Evatronix and CAST Expands USB OTG Line with New Multi-Port IP Core

March 7, 2005, MUNICH, Germany — DATE - Semiconductor intellectual property (IP) provider CAST, Inc. today announced a new IP core that implements a dual-role host/device controller in conformance with the On-The-Go (OTG) supplement to the USB 2.0 specification.

USB OTG builds on the popularity of USB (Universal Serial Bus) by making it even easier to connect digital products. Whereas USB needs a computer host to manage the connection to one or more devices (a master-slave protocol), OTG gives every device enough host capabilities so they can be directly interconnected. Users can, for example, connect their OTG-equipped camera directly to a printer for photos or to a cell phone for Internet sharing, without the use of a computer. (See www.everythingusb.com/usbonthego for more information.)

In host mode, the new CAST USBHS-OTG-MPD core supports hi-speed hubs, and multiple low- full-, and hi-speed peripheral devices. In device mode, the core supports full-speed and hi-speed data transfers. The core’s integrated Direct Memory Access (DMA) controller handles essential data management functions, while its hardware implementations of the Host Negotiation Protocol, Session Request Protocol, and other critical functions add to its efficiency. Standard USB transceivers (PHYs) work with the core through its UTMI+ interface, and system integration is straight forward using the core’s AMBA™ AHB slave interface (other interfaces are available). The core’s competitive hardware implementation requires just 45,000 gates and runs at 200 MHz in an 0.18 micron ASIC process.

Available in April for ASICs or FPGAs, the USBHS-OTG-DPD core includes a complete test environment with a behavioral PHY model that helps designers verify the functioning and compliance of the core. It joins CAST’s single-port USB OTG core, which has already passed USB-IF certification.

The USBHS-OTG-DPD core was developed by CAST partner Evatronix SA, based in Poland (www.evatronix.pl). The core’s pricing varies by configuration and license type; contact CAST for details.