June 5, 2013 - Microchip Technology announced seven UCH2 Programmable USB2 Hubs. Programmability, enables developers of PCs and mobile devices to configure their designs without external memory.
UCH2s support both USB2 and USB High Speed Interchip (HSIC) connectivity, provide maximum battery life via low-power modes such as Link Power Management (LPM), and can replace wall chargers with advanced battery charging modes, such as BC1.2, Apple, SE1 and China charging. For applications that need to communicate over multiple protocols, UCH2s feature direct I/O bridging to I2C, SPI, UART and general-purpose I/O. They also have the flexibility to support the behaviors of multiple operating systems, such as vendor-specific messaging and FlexConnect for simple port reversals. While the PC market is converting to USB3, most market forecasts predict that USB2 will remain predominant in mobile devices through at least 2015.
This continued use of both USB3 and USB2 challenges the designers of PCs and mobile devices to ensure interoperability while providing new features and maximum battery life. Microchip’s seven UCH2s across three families address these needs for both PC and mobile manufacturers. Microchip’s UCH2s integrate “Quad Page” configuration OTP Flash memory, which reserves space for interoperability and other customizations by the designer, including four separate configuration opportunities. Additionally, Microchip makes it easy to generate configuration settings and program the OTP memory, via its new ProTouch Configuration Editor software tool, also announced today.
The ProTouch Configuration Editor software tool is available via a free download from http://www.microchip.com/get/2M4E . It is bundled with the ProLink programming software. Also announced is the USB2534 Eval Board (part # EVB-USB2534), which is available for $399 each.
This board supports the development of USB charging designs using the new three-member USB253X UCH2 family for mainstream USB2 applications.
Pricing & Availability
The USB-IF Certified USB2532-1080AEN, USB2533-1080AEN and USB2534-1080AEN family of UCH2s for mainstream USB applications are available for sampling and volume production in 36-pin QFN packages, starting at $1.99 each in 10,000-unit quantities. The USB4624-1080HN and USB4604-1080HN family of UCH2s for HSIC connectivity and I/O bridging USB applications are available today for sampling and volume production in 48-pin QFN packages, starting at $2.89 each in 10,000-unit quantities.
The USB3813-1080XY and USB3613-1080XY family of UCH2s for mobile USB applications are available today for sampling, and volume production is expected in July, in 30-pin WLCSP packages, for $2.73 each in 10,000-unit quantities.
