Controller upgrades USB capabilities

Edited by the Electronicstalk editorial team May 23, 2003

The ISP1261/2 USB OTG bridge controller allows manufacturers of devices that have built-in USB device capability to easily add OTG functionality.

The Philips ISP1261/2 USB OTG bridge controller allows manufacturers of mobile handsets, personal digital assistants, digital still cameras, digital video cameras, MP3 players and other devices that have built-in USB device capability to easily add OTG functionality.

With USB OTG, consumers can easily connect devices such as a digital camera directly to a printer, or a PDA directly to a smart phone to synchronise information without requiring a host PC.

"USB has definitely conquered the PC and peripherals markets since its introduction in 1996 and moving forward, we're seeing tremendous growth opportunity for USB OTG functionality for use in a variety of mobile applications in both the PC and CE markets", said Brian O'Rourke, senior analyst at leading industry research firm In-Stat/MDR.

"We are predicting the market for USB OTG-equipped devices to grow by more than 200% annually between 2003 and 2007, and Philips' solutions are helping to drive OTG adoption into the mainstream".

Based on patented hardware and software technology, Philips' bridge controller does not require manufacturers to change the original USB hardware in a portable system.

The bridge controller can be used as a companion chip for an SoC or CPU on the existing printed circuit board or designed in a separate dongle.

As manufacturers are not required to alter any hardware or redesign the system architecture, the Philips bridge controller allows them to bring products with full USB OTG features to market quickly.

The Philips' ISP1261/2 bridge controller is offered in a small package (4 x 4mm), which fits well into the limited space of mobile devices.

Through a novel power-saving architecture, power consumption is less than half that of OTG controllers in the market.

Using cutting-edge process technologies allows Philips to offer the ISP1261/2 bridge controller at half the cost of a traditional OTG controller.

"Philips' new USB OTG bridge controller is the ideal solution for manufacturers to add OTG with minimal cost, software and hardware development", said Rajeev Mehtani, Wired Connectivity product line manager, Philips Semiconductors.

"Used in a plug-in dongle, our bridge controller will allow millions of consumers to upgrade their existing USB peripherals and benefit from the convenience that OTG provides".

Philips' ISP1261/2 will be sampling in Q3 2002 and will be in volume production in Q1 2004.