Industry's First USB 2.0 Host IP Product Unveiled by inSilicon

inSilicon has announced availability of a USB 2.0 Host Controller that is fully compliant with the industry specifications for USB 2.0 Enhanced Host Controller Interface (EHCI) and the Open Host Controller Interface (OHCI) 1.1. USB 2.0 is the enhanced-performance USB specification for next-generation PC and embedded devices requiring performance up to 480 Mb per second. inSilicon's solution is a set of synthesizable building blocks that lets PC and embedded application designers implement a complete USB 2.0 Host for legacy USB 1.1 applications as well as emerging products including video editing, broadband communications, and mass storage, where high bandwidth connectivity is paramount. Drawing on inSilicon??uite of USB 2.0 IP solutions including the USB 2.0 Device Controller and USB 2.0 Physical Layer (PHY), the USB 2.0 Host IP solution now allows customers to enable full USB 2.0 capability on their system-on-chip design.

USB is a key feature in personal computers (PCs) and web appliances because of its simplicity for end-users. USB 1.1 Hosts can be found in the Apple iMAC computer, Hewlett-Packard Jornada 820, Microsoft WebTV, Sony Playstation 2, and Sun Microsystems Sun Ray Internet appliances. Consumer devices such as digital cameras, PDAs, camcorders, and MP3 players use USB to transfer pictures, video, and data quickly to and from PCs. So pervasive is the need for USB that Scottsdale, Arizona-based market research firm, In-Stat, projects a 55% CAGR between 1999 and 2004 for all USB peripherals up to 700 million units shipped per year. In-Stat estimates that approximately 740 million USB 1.1 and 2.0 USB host PCs will be installed by 2004.

The USB 2.0 Host Controller is based on inSilicon's USB 1.1 Open Host Controller Interface, which has already been integrated into many designs worldwide.

"Providing a seamless communications IP solution is central to inSilicon's strategy, and critical to companies seeking the highest product performance and differentiation available," said Barry Hoberman, executive vice-president and chief technology officer of inSilicon. "With this latest addition to our family of USB IP technology, customers have all the elements to create a fully integrated USB 2.0 interface that combines design flexibility, outstanding performance and cost-effectiveness, and provides a streamlined migration path from USB 1.1."

The USB 2.0 Host Controller can be easily bridged to any industry-standard bus and includes options for both the PCI and ARM® high-speed bus (AHB) interfaces. inSilicon??roprietary RapidScript® utility efficiently automates configuration of the controller, saving the designer from performing tasks manually and simplifying integration of the controller into chip designs.

Jason Ziller, platform initiatives manager for Intel Corporation, said, "USB products require seamless execution of both architecture and interface to meet consumer expectations for ease of use and performance. Availability of intellectual property-based USB 2.0 technology from industry leaders such as inSilicon will spur the rapid proliferation of USB 2.0, giving rise to new generations of products that consumers can readily link and use."

The USB 2.0 Host Controller can be configured to meet customer application and gate count requirements. Designers can also include as many controllers on chip as desired to meet targeted bandwidth specifications. The controllers can be customized and optimized as a stand-alone Host chip or as an integrated ASIC, and it is easily manufactured in available semiconductor technologies. The USB 2.0 Host Controller is supported by Intoto's (www.intotoinc.com) eUSBStack software for real-time embedded systems and integration services, MCCI's (www.mcci.com) Windows drivers and integration services, and Vanteon (www.vanteon.com) software services.

The inSilicon USB 2.0 Host Controller will be available later this quarter. Pricing is available from the company.

About inSilicon
inSilicon Corporation is a leading provider of communications semiconductor intellectual property used by semiconductor and systems companies to design systems-on-chip that are critical components of innovative wired and wireless products. inSilicon's technology provides customers faster time-to-market and reduced risk and development cost. The company's broad portfolio of analog and mixed-signal products and enabling communications technologies, including the JVX[tm] and JVXtreme[tm] Java[tm] Accelerators, Bluetooth, Ethernet, USB, PCI, and IEEE-1394, are used in a wide variety of markets encompassing communications, consumer, computing, and office automation. inSilicon is a subsidiary of Phoenix Technologies (Nasdaq: PTEC).

inSilicon, JVX and JVXtreme are trademarks of inSilicon Corporation.