Philips Semiconductors Introduces Single-chip USB Hub With Keyboard Controller; Solution Reduces Electromagnetic Interference, Electrostatic Discharge - Product Announcement

Edge: Work-Group Computing Report, Dec 13, 1999

Philips Semiconductors Monday introduced a Universal Serial Bus (USB) hub integrated with a keyboard controller in a single chip. By combining the USB hub and keyboard controller in a single device, Philips Semiconductors gives keyboard manufacturers a cost-effective alternative to the more expensive two-chip solutions currently on the market.

The ISP1130 combines a microcontroller and a USB hub IC in one chip and minimizes the common problem of electromagnetic interference (EMI). The device also provides high internal electrostatic discharge (ESD) protection.

"It is more convenient to connect USB devices such as scanners, printers, or digital cameras to a USB hub in the keyboard than to the back of the computer," said K.K. Tan, technical marketing manager for Philips Semiconductors. "By minimizing EMI and providing high internal ESD protection, the ISP1130 avoids problems common to single-chip hub and keyboard controllers."

Features and Standards

The ISP1130 features an industry-standard, integrated 80C51 microcontroller core with 8 kbytes of read only memory (ROM) and 256 bytes of random access memory (RAM). The hub controller is fully implemented in hardware, ensuring a fast response to host requests. It offers two bus-powered downstream ports with automatic speed detection, and three non-removable embedded functions, one dedicated for the keyboard application and the other two left up to the manufacturer to define.

The new device complies with the USB Specification Rev. 1.1 and the device class definition for Human Interface Devices (HID) Version 1.1., Advanced Configuration and Power Interface (ACPITM), OnNowTM and USB power management requirements. An 8x18 scan-line matrix is provided for HID-compliant keyboard applications.

CoolStrokeTM Software Enables Multimedia Functions

The ISP1130 also includes utility software called CoolStrokeTM, developed by Philips Semiconductors, which will let users configure their keyboards for multimedia functions. CoolStrokeTM provides several features for manufacturers to choose from, such as audio functions, power management, security and Internet access.

Pricing and Availability

To facilitate development, Philips Semiconductors also offers a one time

programmable (OTP) version of this product, the ISP1132, which will be available in January 2000. Samples of the masked ROM, the ISP1130, in SDIP56 and SSOP56 packages, will be available in March 2000 and are priced at $2.80 in quantities of 10,000.

Philips Semiconductors, a subsidiary of Philips Electronics North America Corporation and an affiliate of Royal Philips Electronics, headquartered in Eindhoven, The Netherlands, is the eighth largest semiconductor supplier based on Dataquest's 1998 report.(a) Philips Semiconductors' innovations in digital audio, video, and mobile technology position the company as a leader in the consumer, multimedia and wireless communications markets. Sales offices are located in all major markets around the world and are supported by systems labs. Additional information on Philips Semiconductors can be found on the home page at www.semiconductors.philips.com or by calling 1-800-447-1500 ext. 1902.

(a) Based on Vendor Revenue from Shipments of Total Semiconductors Worldwide according to Dataquest's 1998 Worldwide Semiconductor Market Share report published in May, 1999.