TC10 in Automotive Ethernet: Sleep and Wake-Up Made Simple

Automotive Ethernet networks must manage dozens of ECUs, cameras, and sensors operating simultaneously. Without energy-saving protocols, these networks would consume significant power, reducing EV range and increasing thermal stress.

TC10 provides a standardized way for Ethernet nodes to:

• Enter a low-power “sleep mode” during idle periods

• Reactivate automatically when traffic resumes, ensuring real-time communication

• Coordinate energy states across interconnected devices without manual intervention

This dynamic power management is vital for meeting green automotive standards and optimizing energy usage.

One of the biggest challenges for engineers is identifying hardware that fully supports TC10. Not all switches, PHYs, or controllers are TC10-ready, and documentation is often unclear.

Practical Recommendations:

1. Use TC10-certified Ethernet PHYs (e.g., BroadR-Reach-based devices) to ensure compliance

2. Validate TC10 features with media converters and switches optimized for automotive conditions

3. Leverage STAR ELECTRONICS’ testing and validation tools to guarantee seamless sleep/wake transitions in your network design

Although STAR ELECTRONICS’ FL3X product family does only support TC10 in selected products , it plays a vital role in broader automotive networking and testing environments. FL3X devices are designed for:

• Remaining bus simulation

• Gateway functionality

• Signal manipulation

• Data logging

• Real-time analysis across CAN, FlexRay, and Automotive Ethernet

FL3X complements TC10-ready components by enabling modular, scalable, and intelligent network architectures.

Learn more: FL3X Products by STAR ELECTRONICS