

The SparX‑5i family supports key TSN IEEE standards: IEEE 1588v2 and IEEE 802.1AS‑REV for time synchronization; IEEE 802.1Qbv for traffic shaping; IEEE 802.1Qbu/802.3br for delay reduction; IEEE 802.1Qci for stream policing; and IEEE 802.1CB for seamless redundancy. It also offers standard L2/L3 Ethernet with up to 200 Gbps bandwidth, incorporating 100 M, 1 G, 2.5 G, 5 G, 10 G, and 25 GbE interfaces for the most flexible connectivity solution on the market.

Whether you work in automotive, mechanical engineering, food and beverage, or any other manufacturing sector, TSN delivers bandwidth reservation, quality of service (QoS), low latency, and parallel transmission of multiple protocols – all without proprietary extensions to the standard. TSN introduces traffic classes, reserves resources for deterministic flows, and enables a common network that supports multiple communication standards, including emerging 5G mobile communications.

TSN Over 5G

The rise of 5G represents a game‑changing opportunity for industrial networks. With low‑latency communication, 5G opens the door for TSN to operate over mobile networks. However, mobile devices moving between cell sites can disrupt connectivity and affect latency and reliability. Local, private 5G networks – such as those deployed on a factory floor – could leverage TSN protocols to meet stringent real‑time requirements.

In the near future, 5G and TSN could coexist in factory floor implementations, providing the flexibility of 5G for mobile connectivity and the deterministic, ultra‑low‑latency performance of TSN for critical automation tasks.