Infineon Technologies ADM6996L-AA-T-1

Overview

ADM6996L-AA-T-1 from Infineon Technologies is a single-chip 6-port 10/100 Mbit/s Ethernet switch controller integrating full PHY, MAC, and switching fabric. It supports IEEE 802.3u auto-negotiation, MDI/MDIX crossover detection, VLAN tagging (802.1Q), and scalable ingress/egress bandwidth control. The device operates with 3.3 V core and I/O supply, features integrated LED drivers for port status indication, and targets embedded networking in industrial gateways and SOHO routers.

For engineers reviewing the ADM6996L-AA-T-1 datasheet, ADM6996L-AA-T-1 pinout, ADM6996L-AA-T-1 application, or ADM6996L-AA-T-1 equivalent, key selection criteria include its integrated 100Base-TX/100Base-X/10Base-T PHY support, hardware-based address learning and aging, configurable priority queuing, and dual-color LED display capability for real-time link/activity monitoring.

Technical Context

The ADM6996L-AA-T-1 implements a non-blocking store-and-forward switching architecture with a 16 KB internal packet buffer memory and automatic MAC address table management supporting up to 1024 entries. Its PHY layer includes adaptive equalization, NRZI/NRZ decoding, and smart squelch for robust 10/100BASE-T operation over unshielded twisted pair.

Switching logic supports port-based VLANs, broadcast/multicast storm suppression, half/full-duplex flow control (IEEE 802.3x), and programmable priority levels per port via TOS/IP or VLAN tag mapping. The device uses a serial EEPROM interface for configuration and provides MII-compatible port 5 for external CPU or PHY connection.

Key Specifications

Pinout & Package

ADM6996L-AA-T-1 is housed in a 128-pin LQFP package (20 mm × 20 mm, 0.4 mm pitch) with exposed thermal pad for enhanced heat dissipation. Pin functions are defined per the Infineon datasheet Rev. 1.31, including dedicated MII signals on Port 5, serial EEPROM interface (SCL/SDA), reset control (RSTN), and configurable LED outputs (LED0–LED11).

Key Features

Applications

Equivalent & Alternatives

The following parts are listed as comparable options for similar 6-port 10/100 Mbit/s integrated Ethernet switch applications.

Compared with Marvell 88E6060-B0-LF and Realtek RTL8306SD, the ADM6996L-AA-T-1 delivers higher integration (integrated PHYs, dual-color LED drivers, 100Base-X), more granular traffic control (scalable bandwidth, two-stage storm filtering), and simplified power design (single 3.3 V supply), making it optimal for space-constrained, feature-rich embedded switches.

Availability

ADM6996L-AA-T-1 is available at Aetrix Electronics and suitable for industrial gateways, SOHO routers, networked printers, and smart building controllers requiring stable component supply and long-term lifecycle support.

Supply support for ADM6996L-AA-T-1 includes scheduled delivery planning, volume procurement assistance, BOM continuity management, traceable sourcing, and lifecycle availability coordination for OEM customers, industrial embedded developers, connected-device designers, and electronics production programs.

Manufacturer

Infineon Technologies AG is a German semiconductor manufacturer specializing in power management, automotive ICs, and communications solutions, with global R&D and manufacturing infrastructure.

The Samurai family-including ADM6996L-was designed specifically for highly integrated, low-power Ethernet switching in cost-sensitive embedded systems, emphasizing PHY/MAC co-location and minimal external component count.

FAQ

Does ADM6996L-AA-T-1 support Gigabit Ethernet?

No. The ADM6996L-AA-T-1 supports only 10BASE-T and 100BASE-TX speeds per port, with no 1000BASE-T capability. Its PHY blocks are limited to 100 Mbit/s operation, and the internal switching fabric is rated for 600 Mbit/s aggregate throughput-sufficient for six 100 Mbit/s full-duplex links but not for Gigabit rates.

Can Port 5 be used as a CPU interface in MII mode?

Yes. Port 5 is configured as an MII interface by default and supports connection to an external microcontroller or host processor. It provides all standard MII signals (TXD/RXD, TX_EN, RX_DV, CRS, COL, etc.) and operates at 25 MHz for 100 Mbit/s or 2.5 MHz for 10 Mbit/s, enabling direct MAC-to-switch communication without external PHY bridging.

What is the function of the LNKFP pins?

The LNKFP0–LNKFP5 pins indicate link fault and MDI/MDIX polarity status per port. Each is an open-drain output that asserts low during link fault conditions or when auto-crossover has selected MDI mode. These signals feed directly into LED driver circuits or external monitoring logic for real-time physical-layer diagnostics.

Is external EEPROM mandatory for operation?

Yes. The ADM6996L-AA-T-1 requires an external I²C EEPROM (typically 2 Kbit) to store initialization parameters, VLAN settings, and LED configuration. The device halts boot until valid EEPROM data is loaded; no internal non-volatile storage is provided, and default register values are not functional for full operation.