Transfer Data Faster with New USB Controller

By Michael Foley
iApplianceWeb
(05/21/01, 08:30:11 AM EDT)

Tired of the slow download of video from digital cameras or camcorders? inSilicon has announced availability of a USB 2.0 Host Controller that is fully compliant with the industry specifications for USB 2.0 Enhanced Host Controller Interface (EHCI) and the Open Host Controller Interface (OHCI) 1.1. Complying with the new version of USB, their USB chip set increases data transfer rates. USB is a peer-to-peer, short distance IO protocol for transferring data between computing devices. PCs and iAppliances use USB to exchange data with peripheral devices, such as digital cameras, MP3 players, and camcorders. USB 2.0 is the enhanced-performance USB specification with transfer rates up to 480 Mb per second.

inSilicon's solution is a set of synthesizable building blocks that lets OEMs and developers implement a complete USB 2.0 host for legacy USB 1.1 applications. The USB 2.0 Host Controller can be bridged to any industry-standard bus and includes options for both the PCI and ARM high-speed bus (AHB) interfaces. inSilicon's proprietary RapidScript utility automates configuration of the controller for integration into chip designs. The USB 2.0 Host Controller can be configured to meet customer application and gate count requirements. Designers can also include as many controllers on chip as desired to meet targeted bandwidth specifications. The controllers can be customized and optimized as a standalone host chip or as an integrated ASIC.

The USB 2.0 Host Controller is supported by Intoto's (www.intotoinc.com) eUSBStack software for real-time embedded systems and integration services, MCCI's (www.mcci.com) Windows drivers and integration services, and Vanteon (www.vanteon.com) software services.

The inSilicon USB 2.0 Host Controller will be available later this quarter. Pricing is available from the company.