Renesas Electronics today announced the availability of its SuperSpeed USB (USB 3.0) hub controller system-on-chip (SoC), the µPD720210, for use in hubs that enable connection of multiple devices supporting the USB 3.0 standard, such as PC peripherals and digital TVs.

Featuring compact packaging and integrated peripheral components, the new µPD720210 hub controller SoC was designed to meet the need for hubs with low standby power consumption and small board size.

The new µPD720210 hub controller are compatible with the company's previous µPD72020x USB 2.0 controllers, has received the Windows 8 Hardware Certification by Microsoft and will also receive the USB-IF Certification, when a USB 3.0 hub certification program is available by USB-IF.

The new hub controller has an improved circuit design that lowers current leakage when a connected peripheral device is in low-power mode. As a result, the µPD720210 achieves very low power consumption of 5 milliwatts (mW) in power saving mode, which allows system designers to develop systems that are qualified as stringent power efficiency standards such as Energy Star. Also the µPD720210 achieves 350 mW as the power consumption even in USB 3.0 active mode.

With the new USB 3.0 hub controller, Renesas has chosen a compact 9 × 9 millimeter (mm) quad flat no-lead (QFN) package to reduce the mounting area by 20 percent from the previous devices.

The µPD720210 hub controller also integrates on-chip peripherals such as step-down regulators that lower the 5 V power supply voltage to the 3.3 V and 1.05 V and charging support functionality conforming to battery charging standards.

These key features make it easier to add ports allowing SuperSpeed data transfer via a USB 3.0 interface to products such as monitors, docking stations (function extension units that connect to notebook PCs), and TVs.

Renesas' µPD720210 hub controller will be showcased and demonstrated at Intel Developer Forum, to be held in San Francisco, from September 11 to September 13, 2012.

Samples of Renesas' µPD720210 hub controller are available now, priced at US$3.50 per unit. Mass production is scheduled to begin in September 2012 and is expected to reach a combined volume of 1,000,000 units per month by April 2013.