USB 3.0 smart hubs enable host & device port swapping

2nd June 2015

Siobhan O'Gorman

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The first USB3.0 smart hubs to enable host and device port swapping, I/O bridging and various other serial communication interfaces have been introduced by Microchip. The USB5734 and USB5744 feature an integrated MCU that enables new functionality for USB hubs while lowering overall BOM costs and reducing software complexity.

The USB5734/44 family is USB-IF logo certified (TID 330000058) and features outstanding signal integrity enabling more robust PCB designs and reducing sensitivities to cable, connector and layout variations.

A smart hub is a USB hub that integrates system-level functions typically associated with a separate MCU or processor. Microchip’s USB3.0 smart hubs enable the upstream host controller to communicate to numerous types of external peripherals beyond the USB connection through direct bridging from USB to I2C, SPI, UART and GPIO interfaces. This integrated functionality can greatly reduce the complexity of system design by eliminating the need for additional external MCU, while providing improved control from the USB host hardware.

The company’s patented FlexConnect technology provides the USB5734 smart hub the unique ability to dynamically swap between a USB host and a USB device through hardware and/or software system commands, giving the USB host access to downstream resources.

This same FlexConnect technology can also switch common downstream resources between two different USB hosts. Incorporating FlexConnect into a system simplifies the overall software requirements of the primary host, as class drivers and application software stay local to the device-turned-host.

System developers can easily configure ports and choose application settings with low-cost resistor bootstraps. If more advanced functionality is required, the USB5734/44 can be configured and programmed with Microchip’s configuration tool, ProTouch2.

The USB5734 and USB5744 USB3.0 controller hubs serve a wide range of applications in the computing, embedded, medical, industrial and networking markets. Examples of end applications include HDTV, tablets, notebooks, eReaders, cameras, docking stations, monitors, handheld devices, POS equipment, ATMs, STBs, break-out boxes and motion sensors, among others. Available in a 56-pin, 7x7mm package, the USB5744 is claimed to be the industry’s smallest USB3.0 hub for applications where board space is important.

The USB5734 and USB5744 are supported by Microchip’s USB 3.0 controller hub evaluation board (EVB-USB5734) priced at $399.00, and USB 3.0 small form factor controller hub evaluation board (EVB-USB5744) priced at $299.00. The EVB-USB5734 includes mezzanine cards that can be used as preset application configurations for easy testing and development of a USB5734 system.

The USB5734 is available in a 64-pin QFN package, while the USB5744 is available in a 56-pin QFN package.