NEC Electronics Introduces USB 2.0 Host Controller with Industry-Leading Data Transmission Rates and Power Consumption Levels

New ECOUSB^TM Device Delivers High Performance with Minimal Environmental Impact

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NEC Electronics Corporation (TSE:6723) today introduced a new universal serial bus (USB) host controller compliant with the USB 2.0 specifications, which features the industry's fastest data transmission rates and lowest power consumptions levels. The µPD720102 host controller is the second product in NEC Electronics' successful ECOUSB^TM series of devices, which are compliant with the RoHS (Restriction of Hazardous Substances) environmental directive. The devices are ideal for quick development of USB host interfaces for digital televisions, set top boxes, printers, and other digital consumer products with minimal cost and environmental impact.

The µPD720102 achieves data transmission speeds of up to 33 megabytes per second, or approximately two gigabytes (GB) per minute – 30 percent faster than the current industry-leading host controller – with new buffer memory and circuits for optimized system memory access, which reduces the gap between packets of data. Such high speed transmission would enable, for example, transfer of approximately 500 songs per minute compressed in mp3 format, and facilitate the development of next-generation multimedia systems that benefit from high speed interfaces that connect with applications which have larger storage capacities and performance features. The data transmission rate of the µPD720102 has also been improved 50 percent over NEC Electronics' previous generation µPD720101 host controller.

In addition to high-speed data transmission, the µPD720102 has optimized internal clock signals and implemented 1.5V voltage regulator, enabling extremely low power consumption levels, as low as 65 milliamperes (mA) during data transmission, and a mere 100 microamperes (µA) during idle time. The power consumption rates in both active and idle modes are the lowest in the industry, and are a 50 percent improvement over the µPD720101.

The numbers of ports in the latest ECOUSB device was reduced to 3 ports, from the previous 5-port design, and is available in a compact package. The µPD720102 offers superb cost performance, with the integration of a 1.5V internal voltage regulator for core logic and several termination resistors on chip. The implementations of these components reduces total bill of materials by approximately 30 percent, and facilitates low cost system development.

The µPD720102 is easy to use in developing new systems because of its compliance with EHCI (Enhanced Host Controller Interface) Rev 1.0 and OHCI (Open Host Controller Interface) Rev 1.0a specifications, , allowing developers to quickly introduce USB interface products based on popular operating systems already available in the market, including Linux®.

NEC Electronics will continue expanding its lineup of ECOUSB products and other USB devices to meet the increasingly sophisticated needs of multimedia and digital consumer devices.

Pricing and Availability
Samples of the µPD720102 are available now, priced at US$5. Volume production will begin in May, and is expected to reach 1 million units per month by the end of 2006.

For more information about the µPD720102 USB 2.0 host controller, please visit http://www.necel.com/usb/en/product/upd720102.html

Related Contets

• USB
  • µPD720102

About NEC Electronics

NEC Electronics Corporation (TSE: 6723) specializes in semiconductor products encompassing advanced technology solutions for the high-end computing and broadband networking markets, system solutions for the mobile handsets, PC peripherals, automotive and digital consumer markets, and multi-market solutions for a wide range of customer applications. NEC Electronics Corporation has 26 subsidiaries worldwide including NEC Electronics America, Inc. (www.am.necel.com) and NEC Electronics (Europe) GmbH (www.eu.necel.com). For additional information about NEC Electronics worldwide, visit www.necel.com.

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