USB controller boasts extra processing power

A new Universal Serial Bus 2.0 SoC features an onboard microprocessor that processes data more than three times faster than widely deployed 8051-based USB 2.0 device controllers.

Agere Systems has introduced a Universal Serial Bus (USB) 2.0 SoC with an onboard microprocessor that processes data more than three times faster than widely deployed 8051-based USB 2.0 device controllers.

Called the USS2828, the chip integrates an ARM7TDMS microprocessor and processes 40MIPS.

The nearest competing chip based on the 8051 microprocessor processes data at 12MIPS.

The higher processing speed means more applications can be added via software.

Such applications include adding marketable capabilities to various USB 2.0 PC-based applications such as cameras, MP3 players and scanners.

One example could be boosting the speed at which a scanner performs image processing.

Agere's new chip integrates 10 technologies including the ARM7TDMS core.

Integrating the ARM7TDMS in the USS2828 offers more MIPS at a similar price point as 8051-based solutions.

In addition to the integrated microcontroller, other key functions of the new chip include a USB 2.0 high-speed PHY and device controller; a direct memory access controller; a memory controller; a programmable interrupt controller; read-only memory; random access memory; general purpose input-output technology; and two timers.

The USS2828 offers developers two options for interfacing the device with the end application.

There is a 16bit external memory interface and 24 programmable I/Os.

"Consumers want cameras, MP3 players and scanners with a more muscular engine so they can economically add differentiating, revenue-generating features to their products", said Surinder Rai, Marketing Director of the Enterprise and Networking Division of Agere Systems.

"This chip, because of its wealth of spare horsepower and high level of integration, provides that valuable benefit to them".

The chip supports both high-speed USB 2.0 (480Mbit/s) and full-speed (12Mbit/s) data transfers.

Available now, the chip's pricing varies depending on volumes.

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