LAN9250/PT - 10/100 Ethernet Controller w/ PHY | Microchip | TQFP-64
MPN: LAN9250/PT ✓ Active| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $8.5 | $8.50 |
| 10 | $7.65 | $76.50 |
| 100 | $6.8 | $680.00 |
| 500 | $6.1 | $3,050.00 |
| 1,000 | $5.5 | $5,500.00 |
LAN9250/PT Overview
An Ethernet controller is a semiconductor device that handles the data-link (MAC) and physical-layer (PHY) functions required to send and receive Ethernet frames. The LAN9250 integrates both the IEEE 802.3 10/100 MAC and the 100BASE-TX PHY in one chip, exposing a simple SPI/I2C slave interface to the host microcontroller. This eliminates the need for an external MAC, external PHY, and an Ethernet-equipped MCU, which reduces BOM cost and PCB area in industrial, building-automation, and IoT designs. The device sits in the network-interface hierarchy as: PHY -> MAC -> Ethernet controller -> communication IC -> semiconductor.
Key features include large transmit and receive FIFOs to accommodate high-latency applications, an efficient memory buffer architecture that optimizes packet granularity, hardware offload features that reduce packet loss, support for HP Auto-MDIX, and built-in support for EtherCAT, Modbus TCP, and other industrial Ethernet protocols. The flexible host bus allows integration with virtually any 8/16/32-bit microcontroller without requiring an external bus interface, and on-chip termination and bias resistors reduce external component count.
Typical applications include industrial control PLCs, factory automation nodes, building-automation gateways, IoT edge devices, motion controllers, EtherCAT slave controllers (when paired with a host MCU running the EtherCAT slave stack), and embedded HMI panels. The integrated PHY and small TQFP-64 footprint make it especially attractive for space-constrained designs that still need a wired industrial Ethernet port.
When designing with this device, ensure the 25 MHz reference clock is stable and low-jitter, route the differential TX/RX pairs as a 100-ohm differential pair on the PCB, and place the 1.8V and 3.3V decoupling capacitors as close to the power pins as possible. The exposed thermal pad must be soldered to a ground copper pour for thermal dissipation.
Drop-in alternatives for LAN9250/PT — same package, pin-to-pin compatible. Different-package parts requiring PCB rework are excluded.
Variants in this series
Same-series models that are drop-in compatible with LAN9250/PT (same form factor and footprint) — differing in Host Interface, Package.
Quick Comparison Tool — Select alternative parts for side-by-side comparison:
LAN9252I/PT
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
Contact for price
View Datasheet →LAN9250-I/PT
✅ Drop-In📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
LAN9250/PT Specifications
| Product Type | Ethernet Controller with integrated PHY |
| Ethernet Speed | 10/100 Mbps (10/100 Base-T/TX) |
| Host Interface | I2C, SPI |
| Package | 64-pin TQFP-EP (10x10 mm) |
| Mounting Type | Surface Mount |
| Operating Temperature | -40C to +85C (Industrial) |
| Supply Voltage | 3.3 V (with internal 1.8V LDO) |
| Integrated PHY | Yes (10/100 BASE-TX) |
| Auto-MDIX Support | Yes (HP Auto-MDIX) |
| FIFO Buffers | Large TX/RX FIFOs (high-latency support) |
| Industrial Ethernet Protocol Support | EtherCAT slave (with host stack), Modbus TCP, PROFINET (with host stack) |
| RoHS Status | Compliant |
| Lead-Free | Yes |
| Notes | TQFP-EP = TQFP with Exposed Pad for thermal dissipation |
LAN9250/PT Pin Configuration
| Pin 1 | TX+ — Differential transmit output (positive) |
| Pin 2 | TX- — Differential transmit output (negative) |
| Pin 3 | RX+ — Differential receive input (positive) |
| Pin 4 | RX- — Differential receive input (negative) |
| Pin 5 | VDDIO — 3.3V I/O supply |
| Pin 6 | VDD33 — 3.3V analog supply |
| Pin 7 | VSS — Digital ground |
| Pin 8 | REF_CLK — 25 MHz reference clock input |
| Pin 9 | RESET — Active-low hardware reset |
| Pin 10 | INT — Active-low interrupt output to host MCU |
| Pin 11 | SCS — SPI chip select (active low) |
| Pin 12 | SCLK — SPI serial clock |
| Pin 13 | MOSI — SPI master-out / slave-in data |
| Pin 14 | MISO — SPI master-in / slave-out data |
| Pin 15 | SDA — I2C serial data (shared with SPI MOSI/MISO mode) |
| Pin 16 | SCL — I2C serial clock (shared with SPI SCLK mode) |
| Pin 17 | GPIO0 — General-purpose I/O / PHY strap |
| Pin 18 | GPIO1 — General-purpose I/O / PHY strap |
| Pin 19 | GPIO2 — General-purpose I/O / link status LED |
| Pin 20 | GPIO3 — General-purpose I/O / activity LED |
| Pin 21 | VDD33A — 3.3V analog supply for PHY |
| Pin 22 | VSSA — Analog ground for PHY |
| Pin 23 | RBIAS — External bias resistor for PHY reference |
| Pin 24 | VDDPLL — 1.8V PLL supply (from internal LDO or external) |
| Pin 25 | VSSPLL — PLL ground |
| Pin 26 | TEST — Test mode pin (tie low in normal operation) |
| Pin 27 | NC — Not connected (per datasheet) |
| Pin 28 | NC — Not connected (per datasheet) |
| Pin 29 | VDDIO — 3.3V I/O supply |
| Pin 30 | MDC — Management data clock (MII mode only) |
| Pin 31 | MDIO — Management data I/O (MII mode only) |
| Pin 32 | VSS — Digital ground |
| Pin 33 | VDD_CORE — 1.8V internal core supply (from internal LDO) |
| Pin 34 | VSS — Digital ground |
| Pin 35 | NC — Not connected (per datasheet) |
| Pin 36 | NC — Not connected (per datasheet) |
| Pin 37 | NC — Not connected (per datasheet) |
| Pin 38 | NC — Not connected (per datasheet) |
| Pin 39 | NC — Not connected (per datasheet) |
| Pin 40 | VDDIO — 3.3V I/O supply |
| Pin 41 | GPIO4 — General-purpose I/O |
| Pin 42 | GPIO5 — General-purpose I/O |
| Pin 43 | GPIO6 — General-purpose I/O |
| Pin 44 | GPIO7 — General-purpose I/O |
| Pin 45 | VSS — Digital ground |
| Pin 46 | VDD33A — 3.3V analog supply for PHY |
| Pin 47 | VSSA — Analog ground for PHY |
| Pin 48 | TX_CLK — MII transmit clock (MII mode only) |
| Pin 49 | TX_EN — MII transmit enable (MII mode only) |
| Pin 50 | TXD0 — MII transmit data 0 (MII mode only) |
| Pin 51 | TXD1 — MII transmit data 1 (MII mode only) |
| Pin 52 | TXD2 — MII transmit data 2 (MII mode only) |
| Pin 53 | TXD3 — MII transmit data 3 (MII mode only) |
| Pin 54 | RX_CLK — MII receive clock (MII mode only) |
| Pin 55 | RX_DV — MII receive data valid (MII mode only) |
| Pin 56 | RXD0 — MII receive data 0 (MII mode only) |
| Pin 57 | RXD1 — MII receive data 1 (MII mode only) |
| Pin 58 | RXD2 — MII receive data 2 (MII mode only) |
| Pin 59 | RXD3 — MII receive data 3 (MII mode only) |
| Pin 60 | RX_ER — MII receive error (MII mode only) |
| Pin 61 | CRS_DV — Carrier sense / data valid (RMII mode) |
| Pin 62 | VSS — Digital ground |
| Pin 63 | VDDIO — 3.3V I/O supply |
| Pin 64 | LINK_LED — Link status LED driver |
| Pin EP | EPAD — Exposed thermal pad - must be soldered to ground pour |
Typical Applications
LAN9250/PT is suitable for 6 applications: Industrial PLC Ethernet Communication, Building Automation Gateways, EtherCAT Slave Controller Nodes, IoT Edge Devices with Wired Ethernet, Motion Controllers and Servo Drives, Embedded HMI Panels.
Industrial PLC Ethernet Communication
The LAN9250/PT is well-suited for adding a 10/100 Ethernet port to industrial PLCs and remote I/O modules. Its integrated PHY eliminates the need for an external Ethernet transceiver, the SPI host interface (up to 80 MHz) reduces the host MCU's packet-handling load, and the -40C to +85C industrial temperature rating allows deployment in factory-floor environments. HP Auto-MDIX automatically corrects for crossed/straight cables, simplifying field installation. Large TX/RX FIFOs accommodate bursty traffic from multiple sensors while the host MCU runs the control loop, reducing packet loss in time-critical Modbus TCP transactions.
Recommended
Building Automation Gateways
Building-automation gateways using BACnet/IP, Modbus TCP, or KNXnet/IP benefit from the LAN9250/PT's small PCB footprint, low BOM count, and reliable SPI interface. The integrated 10/100 PHY supports up to 100 m cable runs over CAT5e cabling, sufficient for typical building-floor wiring. The on-chip 1.8V LDO reduces external components to a single 3.3V supply, and the 64-pin TQFP-EP package is easy to assemble with standard reflow profiles. Industrial temperature rating ensures operation in unconditioned mechanical rooms or outdoor enclosures.
Recommended
EtherCAT Slave Controller Nodes
The LAN9250/PT can serve as the Ethernet interface in EtherCAT slave nodes when paired with a host MCU running the EtherCAT slave stack (e.g., Microchip's LAN9250 SDK or Beckhoff's SSC). The large FIFOs buffer process data so the host MCU can handle the application layer at its own pace, while the integrated PHY meets the strict EtherCAT jitter requirements. For designs that need hardware-offloaded EtherCAT with cycle times as low as 12.5 µs, the LAN9252I/PT is the recommended drop-in upgrade sharing the same TQFP-64 footprint.
Recommended
IoT Edge Devices with Wired Ethernet
Wired Ethernet remains preferred over Wi-Fi for industrial IoT edge devices due to determinism, security, and reliability. The LAN9250/PT's SPI interface (up to 80 MHz) connects easily to low-cost Cortex-M0+ or Cortex-M4 host MCUs, while the integrated PHY eliminates the external Ethernet transformer interface design work. The 3.3V single-supply operation simplifies power tree design, and the 10x10 mm TQFP-EP package fits in compact edge sensor housings. The large FIFOs also support bursty data uploads from image or vibration sensors without packet loss.
Recommended
Motion Controllers and Servo Drives
Multi-axis motion controllers and servo drives use EtherCAT or PROFINET for hard real-time communication between the controller and drives. The LAN9250/PT provides the Ethernet interface for distributed motion systems, with large FIFOs and low host CPU overhead critical for sub-millisecond update rates. When used with a host MCU running the PROFINET IRT stack, the LAN9250/PT's HP Auto-MDIX simplifies cabinet wiring, and the industrial temperature rating handles the elevated ambient inside a servo drive enclosure. For higher-performance drives, the LAN9252I/PT provides dedicated EtherCAT offload.
Recommended
Embedded HMI Panels
Human-Machine Interface (HMI) panels with touchscreens need reliable wired Ethernet for SCADA connectivity, recipe downloads, and remote diagnostics. The LAN9250/PT's small 10x10 mm TQFP-EP footprint fits alongside LCD drivers, touch controllers, and the host MCU on a compact HMI mainboard. The SPI host interface avoids bus contention with the display controller, and the integrated PHY supports cable lengths up to 100 m for installation in control cabinets. Industrial temperature rating and HP Auto-MDIX make field installation forgiving of cable swaps and harsh environments.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for LAN9250/PT — comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | LAN9252I/PT | LAN9250-I/PT | KSZ8001LI | W5100 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Package | 64-pin TQFP-EP (10x10 mm) | 64-pin TQFP-EP (10x10 mm) - same | 64-pin TQFP-EP (10x10 mm) - same | 48-pin LQFP (7x7 mm) - different | 68-pin LQFP (10x10 mm) - different |
| Brand | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | WIZnet |
| Ethernet Speed | 10/100 Mbps | 10/100 Mbps | 10/100 Mbps | 10/100 Mbps | 10/100 Mbps |
| Host Interface | SPI (up to 80 MHz), I2C | SPI (up to 80 MHz), I2C | SPI (up to 80 MHz), I2C | MII/RMII (no SPI/I2C) | SPI (up to 4 MHz), parallel bus |
| Integrated PHY | Yes (10/100 BASE-TX) | Yes (10/100 BASE-TX) | Yes (10/100 BASE-TX) | Yes (10/100 BASE-TX) | No (requires external PHY) |
| Hardware EtherCAT Offload | No (host-stack required) | Yes (dedicated ESC) | No (host-stack required) | No | No |
| Operating Temperature | -40C to +85C (Industrial) | -40C to +85C | -40C to +85C | -40C to +85C | 0C to +70C |
| Auto-MDIX | Yes (HP Auto-MDIX) | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
| RoHS Compliance | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Typical 1k+ Price | ~$5.50 | ~$6.50 | ~$5.50 | ~$3.50 | ~$4.00 |
Key Differentiators
- Lowest-cost Microchip Ethernet controller with integrated PHY and SPI host interface (vs KSZ8001LI)
- Faster SPI host interface than legacy controllers (vs W5100)
- Industrial temperature range and HP Auto-MDIX for harsh environments (vs W5100)
Design Notes
Route the TX+/TX- and RX+/RX- differential pairs as 100-ohm differential pairs with impedance control, keeping the traces as short as possible and symmetric. Place the 25 MHz reference clock crystal/oscillator within 5 mm of the REF_CLK pin with a guard ground ring, and use a series resistor if the source impedance is low. The exposed thermal pad (EP) MUST be soldered to a continuous ground copper pour with multiple thermal vias for proper heat dissipation. Decoupling: place 0.1 µF and 1 µF ceramic capacitors as close as possible to every VDD33 and VDD33A pin, with the 1 µF cap within 2 mm of the supply pin. The RBIAS resistor must be 12.4 kohm 1% to ground - do not omit this component, the PHY will not function without it.
The LAN9250/PT is shipped in a state where the host interface selection (SPI vs I2C) is determined by strap pins or host-software configuration - read the datasheet section on chip initialization carefully. Do not assume SPI mode is default; verify with the SCS pin state at reset. For industrial EtherCAT designs, the LAN9250/PT requires the EtherCAT slave stack on the host MCU - if you need hardware-offloaded EtherCAT (cycle times under 100 µs), use the LAN9252I/PT instead. Do not exceed the absolute maximum supply voltage of 3.6V on any VDD33 pin or the device will be damaged.
Separate the analog PHY section (TX/RX pins, RBIAS, PLL) from the digital section (SPI/I2C, GPIO) with a ground split or guard trace, and use a ferrite bead or separate regulator islands for VDD33A. The 25 MHz reference clock trace should be at least 3x trace-width away from any switching signal, and surrounded by ground. Avoid routing any high-speed digital signal under the magnetics. The TQFP-EP package benefits from a 4-layer PCB with a dedicated ground plane under the IC - this reduces EMI emissions and improves EMC compliance for industrial certifications (CE, FCC Class A).
Compliance Information
RoHS compliant per Microchip product page. LAN9250/PT is not AEC-Q100 qualified - it is designed for industrial (not automotive) applications. For automotive Ethernet, consider the LAN9250 family automotive derivatives or TJA1100 PHY.
