GigaBlox Nano – 1 Inch GigaBit Ethernet Switch

DOCUMENTATION AND CAD

Gigabit Ethernet, 1 inch.

GigaBlox Nano is the most compact solution for Gigabit ethernet currently available, providing 4 10/100M or GigaBit ethernet ports in a 26mm x 26mm footprint.

Transformerless Ethernet

Transformers provide three performance aspects...

1) To reject differences in ground potentials on different ethernet devices.
2) To allow the injection of common-mode voltages (such as PoE).
3) To allow the generation of voltage waveforms when using current-mode PHY transceivers.

Removing the transformers restricts the use of transformerless ethernet to systems that share a common ground and do not need PoE.

Despite this limitation, most compact systems (drones and robots) use a single ground and for those that don't use PoE, using transformerless ethernet is a perfectly acceptable tradeoff to make to achieve a drastic reduction in size and weight.

This is how we have achieved the world's smallest solution for a GigaBit ethernet switch.

Can I use GigaBlox Nano in my system?

Not sure if GigaBlox Nano is suitable for your system? Check the flowchart below.



You can read more about transformerless ethernet in the application notes below:
ENT-AN0110
AN-1519

Also be aware that transformerless ethernet is not possible for use with current mode PHYs. This is because current mode PHYs require the use of a transformer to generate the necessary ethernet voltages. When using GigaBlox Nano with a current mode PHY, you will need a transformer on the current mode PHY. Read more about that here.

Still not sure? Get in touch with our Application Engineers.

Port Connectivity

GigaBlox Nano is our first truly modular, stackable board. The 4 ports are placed onto a Samtec Razor Beam™ (MPN: LSHM-120-02.5-L-DV-A-S-K-TR) stackable header.


This allows direct integration of GigaBlox Nano into any daughterboard design, allowing our customers to design simple breakout boards with full connector flexibility.

We also offer two of our own daughterboards that stack with GigaBlox Nano to either provide BotBlox pinout PicoBlade connectors or standard RJ-45 connectors.

GigaBlox Nano ports can also support 10/100M (2 pair) ethernet as well as 1000M (4 pair) ethernet by way of autonegotiation with the connected device.

Pico-Conn Daughterboard

Pico-Conn Daughterboard is a simple breakout board for GigaBlox Nano that puts the 4 ports and power onto Molex Pico-Blade connectors. The pinout used is the same as on our standard GigaBlox to allow easy substitution of the boards.

Buy PicoConn DaughterBoard

RJ-Conn DaughterBoard

RJ-Conn Daughterboard puts the 4 GigaBit ports onto traditional RJ-45 jacks allowing use in a system with traditional RJ-45 cables.

While this approach does add size, the RJ-45 jacks have integrated magnetics meaning that true transformer-based GigaBit ethernet can be achieved with this solution.

Buy RJConn DaughterBoard

Custom integration

The modularity of GigaBlox Nano also allows customers to directly integrate GigaBlox Nano with their own daughterboards for ultimate flexibility in application. Our Pico-Conn and RJ-Conn boards are made fully open-source to assist with integration, the link is below. 

Daughterboard design files

Integration with other hardware

Integrating GigaBlox Nano with CH9121 (Serial to Ethernet Converter)

Integrating GigaBlox Nano with W5500 (SPI to Ethernet Converter)

Specifications

Covered under the BotBlox Supply Guarantee Program

This board is covered by our supply guarantee, which guarantees availability and low lead times until at least 2028. Read more about the BotBlox Supply Guarantee Program.