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Press Room
New Low-Pin, Hi-Speed USB Transceiver Interface
Endorsed By Leading USB Connectivity Providers
USB Transceiver Interface Makes It Easier for Designers of Advanced
Semiconductor Solutions to Create High-Speed Connections for Digital
Products
SAN JOSE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--March 1, 2004 - Leading
Universal Serial Bus (USB) connectivity providers including ARC International,
Conexant, Mentor Graphics, Philips, Standard Microsystems Corporation
(SMSC), and TransDimension Inc. developed and announced a new USB
transceiver interface called UTMI+ Low Pin Interface (ULPI). These
companies are the founding members of the ULPI working group. In
addition, Cypress, Synopsys and Motorola have recently verified the
specification and joined the group. ULPI allows chip and system designers
to connect a Hi-Speed USB transceiver to USB core logic embedded
in application-specific integrated circuits (ASICs) and systems-on-chip
(SoCs). The ULPI specification covers USB host, device and On-the-Go
(OTG) implementations.
Today, USB is the most widely deployed connection interface for
quick transfers of information on PCs, printers, digital cameras,
personal digital assistants (PDAs), MP3 players, cell phones, monitors,
and other digital consumer electronics products. USB allows consumers
to easily establish high-speed connections between products to trasfer
digital files such as pictures, multimedia content and data.
By using the ULPI standard interface instead of proprietary interfaces,
ASIC and SoC designers will reduce design time, simplify testing
and ensure interoperability with USB transceivers. ULPI specifies
a 12-pin interface between host, device and OTG functionality on
an ASIC or SoC and an external USB transceiver. As a result, more
USB functionality can be integrated, leading to a reduction in the
pin-count of the transceiver from 100 pins to approximately 30.
"The ULPI standard will accelerate Hi-Speed USB adoption across
all markets, especially in the fast-growing connected consumer segment
where USB's ease of use is important," said Batuhan Okur, chairman
of the ULPI working group and USB product manager at Philips Semiconductors.
The companies endorsing the ULPI specification are a cross-section
of semiconductor and intellectual property (IP) providers who, in
concert, created a comprehensive system solution for Hi-Speed USB
functionality.
"ULPI helps customers reduce cost, risk and time-to-market," said
Wouter Suverkropp, worldwide marketing manager, Peripherals, ARC
International.
"Mentor believes the ULPI specification will enable a higher level
of interoperability among USB components and much needed flexibility
for system designers," said Michael Kaskowitz, general manager, Intellectual
Property Division, Mentor Graphics.
"By enabling low pin-count transceiver connectivity, ULPI technology
will allow designers to aggressively drive process technology advancements
without redesigning analog blocks, serving to reduce overall systems
costs," said Steve Nelson, vice president, Connectivity Products
Marketing, SMSC.
"The addition of ULPI to our technology portfolio will enable us
to provide our customers with cost-effective, industry-standard USB
2.0 PHYs in a compact package, and also enhance our home network
processor portfolio with USB 2.0 support," said Chee Kwan, vice president,
Broadband Access Products, Conexant.
"The entire market should benefit from an interface that promises
a large market of discrete solutions, as well as an accelerated path
for those pursuing integration," said Mike Holt, vice president,
Marketing, TransDimension Inc.
About ULPI Consortium
The ULPI Consortium was founded by ARC International, Conexant,
Mentor Graphics, Philips, Standard Microsystems Corporation (SMSC)
and TransDimension Inc. The ULPI interface was formed to allow chips
and systems designers to connect a Hi-Speed USB transceiver to USB
core logic embedded in application-specific integrated circuits (ASICs)
and systems-on-chip (SoCs). The ULPI specification covers USB host,
device and On-the-Go (OTG) implementations. |
