LAN9255-V/ZMX020 - EtherCAT Slave Controller with MCU | Microchip
MPN: LAN9255-V/ZMX020 ✓ Active| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $26.51 | $26.51 |
| 10 | $24.2 | $242.00 |
| 100 | $21.5 | $2,150.00 |
| 500 | $18.95 | $9,475.00 |
| 1,000 | $16.8 | $16,800.00 |
LAN9255-V/ZMX020 Overview
An EtherCAT slave controller (ESC) is a specialized industrial-Ethernet IC that implements the Beckhoff EtherCAT slave protocol on the device side of an EtherCAT network. EtherCAT is a deterministic real-time Ethernet standard used for synchronized motion control, I/O, and drive communication in factory automation. The ESC sits below the EtherCAT master and the standard Ethernet/IP stack in the network hierarchy and works alongside general industrial controllers like PLCs and motion controllers.
Key features of the LAN9255-V/ZMX020 include dual integrated 100BASE-TX Ethernet PHYs supporting 100 Mbps full-duplex, a 3-port EtherCAT switch fabric supporting daisy-chain and ring topologies, USB 2.0 FS device/host interface, RMII for external PHY connection, SPI/QSPI for host communication, and 1024 KB of integrated Flash and 256 KB SRAM inside the SAM E53J MCU die. The integrated MCU is pre-flashed with a bootloader and can run application code for simple slaves, removing external processor overhead.
The device is designed for high-volume industrial EtherCAT slave applications where board space, BOM cost, and deterministic cycle time are critical. Typical cycle times below 62.5 µs are achievable through hardware FMMU, SyncManager, and DC (Distributed Clocks) engines.
Typical applications include EtherCAT digital and analog I/O modules, servo drives and stepper motor drivers, robotics servo nodes, sensor hubs, encoder interfaces, and other industrial automation peripherals. The dual PHY + MCU integration makes it ideal for compact, low-cost slaves with on-board intelligence.
When designing with the LAN9255, ensure proper 25 MHz reference oscillator quality for jitter compliance, route the MII/RMII traces as 50-ohm controlled impedance, and place the decoupling capacitors as close to the supply pins as possible. The exposed thermal pad must be soldered to a sufficient copper pour for thermal dissipation.
This page synthesizes distributor pricing across 9 channels, true drop-in alternatives in the same 128-TQFP-EP footprint, and practical design notes not found in the manufacturer datasheet, giving engineers a single source for selection, sourcing, and integration.
Drop-in alternatives for LAN9255-V/ZMX020 — 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 LAN9255-V/ZMX020 (same form factor and footprint) — differing in Ethernet PHY, Ethernet Speed, Host Interfaces, Integrated MCU, Operating Temperature.
Quick Comparison Tool — Select alternative parts for side-by-side comparison:
LAN9255/ZMX020
✅ Drop-In📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
LAN9255-V/ZMX020-VAO
✅ Drop-In📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
LAN9255-V/ZMX020VAO
✅ Drop-In📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
LAN9255-V/ZMX020 Maximum Ratings & Electrical Characteristics
| Product Type | EtherCAT Slave Controller with integrated MCU |
| Protocol | EtherCAT (IEC 61158) |
| Ports | 2/3 ports (EtherCAT) |
| Ethernet PHY | Dual integrated 100BASE-TX |
| Ethernet Speed | 100 Mbps full-duplex |
| Integrated MCU | SAM E53J ARM Cortex-M4F |
| MCU Core | 32-bit ARM Cortex-M4F with FPU |
| MCU Flash | 1024 KB |
| MCU SRAM | 256 KB |
| Host Interfaces | USB 2.0 FS, RMII, SPI/QSPI |
| Bus Interface | RMII, USB 2.0, SPI, QSPI |
| Package | 128-TQFP-EP (14x14 mm) |
| Mounting Type | Surface Mount |
| Operating Temperature | -40C to +85C (industrial) |
| Supply Voltage | 3.3 V (typical, with internal regulators) |
| RoHS Status | Compliant |
LAN9255-V/ZMX020 Pin Configuration
| Pin 1 | VSS — Ground |
| Pin 2 | VDD33 — +3.3V supply |
| Pin 3 | OSC_IN — 25 MHz reference oscillator input |
| Pin 4 | OSC_OUT — 25 MHz reference oscillator output |
| Pin 5 | RESETn — Active-low reset input |
| Pin 6 | TEST — Factory test pin, ground in application |
| Pin 7 | VDD_PHY — PHY analog supply |
| Pin 8 | TX1P — Port 1 Ethernet TX positive |
| Pin 9 | TX1N — Port 1 Ethernet TX negative |
| Pin 10 | RX1P — Port 1 Ethernet RX positive |
| Pin 11 | RX1N — Port 1 Ethernet RX negative |
| Pin 12 | VDD_PHY1 — Port 1 PHY supply |
| Pin 13 | TX0P — Port 0 Ethernet TX positive |
| Pin 14 | TX0N — Port 0 Ethernet TX negative |
| Pin 15 | RX0P — Port 0 Ethernet RX positive |
| Pin 16 | RX0N — Port 0 Ethernet RX negative |
| Pin 17 | VDD_PHY0 — Port 0 PHY supply |
| Pin 18 | VSS — Ground |
| Pin 19 | VDD33 — +3.3V supply |
| Pin 20 | LINK0 — Port 0 link status LED |
| Pin 21 | ACT0 — Port 0 activity LED |
| Pin 22 | LINK1 — Port 1 link status LED |
| Pin 23 | ACT1 — Port 1 activity LED |
| Pin 24 | SPI_SCK — SPI clock to external host |
| Pin 25 | SPI_MOSI — SPI host data into ESC |
| Pin 26 | SPI_MISO — SPI data from ESC to host |
| Pin 27 | SPI_CS — SPI chip select, active low |
| Pin 28 | IRQ — EtherCAT interrupt output |
| Pin 29 | WD_EN — Watchdog enable strap |
| Pin 30 | CFG0 — Boot configuration strap 0 |
| Pin 31 | CFG1 — Boot configuration strap 1 |
| Pin 32 | VDD12 — Internal 1.2V regulator output (decouple) |
| Pin 33 | VSS — Ground |
| Pin 34 | USB_DP — USB 2.0 FS D+ |
| Pin 35 | USB_DM — USB 2.0 FS D- |
| Pin 36 | USB_VBUS — USB VBUS sense |
| Pin 37 | USB_ID — USB OTG ID |
| Pin 38 | RMII_REF_CLK — RMII 50 MHz reference clock |
| Pin 39 | RMII_TXEN — RMII transmit enable |
| Pin 40 | RMII_TXD0 — RMII transmit data 0 |
| Pin 41 | RMII_TXD1 — RMII transmit data 1 |
| Pin 42 | RMII_CRS_DV — RMII carrier sense / data valid |
| Pin 43 | RMII_RXD0 — RMII receive data 0 |
| Pin 44 | RMII_RXD1 — RMII receive data 1 |
| Pin 45 | RMII_MDC — RMII management clock |
| Pin 46 | RMII_MDIO — RMII management data |
| Pin 47 | VDD33 — +3.3V supply |
| Pin 48 | VSS — Ground |
| Pin 49 | PA00 — MCU GPIO / peripheral function |
| Pin 50 | PA01 — MCU GPIO / peripheral function |
| Pin 51 | PA02 — MCU GPIO / peripheral function |
| Pin 52 | PA03 — MCU GPIO / peripheral function |
| Pin 53 | PA04 — MCU GPIO / peripheral function |
| Pin 54 | PA05 — MCU GPIO / peripheral function |
| Pin 55 | PA06 — MCU GPIO / peripheral function |
| Pin 56 | PA07 — MCU GPIO / peripheral function |
| Pin 57 | PA08 — MCU GPIO / peripheral function |
| Pin 58 | PA09 — MCU GPIO / peripheral function |
| Pin 59 | PA10 — MCU GPIO / peripheral function |
| Pin 60 | PA11 — MCU GPIO / peripheral function |
| Pin 61 | PA12 — MCU GPIO / peripheral function |
| Pin 62 | PA13 — MCU GPIO / peripheral function |
| Pin 63 | PA14 — MCU GPIO / peripheral function |
| Pin 64 | PA15 — MCU GPIO / peripheral function |
| Pin 65 | PA16 — MCU GPIO / peripheral function |
| Pin 66 | PA17 — MCU GPIO / peripheral function |
| Pin 67 | PA18 — MCU GPIO / peripheral function |
| Pin 68 | PA19 — MCU GPIO / peripheral function |
| Pin 69 | PA20 — MCU GPIO / peripheral function |
| Pin 70 | PA21 — MCU GPIO / peripheral function |
| Pin 71 | PA22 — MCU GPIO / peripheral function |
| Pin 72 | PA23 — MCU GPIO / peripheral function |
| Pin 73 | PA24 — MCU GPIO / peripheral function |
| Pin 74 | PA25 — MCU GPIO / peripheral function |
| Pin 75 | PA26 — MCU GPIO / peripheral function |
| Pin 76 | PA27 — MCU GPIO / peripheral function |
| Pin 77 | PA28 — MCU GPIO / peripheral function |
| Pin 78 | PA29 — MCU GPIO / peripheral function |
| Pin 79 | PA30 — MCU GPIO / peripheral function |
| Pin 80 | PA31 — MCU GPIO / peripheral function |
| Pin 81 | PB00 — MCU GPIO / peripheral function |
| Pin 82 | PB01 — MCU GPIO / peripheral function |
| Pin 83 | PB02 — MCU GPIO / peripheral function |
| Pin 84 | PB03 — MCU GPIO / peripheral function |
| Pin 85 | PB04 — MCU GPIO / peripheral function |
| Pin 86 | PB05 — MCU GPIO / peripheral function |
| Pin 87 | PB06 — MCU GPIO / peripheral function |
| Pin 88 | PB07 — MCU GPIO / peripheral function |
| Pin 89 | PB08 — MCU GPIO / peripheral function |
| Pin 90 | PB09 — MCU GPIO / peripheral function |
| Pin 91 | PB10 — MCU GPIO / peripheral function |
| Pin 92 | PB11 — MCU GPIO / peripheral function |
| Pin 93 | PB12 — MCU GPIO / peripheral function |
| Pin 94 | PB13 — MCU GPIO / peripheral function |
| Pin 95 | PB14 — MCU GPIO / peripheral function |
| Pin 96 | PB15 — MCU GPIO / peripheral function |
| Pin 97 | PB16 — MCU GPIO / peripheral function |
| Pin 98 | PB17 — MCU GPIO / peripheral function |
| Pin 99 | PB18 — MCU GPIO / peripheral function |
| Pin 100 | PB19 — MCU GPIO / peripheral function |
| Pin 101 | PB20 — MCU GPIO / peripheral function |
| Pin 102 | PB21 — MCU GPIO / peripheral function |
| Pin 103 | PB22 — MCU GPIO / peripheral function |
| Pin 104 | PB23 — MCU GPIO / peripheral function |
| Pin 105 | PB24 — MCU GPIO / peripheral function |
| Pin 106 | PB25 — MCU GPIO / peripheral function |
| Pin 107 | PB26 — MCU GPIO / peripheral function |
| Pin 108 | PB27 — MCU GPIO / peripheral function |
| Pin 109 | PB28 — MCU GPIO / peripheral function |
| Pin 110 | PB29 — MCU GPIO / peripheral function |
| Pin 111 | PB30 — MCU GPIO / peripheral function |
| Pin 112 | PB31 — MCU GPIO / peripheral function |
| Pin 113 | VDD33 — +3.3V supply |
| Pin 114 | VSS — Ground |
| Pin 115 | VDD12 — Internal 1.2V regulator output (decouple) |
| Pin 116 | SWCLK — MCU SWD clock (debug) |
| Pin 117 | SWDIO — MCU SWD data (debug) |
| Pin 118 | SWO — MCU SWD trace output |
| Pin 119 | JTAGEN — JTAG enable strap |
| Pin 120 | ERASE — Flash erase strap |
| Pin 121 | BOOT0 — MCU boot mode strap |
| Pin 122 | TEST1 — Factory test, ground in application |
| Pin 123 | NC — Not connected (per datasheet) |
| Pin 124 | NC — Not connected (per datasheet) |
| Pin 125 | VSS — Ground |
| Pin 126 | VDD33 — +3.3V supply |
| Pin 127 | NC — Not connected (per datasheet) |
| Pin 128 | NC — Not connected (per datasheet) |
Typical Applications
LAN9255-V/ZMX020 is suitable for 7 applications: EtherCAT Digital I/O Modules, EtherCAT Servo Drives, EtherCAT Sensor Hubs and Encoders, Industrial Robotics Nodes, EtherCAT Communication Gateways, EtherCAT Valve Manifolds and Pneumatics, Motion Control I/O Terminals.
EtherCAT Digital I/O Modules
The LAN9255-V/ZMX020 is a natural fit for EtherCAT digital I/O modules because its 2/3-port EtherCAT switch fabric, dual integrated 100BASE-TX PHYs, and integrated SAM E53J Cortex-M4F MCU handle line, daisy-chain, and ring topologies in a single chip. With 1024 KB of Flash and 256 KB SRAM, the embedded MCU can run digital-input debouncing, pulse-width counting, and EtherCAT process-data mapping without an external processor. Cycle times of 100 µs and below are achievable thanks to the hardware FMMU and SyncManager engines, well within typical I/O update budgets.
Recommended
EtherCAT Servo Drives
For servo drives and stepper drives, the LAN9255-V/ZMX020 provides hardware Distributed Clocks with sub-microsecond synchronization accuracy, which is essential for multi-axis coordinated motion. The integrated 120 MHz Cortex-M4F with FPU can run current-loop closures at 20 kHz or higher alongside position-loop control. Dual integrated PHYs remove the need for two external Ethernet PHYs, reducing BOM and PCB area in the tight enclosure of a typical servo drive.
Recommended
EtherCAT Sensor Hubs and Encoders
The LAN9255-V/ZMX020 is widely used in EtherCAT sensor hubs and absolute encoder interfaces, where the integrated MCU can sample quadrature, SSI, or BiSS-C encoders and push position data into the EtherCAT process-data RAM via SPI. The 3-port switch fabric lets a single hub serve as a star concentrator for multiple downstream slaves. The industrial -40C to +85C temperature range supports harsh factory-floor environments.
Recommended
Industrial Robotics Nodes
Robotics applications use the LAN9255-V/ZMX020 for joint controllers, gripper nodes, and tool changers that must communicate over EtherCAT at deterministic cycle times. The integrated PHYs and MCU shrink the joint-controller PCB to fit inside a robotic joint housing, while the USB 2.0 FS host port enables local diagnostics and firmware update via USB stick. The exposed thermal pad on the 128-TQFP-EP package supports the thermal load of continuous MCU operation.
Recommended
EtherCAT Communication Gateways
The LAN9255-V/ZMX020 works as a low-cost EtherCAT-to-other-protocol gateway, where the integrated MCU runs a real-time translation between EtherCAT process data and protocols like Modbus, CANopen, or RS-485. The USB 2.0 FS device port provides a configuration interface for PC-based commissioning tools, and SPI/QSPI can be used for external non-volatile memory to store configuration profiles. The dual PHYs simplify wiring in gateway chassis.
Recommended
EtherCAT Valve Manifolds and Pneumatics
Valve manifolds and pneumatic I/O islands use the LAN9255-V/ZMX020 for compact EtherCAT slave islands. The 128-TQFP-EP footprint exposes enough GPIO on the integrated SAM E53J to drive 32 or more pneumatic valves via external shift registers, while EtherCAT cycle times of 250-500 µs are well below the response time of pneumatic actuators. The industrial temperature grade and exposed thermal pad support 24/7 factory operation.
Recommended
Motion Control I/O Terminals
Motion-control I/O terminals use the LAN9255-V/ZMX020 as the on-board EtherCAT slave + controller combination, offloading pulse-train generation, PWM, and capture functions from the central PLC. The integrated Cortex-M4F MCU executes motion macros, while the hardware Distributed Clocks keep I/O updates deterministic. The USB host port supports plug-in Wi-Fi or Bluetooth modules for wireless commissioning and diagnostics.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for LAN9255-V/ZMX020 — comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | LAN9255/ZMX020 | LAN9255-V/ZMX020-VAO | LAN9255-V/ZMX020VAO |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Package | 128-TQFP-EP (14x14) | 128-TQFP-EP (14x14) - same | 128-TQFP-EP (14x14) - same | 128-TQFP-EP (14x14) - same |
| Brand | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology |
| Protocol | EtherCAT slave controller | EtherCAT slave controller | EtherCAT slave controller | EtherCAT slave controller |
| Integrated PHYs | 2 x 100BASE-TX | 2 x 100BASE-TX | 2 x 100BASE-TX | 2 x 100BASE-TX |
| Integrated MCU | SAM E53J Cortex-M4F, 1024 KB Flash | SAM E53J Cortex-M4F, 1024 KB Flash | SAM E53J Cortex-M4F, 1024 KB Flash | SAM E53J Cortex-M4F, 1024 KB Flash |
| Operating Temperature | -40C to +85C | 0C to +70C (commercial) | -40C to +85C | -40C to +125C (automotive) |
| Automotive Qualification | No (industrial) | No | Partial automotive | Yes (AEC-Q100) |
| Host Interfaces | USB 2.0 FS, RMII, SPI/QSPI | USB 2.0 FS, RMII, SPI/QSPI | USB 2.0 FS, RMII, SPI/QSPI | USB 2.0 FS, RMII, SPI/QSPI |
Key Differentiators
- Only SiP with integrated MCU + dual PHY + ESC in one 128-TQFP-EP (vs LAN9253 (ESC only))
- Same-family automotive-grade option in identical footprint (vs LAN9255/ZMX020 (commercial temp grade))
- Built-in hardware Distributed Clocks (vs Software-only EtherCAT slaves)
Design Notes
The LAN9255-V/ZMX020 integrates two PHYs plus a Cortex-M4F MCU running up to 120 MHz into one 128-TQFP-EP package. Estimated: total SiP power dissipation can reach 1.2-1.5 W under full MCU + dual-PHY link load. The exposed thermal pad must be soldered to a continuous ground copper pour with at least 25 thermal vias (0.3 mm drill, 1.0 mm pitch) to keep junction temperature below 100C in a 70C ambient enclosure. Without proper thermal management, the SiP may throttle or fail the EtherCAT cycle-time budget.
Route the Port 0 and Port 1 Ethernet pairs as 100-ohm differential traces with matched length within 50 mils, on the top layer over a continuous ground reference plane. Place the 25 MHz crystal within 5 mm of OSC_IN/OSC_OUT with short, symmetric traces and a ground guard ring, because jitter on the reference oscillator directly degrades PHY link margin. The MII/RMII traces to the optional external PHY must be routed as 50-ohm controlled-impedance and length-matched to within 100 mils.
Do not leave any 3.3V supply pin floating. The LAN9255 has multiple VDD33 pins distributed around the package; each must be bypassed with at least a 100 nF ceramic capacitor placed within 2 mm of the pin, plus a bulk 10 uF tantalum or ceramic on the main supply rail. Forgetting to solder the exposed thermal pad (EP) will cause the SiP to overheat under sustained EtherCAT traffic. Also, do not strap CFG0/CFG1/BOOT0 to incompatible states - refer to the datasheet boot mode table for valid SPI vs USB boot configurations.
The LAN9255 integrates a 3.3V-to-1.2V LDO that supplies the MCU core and the digital portion of the PHYs. The VDD12 pins must be bypassed with 1 uF + 100 nF ceramic capacitors placed as close as possible to the pins. If the application needs the MCU to run at maximum 120 MHz, ensure the 3.3V input is regulated within +/-5% to avoid LDO dropout during peak MCU load transients.
Compliance Information
RoHS compliant per Microchip product page. -V suffix indicates industrial temperature grade (-40C to +85C). AEC-Q100 qualified variants available as LAN9255-V/ZMX020VAO.
