Renesas Electronics Introduces New USB 3.0 Host Controller with 85 Percent Reduced Power Consumption

Supporting fast data transfer rates of up to 5 gigabits per second (Gbps), the µPD720200A device achieves low power consumption of 50 milliwatts (mW), 85 percent less than the company's existing USB 3.0 host controller. The new host controller also has the same footprint as the previous device, which makes it possible for system designers to accommodate their designs on the same board they used for the µPD720200. These advancements enable system designers to develop notebook PCs with longer battery life as well as high data transfer rates.

USB is an interface standard used in a wide range of electronic devices including PCs, digital home appliances, and PC peripherals. USB was originally designed as an interface for relatively low-speed computer peripherals, such as mice and keyboards. However, the need to transfer increasing amounts of information between PCs and portable electronic devices is growing rapidly. USB 3.0 has been developed to address this need by providing the world's fastest USB data transfer speeds of up to 5 gigabits per second (Gbps). This is ten times faster than previous USB 2.0 transfer speeds, while maintaining backward compatibility with the other USB standards.

As a member of the USB Implementers Forum (USB-IF) since 1996, Renesas Electronics (formerly NEC Electronics) has played a leading role both in defining the USB standards and in developing USB technology. In April 2000, the company (then NEC Electronics) launched the µPD720100 device, the world's first USB 2.0-compliant host controller chip and an extensive range of other USB devices.

In May 2009, Renesas Electronics introduced the industry's first USB 3.0 host controller. Just 4 months after its release, the company became the world's first to earn the Certified SuperSpeed USB (USB 3.0) certification from the USB-IF. At the same time started mass production of the µPD720200 host controller.

To ensure backward compatibility with the billions of USB 2.0 devices on the market, Renesas Electronics has been collaborating with major manufacturers of PC peripheral devices to test compatibility.

Renesas Electronics' µPD720200, currently the only certified and commercially-available USB 3.0 host controller on the market, has been adopted by PC and motherboard manufacturers worldwide. It has become the de facto standard among USB 3.0 host controllers with 3 million units shipped in the six months to March 2010 alone. The µPD720200 and its newer version, the µPD720200A, build on Renesas Electronics' proven technology expertise and extensive range of USB 2.0-compliant system-on-chips (SoCs).

The company also provides a driver solution, a USB Attached SCSI Protocol (UASP) driver, designed specifically to enhance the performance of the company's USB 3.0 host controller.

Renesas Electronics' new host controller provides longer battery life for notebook PCs and netbooks while facilitating the development of desktop PCs and digital home appliances with lower power consumption. The company believes the new µPD720200A host controller will further promote the widespread adoption of USB 3.0 technology as it addresses today's rising demand for energy conservation. Renesas Electronics intends to market the new host controller chip aggressively.