Corporate Communications:
Carolynne Borders
Director of Corporate Communications
SMSC
80 Arkay Drive
Hauppauge, NY 11788
Voice: 631-435-6626
Fax: 631-273-5550
E-mail:
Media Contact:
Ken Harper Public Relations
McClenahan Bruer Communications
1500 SW 12th Ave.
Portland, OR 97201
Voice: 503-546-1020
Fax: 503-546-1001
E-mail:
SMSC Introduces Industry's First USB Sharing Hub, Leading to a New Generation of Products with USB Connectivity and Device Sharing
SMSC’s MultiSwitch™ Hub Provides Dual-Host USB Capabilities for Simple Peripheral Sharing
HAUPPAUGE, NY, APRIL 17, 2006 - To date, manufacturers of PCs, consumer electronics and even industrial systems products have taken advantage of the connectivity provided by the industry standard Universal Serial Bus (USB). But consumers wanting to share those connected peripheral devices between two discrete platforms have had to resort to using expensive networking solutions or cumbersome cables they had to unplug and re-attach, as well as installing software. With SMSC's (Nasdaq: SMSC) USB MultiSwitch™ Hub, USB devices can now be shared easily and inexpensively.
The USB MultiSwitch (part number USB2524) allows users to connect and share USB peripherals between two discrete platforms. The following are but a few of the examples demonstrating the range and versatility of device sharing that SMSC’s USB MultiSwitch makes possible:
A laptop can share all the devices connected to a desktop system
A game console can share all the devices of a Macintosh or Windows PC
A set-top box and digital television can share devices within an entertainment center.
Embedded systems can shift internal USB devices between different Systems-on-Chips (SOCs)
To take a common example, a user brings a laptop home and connects to a wired or wireless hub enabled by the USB MultiSwitch. The user can then selectively share the printer, an MP3 device and scanner, or any USB peripheral device connected to the hub between a laptop and desktop system without the need for software, configuring or rebooting, thanks to the USB MultiSwitch.
SMSC's USB MultiSwitch leverages the connectivity inherent in USB certified devices and systems and extends that to a new generation of USB devices that can be shared. With the USB MultiSwitch, OEMs can offer consumers tremendous freedom mixing and matching systems and peripherals that can be connected and shared with one another quickly, easily, and inexpensively.
"As we looked at the way USB was being implemented in consumer devices, it became clear that users would face situations where constellations of peripherals, such as printers, MP3 players, external storage devices, PVRs, and so on, would be connected to a host device, but there was no simple way of sharing them," said Steve Nelson, Vice President of Marketing - Connectivity Solutions at SMSC. "The USB MultiSwitch gives OEMs a flexible and cost-effective way to enhance their products' value by providing new benefits to consumers.”
USB MultiSwitch (USB2524): SMSC’s Sharing Hub
The SMSC 4-port USB MultiSwitch acts as two independently controllable USB2.0 hubs in a single package with the ability to electronically reassign and reconfigure any of its four downstream ports to either of its two upstream USB ports. This allows two USB hosts to share peripherals and to dynamically reconfigure them. Users can switch a peripheral from one host to the other on-the-fly and the peripheral will automatically detach from one host and attach to the other.
Any configuration of the downstream ports is possible except simultaneous connection to both upstream ports. The SMSC 4-Port USB MultiSwitch is fully compliant with the USB2.0 Specification and will attach to either or both upstream USB hosts as a Full-Speed or Full/Hi-Speed Hub. The four downstream hub ports support Low-Speed, Full-Speed and Hi-Speed (if operating as a Hi-Speed hub) downstream devices on all of the enabled downstream ports.
Integration Delivers Major Cost Advantages
The number of USB enabled devices has exploded, and with it the requirement for easy and cost effective switching and sharing of these devices. In the past, the ability to share Hi-Speed USB peripherals required two discrete hub devices, along with expensive analog switches, and complicated detection and switching mechanisms. The USB MultiSwitch provides a cost-effective, single chip solution that will enable this powerful function to be implemented in the most cost-sensitive consumer applications.
Key Features
USB 2.0 compatible hub with two upstream host port connections.
Electronic configuration and port assignment via three switching modes.
Allows two USB hosts to share devices and dynamically assign host ownership.
Multiple LED modes to help maximize design flexibility.
Enhanced configuration options available through serial I2C EEPROM or SMBus slave port.
On-board 24MHz crystal driver.
Internal PLL for 480MHz USB 2.0 sampling.
Internal 1.8V linear voltage regulator.
Integrated USB termination with pull-up and pull-down resistors.
Internal short circuit protection on USB differential signal pins.
Availability & Pricing
Samples of the USB MultiSwitch are available now with production quantities available in third quarter of 2006. Pricing will be $3.75 per unit (U.S. list price) in OEM quantities.
About SMSC:
Many of the world's most successful global technology companies rely upon SMSC as a go-to resource for semiconductor system solutions that span analog, digital and mixed-signal technologies. Leveraging substantial intellectual property, integration expertise and a comprehensive global infrastructure, SMSC solves design challenges and delivers performance, space, cost and time-to-market advantages to its customers. SMSC’s application focus targets high-growth vertical markets including mobile and desktop PCs, servers, consumer electronics, automotive infotainment and industrial applications. The Company has developed leadership positions in its select markets by providing application specific solutions such as mixed-signal PC system controllers, non-PCI Ethernet, ARCNET, MOST, Hi-Speed USB and other high-speed serial communications.
SMSC is based in Hauppauge, New York with operations in North America, Asia and Europe. Engineering design centers are located in Arizona, New York, Texas, and Karlsruhe, Germany. Additional information is available at www.smsc.com.
SMSC is a registered trademark and SMSC MultiSwitch is a trademark of Standard Microsystems Corporation. Product names and company names are trademarks of their respective holders.
