Renesas Launches USB 3.0 xHCI Host Controllers

Renesas Electronics Corp. has launched its two new SuperSpeed Universal Serial Bus (USB 3.0) xHCI host controllers (μPD720201 and μPD720202) for PCs and digital TVs that feature faster effective data transfer speeds and reduced power consumption in low power mode.

The μPD720201 and μPD720202 devices make it easier for system designers to build electronic devices combining high-speed data transfer, compact size, and extended battery life. In addition, Renesas Electronics device drivers for Microsoft Windows and with Linux support are available for the μPD720201 and μPD720202 host controllers at no cost.

The new host controllers add a new four-port product to the Renesas Electronics USB 3.0 product lineup and deliver even faster transfer speeds, better power efficiency, and more compact size than the company’s previous versions of USB 3.0 host controllers.

Improvements to the data transfer processing circuit provide an increase in the effective data write speed of more than 40 percent from Renesas Electronics’ existing host controller products for peripheral devices such as USB 3.0 hard disks. This, combined with excellent read performance, results in an industry-leading high data transfer speed.

In addition to a technology implemented on existing products that reduces power consumption when the peripheral device is in the unconnected state, circuit improvements have been made to effectively suppress current leakage when in low-power mode. This has reduced power consumption in low-power mode to 4.5mW, a reduction of 90 percent compared with Renesas Electronics’ existing products.

The μPD720201 and the μPD720202 devices are equipped in an 8mm square Quad Flat Non Lead (QFN) package and a 7mm square QFN package, respectively, which are reductions in package size of approximately 50 percent from Renesas Electronics’ existing products.

Renesas Electronics