The application of USB is increasingly expanding in various fields, from personal computers and digital appliances to audio/video equipment and embedded devices. Through the years, Renesas Electronics (formerly NEC Electronics) has supported USB technologies with its lineup of LSI products. Read on to learn how Renesas Electronics has played a key role in designing the specifications, developing the technologies, and cultivating the market for USB.
| USB: Its History and Our Involvement | From USB 2.0 to USB 3.0 |
| Business Opportunities with USB 3.0 | Related Contents |
A core member of the USB Implementers Forum (USB-IF) since 1996, Renesas Electronics has been actively involved in the development and support of specifications and technologies surrounding the USB protocol. Over the years, Renesas Electronics has established solid credibility in the field, for example, by releasing the world's first USB 2.0 compliant host controller LSI "µPD720100" in April 2000, by steadily expanding its lineup with hub controller LSI and other products, and proactively acquiring USB certification for all its commercial LSI.
By the end of 2008, Renesas Electronics has shipped over 160 million USB-related products in its ASSP business alone.
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Today, new products are released on a daily basis for USB, now an essential interface for many applications. However, faced with increasing amount of information and larger, faster storage media, performance of the current USB specifications will become a bottleneck in the not-so-distant future.
USB 3.0 will add a new "SuperSpeed (5.0 Gbps)" mode, designed to withstand the needs of the market for at least 5 more years.
Likewise with USB 2.0, USB 3.0 is expected to quickly become standard in the PC industry, with the first adopters being storage and video devices.
Through the development of USB 2.0 LSI, Renesas Electronics established core USB 2.0 technologies such as SW drivers and various IP. And through extensive partnerships, Renesas Electronics has also worked to streamline the provision of complete USB solutions, from connectors to testing environment and certification. By enhancing the partnerships, and by fully utilizing our rich USB 2.0 technology asset, we strive to become the global leader in the development of complete solutions inclusive of core USB 3.0 technologies.
Under the prospect that USB 3.0 devices will begin spreading rapidly in 2010, Renesas Electronics is currently aggressively marketing its "uPD720200", the world's first USB 3.0 host controller LSI, released in May 2009.
Future plans include the integration of USB 3.0 communication functions into the ASIC IP core of various products, further expanding our USB product lineup.
On May 20 and 21, 2009, "SuperSpeed USB Developers Conference" for USB 3.0 (SuperSpeed) developers was hosted in Tokyo by the USB Implementers Forum (USB-IF). Renesas Electronics exhibited its USB 3.0 adapter cards and provided performance demonstrations with FPGA, showcasing its leadership in the field.
ExpressCard/34 card with uPD720200
PCI Express card with uPD720200
Performance demonstration with FPGA achieved a transfer rate of almost 160 MB/sec