USB 3.0

Cypress recently announced thier first foray into the expanding SuperSpeed USB universe - the EZ-USB FX3 Controller.  This part will bring seveal benefits to market over existing solutions.  One is that it can be configured as both host and driver controllers, although in host mode it can only support 480Mbps.

This device can also interface with other microcontrollers using its GPIO2 interface.  This should greatly simplify system design and eliminates the need to interface to PCIe.  The device also contains all MAC level functions as well. 

More information of the part can be found here

Take a look at the new SuperSpeed USB parts recently announced from Tyco Electronics.  Avnet and TE have previously mentioned some of these parts on Avnet SuperSpeed USB page, but this this new release complets the product offering.

According to TE's press release " TE plans to offer a full line of certified USB 3.0 product solutions, including various configurations of Standard A and B style plugs and receptacles; powered B plugs and receptacles; Micro B and AB plugs and receptacles; and cable assemblies. Various stacked and combination variations are expected to round out the TE USB 3.0 portfolio."  Great stuff indeed for all you USB 3.0 designers!

Check out his link for more details!

NXP recently released a new USB 3.0 Switch that can be used to link 2 devices to the same bus.  The CBTU04083 is an 8-to-4 differential channel multiplexer/demultiplexer switch. This part can switch four differential signals to one of two locations.

More information on this part and other USB 3.0 parts can be found Avnet's online SuperSpeed USB Design Reource.  Avnet also has this and other USB 3.0 parts in stock for your immediate design needs.

I was browsing TI's SuperSpeed USB Technology Page today and stumbled upon a reference guide that mentions everything that TI has released to date.  With more products and more OEMs designing in USB 3.0, I am sure this will help many people get up and running on their designs.

Here is the link to TI's SuperSpeed USB Reference Card.

Do you have a library of thousands of songs or HD videos?  Need a place to store them all?  Seagate may have the answer for you.  Seagate recently announced a new 1.5TB 2.5" external hard drive using USB 3.0 as the connections.  This is another example of the market, and customers, adopting this new exciting technology!

I think I will go buy one today!

As I mentioned recently, I attended the Intel Developer's Forum in San Francisco.  One of the largest presentations in the USB 3.0 Community was Texas Instruments.  They have one of the largest USB 3.0 portfolio's in the business.  Some of the new parts they released were:

TUSB7320 - SuperSpeed USB xHCI Controller

TUSB8040 - SuperSpeed USB Hub

TUSB9260 - SuperSpeed USB to SATA 3Gig Bridge

TUSB1310 - SuperSpeed USB Transceiver

SN65LVPE502 - SuperSpeed USB Single Lane Redriver/Equalizer,

Check out the press release here for more details.

I am attending the 2010 Intel Developer's Forum this week in San Francisco.  During IDF, there are more and more products and platforms being released.  Jeff Ravencraft - president of the USB-IF - gave an overview of where the market is heading.  According to him, there have been 3M+ USB 3.0 enabled devices shipped in 2010 so far.  One supplier mentioned that they would ship more than 20M chips by the end of the year.  Exciting things indeed!

As further proof, check out the latest news release from the USB-IF.  According to them, there are now more than 100 suppliers shipping SuperSpeed USB product.  This new technology continues to be adopted!

One of the suppliers that have been a the forfront of releasing USB 3.0 products is TI.  To support these products, TI has launched several blogs that answer questions about the technology.  The author - Dan Harmon - is responsible for support these products for TI.  I have found him to be very knowledgable and helpful in answering questions about TI's products.  Check out his blog!

Of course, since Avnet is a authorized distributor of TU we have several of their USB 3.0 products in stock.  Check out the TUSB1310.

What is USB 3.0?  That is a question that many people are starting to try to answer.  Many of our suppliers are starting to release products featuring this new technology.  Avnet is also starting to see global interest in the technology as our customers want to add the fastest data rates possible to their products.  The purpose of the blog is to highlight to our customers and website users what our suppliers and the industry are doing.  Stay tuned as these efforts get started . . .