PLX Technology's DAS Controller Now Listed in USB-IF's USB 3.0 Integrators List

The Universal Serial Bus (USB) is a well-known specification that makes connecting computer peripherals easier by providing a standard serial cable connection. And, the latest version is USB 3.0 with data transmission speeds of up to 5 Gbit/s.

Most of the devices utilizing USB are required to pass the USB Implementers Forum’s (USB-IF) Compliance Program and this test program ensures that the applicant hardware vendors’ applicant product meets the USB specification. The test provides the vendor with right to license the USB-IF Logo.

The USB Implementers Forum (USB-IF) is a non-profit organization and a forum for the advancement and adoption of USB technology.

In an effort to facilitate designers to drive down the cost of their USB 3.0 products, while ensuring them that the device is fully compliant with the stringent standard and interoperates with the latest USB host controllers, PLX Technology recently earned the exclusive USB-IF compliance on its USB 3.0 controller via internal ROM.

As a provider of semiconductor-based connectivity solutions primarily targeting the enterprise and consumer markets, PLX Technology (News - Alert) has been offering I/O interconnect silicon and complimentary software since 1994.

The PLX product that successfully passed the USB-IF Compliance test is the company’s OXU3110 direct attached storage (DAS) USB 3.0-to-SATA controller. The OXU3110 is now compliant with the USB-IF via the device's masked program ROM.

The OXU3110 is a highly integrated DAS controller device that features the fastest read throughput at 265MB/s and requires a minimum number of external components (no external memory and only one external crystal and voltage regulator are needed).

Packed in a small 6mm x 6mm QFN package, the OXU3110 DAS controller requires only 479mW typical power and incorporates: a USB 3.0/2.0 PHY and device controller; SATA II PHY; internal voltage regulator; and masked program ROM supporting non-differentiated applications.

According to PLX, the OXU3110 controller's masked program ROM consists of firmware for standard external storage applications, with vendor-specific product configuration data stored on the HDD. This facilitates designers to reduce bill of materials (BOM) costs by eliminating unnecessary PCB devices.

In a press release, James Tout, vice president of engineering, storage group, PLX, said, "Successfully completing USB-IF compliance testing on the OXU3110 via its internal ROM allows designers to drive down the cost of their USB 3.0 products while having confidence that the device is fully compliant with the stringent standard and interoperates with the latest USB host controllers.”

Tout added, "The ROM-patching scheme means that designers can rest easy in the knowledge that as new host controllers are introduced, the firmware can be updated without the need for a silicon spin, thus reducing the complexity of inventory management often associated with custom ROMs."

Generally, products that pass the USB-IF compliance test, are added to the Integrator's List. The PLX OXU3110 device is now listed on the USB-IF’s exclusive SuperSpeed USB integrators list.

According to PLX, it has an industry-leading six devices listed on the USB-IF's USB 3.0 integrators list. In addition, it has a total of 40 USB-compliant devices as well.