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Innovative Advancements Offer Design Flexibility and Efficiencies in Space and Power Management

HAUPPAUGE, N.Y.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--SMSC (Nasdaq: SMSC) today announced its next generation of connectivity solutions, the Hi-Speed USB 2.0 USB251x hub controller and the USB331x ULPI transceiver families. The new Hi-Speed USB hub controllers provide the industry’s smallest footprint connectivity options that give designers up to a 60 percent space savings compared to previously available devices. Through advancements in power and space efficiencies, the new ULPI transceivers are the most full-featured transceivers available today. With superior design flexibility that accommodates higher levels of integration and performance, these new solutions meet the stringent size and power specifications for emerging applications in the computing, consumer electronic and industrial spaces.

“USB is quickly becoming the ever-present connection point for devices where content transfer speed and integration are critical issues,” said Mark Bode, Vice President of Connectivity Marketing at SMSC. “The broad technical advantages and flexibility offered by our hub and transceiver portfolios make it possible for designers to quickly and easily integrate powerful, fast USB connectivity.”

USB Hub Family

SMSC’s USB2512 (2-port), USB2513 (3-port) and USB2514 (4-port) controller family offers unique features with its PortMap, PortSwap, TrueSpeed and PHYBoost technologies. Each new built-in feature provides engineers the flexibility to design and adjust their designs without having to recalculate previous design steps. These industry firsts include:

• PortMap - provides flexible numbering of physical ports to virtual ports. Allows designers to best manage USB as an internal system bus for embedding peripheral functions and as a means to support multiple SKUs with different population options.
• PortSwap - eases PCB layout by aligning USB signal lines directly to connectors through a programmable USB differential-pair location.
• TrueSpeed - offers built-in LED drivers to indicate the speed of connected USB host/device at 480 Mbps for high-speed, 12 Mbps at full-speed or 1.5 Mbps at low-speed.
• PHYBoost – provides four-level programmable USB signal drive strengths in downstream port transceivers. PHYBoost works to restore USB signal integrity that has been compromised by system level variables such as poor PCB layout, analog switches, long cables, etc.

Leveraging the analog technology from SMSC’s USB transceivers, the new line of hub controllers offers designers up to a 40 percent savings in power consumption compared to prior generation SMSC devices. This savings delivers a power-efficient USB system bus in portable designs and improves thermal characteristics for systems in small enclosures. Additionally, these new controllers continue to feature SMSC’s MultiTRAK™ technology. This architecture dedicates a pipeline, or a Transaction Translator (TT), for every downstream full-speed device allowing end-users to experience up to a 100 percent boost in full-speed data throughput compared to other hub controllers that use a shared TT system.

USB ULPI Transceiver Family

The USB331x family of Hi-Speed USB ULPI transceivers, including the USB3311, USB3315, USB3316, USB3317, USB3318 and USB3319, are well-suited for portable applications where board space and power consumption are critical, such as cell phones or personal media players. The USB331x transceiver family extends the board space savings compared to legacy solutions by providing package solutions as small as 3x3mm.

The USB331x transceiver family features a high-performance “wrapperless” ULPI design that easily integrates into SoC reference designs. The USB331x delivers performance while simultaneously lowering operating current by up to 40 percent and decreasing standby current by up to 80 percent versus prior generation SMSC devices, which is critical for battery–operated portable devices. Enabled by SMSC’s flexPWR™ technology, the transceivers feature a variable I/O voltage range from 1.8V to 3.3V in order to address the varied requirements of consumer electronics applications. The USB331x transceiver family delivers on size and power reduction without compromising on performance, with integrated features such as USB switches, a linear voltage regulator and enhanced ESD protection circuitry, which also reduces product BOM part count and PCB board area.

Enhancing Quality

With the proliferation of Hi-Speed USB, the development of products requiring USB connectivity in smaller form-factor applications is increasing. These reduced size designs often require extended temperature ranges to meet system design requirements. SMSC’s USB251x and USB331x devices are industrial temperature qualified supporting -40° to 85° Celsius, which enables improved thermal characteristics required for many small form-factor embedded and portable applications.

USB hub controllers and transceivers often provide the external link in a system to the outside world. In this role, they are critical in protecting the USB sub-system from electrostatic discharge (ESD). Enhanced ESD protection circuitry is built into each of the SMSC product families. The new SMSC devices feature enhanced immunity to ESD events from the 2kV industry standard to 8kV for Human Body Model (HBM) and have also passed IEC 8kV contact discharge and 15kV air-discharge testing.

Bode continued, “SMSC is taking a lead position in the USB space by providing added protection to the SoC through integrated ESD protection that is robust yet cost and size sensitive.”

Key Specifications:

Hub Controller Product Line
	USB2512		USB2512i		USB2513		USB2513i		USB2514		USB2514i
# Downstream Ports	2		2		3		3		4		4
MultiTRAK					■		■		■		■
PortMap	■		■		■		■		■		■
PortSwap	■		■		■		■		■		■
TrueSpeed					■				■
PHYBoost	■		■		■		■		■		■
I2C / SMBus	■		■		■		■		■		■
Integrated Enhanced ESD Protection (8kV HBM, 8kV IEC Contact & 15kV IEC Air)	■		■		■		■		■		■
Industrial Temp (-40° to 85°C)			■				■				■
36QFN (6x6x0.9 mm)	■		■		■		■		■		■
48QFN (7x7x0.9mm)					■				■

ULPI Transceiver Product Line
	USB3311		USB3315		USB3316		USB3317		USB3318		USB3319
Reference Clock Frequency	26MHz		24MHz		19.2MHz		26MHz		13MHz		13MHz
I/O Voltage	1.8V		1.8 - 3.3V		1.8V		1.8 - 3.3V		1.8 - 3.3V		1.8V
Integrated USB Switches	■				■						■
Integrated Linear Voltage Regulator	■		■		■		■		■		■
Integrated Enhanced ESD Protection (8kV HBM, 8kV IEC Contact &15kV Air)	■		■		■		■		■		■
Industrial Temp (-40° to 85°C)	■		■		■		■		■		■
24 QFN (4x4x0.9 mm)	■		■		■		■		■		■
25 VFBGA ( 3x3x0.8mm)	■				■		■				■

Pricing & Availability:

Samples of the USB251x family are available today and range in price from $1.60 to $4.20 per unit. Samples of the USB331x family, also available now, range in price from $0.80 to $0.90 per unit. Pricing is based on 10K quantities.

About SMSC:

Many of the world’s most successful global technology companies rely upon SMSC as a go-to resource for semiconductor system solutions that span analog, digital and mixed-signal technologies. Leveraging substantial intellectual property, integration expertise and a comprehensive global infrastructure, SMSC solves design challenges and delivers performance, space, cost and time-to-market advantages to its customers. SMSC’s application focus targets key vertical markets including consumer electronics, automotive infotainment, PC and industrial applications. The Company has developed leadership positions in its select markets by providing application specific solutions such as mixed-signal embedded controllers, non-PCI Ethernet, ARCNET, MOST and Hi-Speed USB.

SMSC is headquartered in Hauppauge, New York with operations in North America, Asia and Europe. Engineering design centers are located in Arizona, New York, Texas and Karlsruhe, Germany. Additional information is available at www.smsc.com.

Forward Looking Statements:

Except for historical information contained herein, the matters discussed in this announcement are forward-looking statements about expected future events and financial and operating results that involve risks and uncertainties. These uncertainties may cause our actual future results to be materially different from those discussed in forward-looking statements. Our risks and uncertainties include the timely development and market acceptance of new products; the impact of competitive products and pricing; our ability to procure capacity from our suppliers and the timely performance of their obligations, the effects of changing economic conditions domestically and internationally and on our customers; our relationships with and dependence on customers and growth rates in the personal computer, consumer electronics and embedded and automotive markets and within our sales channel; changes in customer order patterns, including order cancellations or reduced bookings; the effects of tariff, import and currency regulation; potential or actual litigation; and excess or obsolete inventory and variations in inventory valuation, among others. In addition, SMSC competes in the semiconductor industry, which has historically been characterized by intense competition, rapid technological change, cyclical market patterns, price erosion and periods of mismatched supply and demand.

Our forward looking statements are qualified in their entirety by the inherent risks and uncertainties surrounding future expectations and may not reflect the potential impact of any future acquisitions, mergers or divestitures. All forward-looking statements speak only as of the date hereof and are based upon the information available to SMSC at this time. Such statements are subject to change, and the Company does not undertake to update such statements, except to the extent required under applicable law and regulation. These and other risks and uncertainties, including potential liability resulting from pending or future litigation, are detailed from time to time in the Company's reports filed with the SEC. Investors are advised to read the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K and quarterly reports on Form 10-Q filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, particularly those sections entitled “Other Factors That May Affect Future Operating Results” or “Risk Factors” for a more complete discussion of these and other risks and uncertainties.

SMSC is a registered trademark and MultiTRAK and flexPWR are trademarks of Standard Microsystems Corporation.