Silicon Labs has included a smaller, lower-power part to its group of USBXpress bridge devices, providing giving an easier, faster approach to include Universal Serial Bus (USB) network to new and legacy iembedded designs. Silicon Labs’ new CP2102N USB controller disposes of, complex time-consuming firmware development and gives propelled usefulness in QFN packages as small as 3 mm x 3 mm. The CP2102N device improves USB-to-UART connectivity and speed time market for a wide range of portable, power-sensitive and space-constrained applications such as USB dongles, point-of-sale (POS) terminals, data loggers, gaming controllers and personal medical devices
Silicon Labs’ highly integrated CP2102N USB-to-UART bridge controller provides a simple, drop-in solution for adding USB to new designs and also for updating existing RS-232 designs to USB using minimal components and printed circuit board (PCB) space. Based on Silicon Labs’ proven architecture that eliminates the need for costly external crystals, resistors and other external components, the fixed-function bridge device integrates a USB 2.0 Full Speed controller and UART interface in a single-chip solution that helps reduce bill of materials (BOM) cost for space-constrained applications.
The CP2102N device is Silicon Labs’ lowest power USB connectivity solution, delivering a low operating current of <10 mA and extending battery life for power-sensitive applications. Advanced, integrated features such as a remote wake-up capability and USB battery charger detection allow the device to wake-up a suspended host and to detect the type of charger connected to the system, further reducing BOM cost.
“USB is the interface of choice for countless embedded applications, and yet from a developer standpoint, USB is a complex protocol that can require considerable firmware expertise and development effort,” said Tom Pannell, director of marketing for MCU products at Silicon Labs.
CP2102N USBXpress Product Highlights
- Data transfer rates up to 3 Mbaud
- Industry-leading energy efficiency: low active current of <10 mA
- Remote wake-up capability to wake up a suspended host device
- USB battery charger detection capability (USB BCS 1.2 specification) to detect the type of charger connected to the system
- Crystal-less operation and integrated regulator to reduce BOM cost
- Small-footprint package options: 3 mm x 3 mm QFN20, 4 mm x 4 mm QFN24 and 5 mm x 5 mm QFN28
- Royalty-free Virtual COM port drivers
- Advanced, easy-to-use software tools including Xpress Configurator to simplify development
Source: Silicon Lab
