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TC10 in Automotive Ethernet | STAR ELECTRONICS

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

TC10, part of the IEEE 802.3ch standard, is a key feature for enabling energy-efficient Automotive Ethernet networks. It introduces sleep and wake-up mechanisms that reduce power consumption without compromising reliability—an essential requirement for electric vehicles (EVs), Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS), and modern infotainment platforms.

What is TC10 and why does it matter?

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.

How TC10 works in real environments

TC10 operates at the Data Link Layer, working alongside 100BASE-T1 and 1000BASE-T1 Ethernet standards. It uses low-level signaling to transition devices between active and sleep states seamlessly.

The mechanism is transparent to higher-layer applications, ensuring compatibility with existing AUTOSAR frameworks and in-vehicle Ethernet stacks.

Key Benefits:

  • Reduced energy consumption in ADAS and infotainment networks

  • Extended battery life in EVs by avoiding unnecessary ECU activity

  • Lower heat generation in network modules, improving long-term reliability

TC10-Compatible Components

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

TC10 in Action: Use Cases
  • Electric Vehicles (EVs): Maintain ECU sleep states while parked, without disconnecting essential diagnostic systems

  • ADAS: Reduce idle power when sensor data is not actively being processed

  • Infotainment: Allow head units and displays to power down when the vehicle is off, while retaining fast boot-up on wake

Beyond TC10: FL3X as a complementary solution

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

Key Takeaway

TC10 is more than just an energy-saving feature - it’s a cornerstone of efficient, reliable, and scalable Automotive Ethernet architectures. By adopting TC10-ready components and validation tools, engineers can optimize energy consumption while ensuring seamless operation.

For advanced simulation and gateway tasks, STAR ELECTRONICS’ FL3X product family offers powerful tools that integrate perfectly into modern automotive networks.

Glossary

Term

Definition

TC10

Sleep/wake mechanism defined in IEEE 802.3ch for Automotive Ethernet

IEEE 802.3ch

Ethernet standard for high-speed automotive communication

PHY (Physical Layer Device)

Hardware component responsible for physical data transmission

100BASE-T1 / 1000BASE-T1

Ethernet standards for single twisted-pair automotive communication

AUTOSAR

Standardized automotive software architecture

ECU (Electronic Control Unit)

Electronic control module used in vehicles

ADAS

Advanced Driver Assistance Systems

FL3X

STAR ELECTRONICS product family for simulation, logging, and gateway functionality in automotive networks

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