The demand on Ethernet networks in automotive, industrial, and safety-critical applications is increasing rapidly and ever-higher data rates must be combined with precisely predictable timing. The Fraunhofer Institute for Photonic Microsystems IPMS has addressed this challenge with a new 10G TSN endpoint IP core, enabling deterministic real-time communication at data rates of up to 10 Gbit/s.
The new 10G TSN Endpoint (EP) is an addition to Fraunhofer IPMS’s portfolio of time-sensitive networking (TSN) IP cores. It is designed for demanding applications that require maximum bandwidth, precise time synchronisation, and reliable data transmission with exact timing. Compared to the previous 1G TSN IP cores, the new 10G TSN EP IP enables a tenfold increase in data throughput, reaching up to 10 Gbit/s, while maintaining consistent, deterministic behaviour throughout the network. Thus, it supports the development of next-generation real-time Ethernet networks.
Precise time synchronisation in the nanosecond range
The new 10G TSN-EP IP core is technically based on a robust, hardware-accelerated implementation of time synchronisation according to IEEE 802.1AS-2020 (gPTP). This allows the core to achieve synchronisation accuracies of less than 10 nanoseconds in Ethernet networks and ensures stable time bases, even at very high data rates. It supports key TSN standards, including IEEE 802.1Qav for audio/video traffic shaping, IEEE 802.1Qbv for time-controlled scheduling, IEEE 802.1Qci for per-stream policing, and IEEE 802.1CB (FRER) for redundant, fault-tolerant transmissions.
Easy integration and a short time to market
To facilitate rapid implementation, Fraunhofer IPMS provides powerful Linux driver packages and reference implementations. The latter cover native XGMII interfaces, as well as common 10G interfaces such as 10G-BASE-R, SFI, and XFI. These interfaces are found on AMD Xilinx FPGAs, for example. The 10G TSN-EP IP core is designed for a wide range of proven FPGA and ASIC target platforms, facilitating rapid integration into customer-specific designs.
Wide range of applications
In modern in-vehicle networks, the 10G TSN-EP IP core acts as a deterministic backbone for domains such as advanced driver-assistance systems (ADAS), infotainment, and central computers. In sensor technology, the core enables low-loss and low-jitter data paths for video, radar, and lidar data, even during simultaneous multistream operation. In industrial automation, the core supports scalable, real-time networks for synchronised drives, robotics, and image processing lines. Predictable latency budgets across the entire network enhance the reliability and efficiency of complex production facilities.
Kickoff for a new generation of high-speed TSN IP cores
“With our new 10G TSN endpoint, we are taking an important step in expanding our portfolio of TSN IP cores and laying the foundation for a series of high-speed TSN IP cores,” says Alexander Noack, division director of data communication and computing at Fraunhofer IPMS in Dresden. “This will drive the development of a new generation of IP cores for real-time, high-speed Ethernet networks in which precise time synchronisation is crucial, from automotive and industrial applications to aerospace and defense.”
As part of the CeCas funding project, Fraunhofer IPMS is developing a supercomputing platform for highly automated automobiles and testing 25G TSN solutions. In addition to the new 10G TSN-EP IP core, a 10G TSN switched endpoint and a 10G TSN switch are in development.
For more information contact Franka Balvin, Fraunhofer Institute for Photonic Microsystems,
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