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USB 2.0 Transceiver Interface (UTMI) Enhances Interoperability

Strategic Insights

— 2 min read

As the adoption of the USB 2.0 specification continues to grow, key companies in the industry have announced their support for the USB 2.0 Transceiver Interface (UTMI) specification to improve interoperability between USB 2.0 products developed by different manufacturers.

The UTMI specification, developed by Intel Corporation, partitions USB 2.0 functionality between the USB 2.0 Transceiver and Parallel Interface Engine. This simplifies the design process and speeds time-to-market for USB 2.0 products. Multiple ASIC, FPGA, and SIP suppliers have committed to supporting the UTMI standard, providing designers with a wider selection of vendors from which to choose.

Key Takeaways:

  • UTMI is a proposed USB 2.0 transceiver interface specification designed to improve interoperability between USB 2.0 products developed by different manufacturers.
  • The UTMI specification partitions USB 2.0 functionality between the USB 2.0 Transceiver and Parallel Interface Engine.
  • InSilicon has provided USB semiconductor IP building blocks for over 100 USB 1.1 designs and is currently developing USB 2.0 products based on the UTMI specification.
  • HP requires a smooth transition to high volume as the overall USB 2.0 market demand increases, making UTMI a "win/win" for everyone.
  • Lucent Technologies' standard product and ASIC customers are time-to-market driven and cannot afford to customize interfaces for every USB 2.0 design.
  • UTMI allows system makers and ASIC vendors to choose between external transceiver chips or integrated transceiver functionality directly into the ASIC design.
  • Cypress Semiconductor is the market leader in USB controller chips, shipping over 35 million units, and supports UTMI as a common interface for system peripheral chips.
  • ST Microelectronics believes that UTMI will enable the release of 2.0-compliant devices and speed up high-volume production.
  • Texas Instruments is the leading supplier of USB 1.1 hub controller silicon and supports UTMI as a common interface between the high-speed serial function and the byte processing function.

Statistics:

  • 8-bit interface operating at 60MHz (intended for standard products and ASIC implementations)
  • 16-bit data interface operating at 30MHz (intended to support FPGA-based designs)
  • Over 100 USB 1.1 designs were provided with USB semiconductor IP building blocks from inSilicon
  • 35 million units of USB controller chips were shipped by Cypress Semiconductor
  • 5.24 trillion yen ($43.3 billion) was the consolidated revenue for Fujitsu in its fiscal year ended March 31, 1999
  • 188,000 employees are part of the Fujitsu Group
  • 85,400 employees are part of HP worldwide
  • Over 600 member companies support the testing and promotion of USB products through the USB Implementer's Forum

Sources:

  • "UTMI Interface Enhances USB 2.0 Interoperability" - Business Wire, March 13, 2000
  • http://developer.intel.com/technology/usb/download/USB_TMI_spec.pdf
  • About Intel
  • About inSilicon
  • About HP
  • About Lucent Technologies
  • About Lucent Microelectronics
  • About Cypress Semiconductor
  • About ST Microelectronics
  • About Texas Instruments
  • About Fujitsu
  • About Kawasaki LSI

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