Icron provides USB 2.0 over standard power lines
Permalink: Icron provides USB 2.0 over standard power lines
Icron Technologies Corporation is using Panasonic technology to provide the world’s first USB 2.0 over power line solution.
The solution combines Icron’s ExtremeUSB technology with Panasonic’s HD-PLC power line communications devices to extend USB 2.0 over standard power lines.
This allows standard USB devices, including keyboards and printers, to be remotely connected over AC outlets in [...]
MMCA’s new memory card spec plugs into USB
Permalink: MMCA’s new memory card spec plugs into USB
The MultiMediaCard Association (MMCA) has approved a new card specification that plugs straight into USB ports. The specification could make memory card readers obsolete.
The MiCARD specification will be used in consumer devices such as digital cameras and cell phones with the MMC interface.
Because the new card allows the transfer of data by slotting [...]
Chipidea claims lowest power USB PHY
Permalink: Chipidea claims lowest power USB PHY
Chipidea has developed a USB physical layer architecture using 1.8V IO devices which it believes provides the lowest power consumption for system-on-chip (SoC) designs in the 65nm and 45nm process technologies.
The USB IP supports designs with a power consumption of approximately 70mW.
The 1.8V platform provides a new IO device choice with the advantages of analogue [...]
Intersil introduces USB 2.0 multiplexer
Permalink: Intersil introduces USB 2.0 multiplexer
Intersil has introduced the ISL54200 USB 2.0 high/full-speed multiplexer suitable for use with MP3s, personal media players, cellphones, PDAs and other digital devices.
The ISL54200 has a wider supply voltage range, higher bandwidth and better insertion loss characteristics than alternative products on the market and provides a flexible, high-performance solution for interfacing USB and non-USB [...]
Jungo provides tool to test USB compatibility
Permalink: Jungo provides tool to test USB compatibility
Jungo, a leading provider of residential and business gateway software platforms and applications, has released version 1.01 of its USBTester product - a software tool which enables USB developers to validate devices for USB compatibility, Chapter 9 conformance and mass storage functionality and performance.
The latest version has enhanced functionality, including the ability to export [...]
BT introduces USB Balance control for PCs
Permalink: BT introduces USB Balance control for PCs
BT, the telecoms group, is developing a USB unit called Balance, which allows users to control a laptop, tablet or ultra-mobile PC by simply by moving it around.
The unit, which plugs into a spare USB port, contains a set of motion sensors similar to the detectors used by Nintendo in its Wii Remote game controller. [...]
USB-IF releases USB battery charging standard
Permalink: USB-IF releases USB battery charging standard
The USB Implementers Forum (USB-IF) has released a new battery charging specification which defines how devices should draw current through USB from wall chargers or PCs.
The Battery Charging Revision 1.0 specification defines a mechanism for devices to detect whether they are attached to an AC charger, host or hub. It was devised in response [...]
NEC Electronics announces wireless USB chips
Permalink: NEC Electronics announces wireless USB chips
NEC Electronics Corporation has announced that its uPD720170 Wireless USB host controller for PCI interfaces and uPD720180 Wireless USB device wire adapter (DWA) are among the first products to be certified by the USB Implementers Forum, Inc. (USB-IF).
The uPD720170 host controller supports all eight data transfer rates, from 53.3 up to 480 megabits per second [...]
USB-IF developing specification for health-related devices
Permalink: USB-IF developing specification for health-related devices
The USB Implementer’s Forum (USB-IF) is establishing a working group to initially define a USB Personal Healthcare Device Class specification, and then to implement USB onto medical devices such as blood pressure cuffs.
USB connectivity will allow medical staff to more easily track and archive changes in a patient’s history. It is also expected to [...]
Kidaro offers desktop on USB
Permalink: Kidaro offers desktop on USB
Kidaro, the managed workspace specialist, has announced the availability of the Kidaro Corporate “To-Go” for a USB flash drive.
Corporate “To-Go” is an encrypted virtual machine on a USB drive, which mobile workers can plug in to any workstation, regardless of hardware or set up, and gain access to policy-based corporate applications and resources.
The product [...]
TwinMOS USB disk supports Windows Vista ReadyBoost
Permalink: TwinMOS USB disk supports Windows Vista ReadyBoost
TwinMOS Technologies has introduced the USB 2.0 Mobile Disk-M9, which features full support for the Windows Vista ReadyBoost function.
The device features 8GB of storage and a read/write speed 10 times faster than USB1.1. It measures just 75.5 x 22.0 x 8.2 mm and weighs a mere 15g.
Microsoft’s Windows Vista operating system requires high-capacity [...]
Buffalo provides 16GB of storage on USB key
Permalink: Buffalo provides 16GB of storage on USB key
Buffalo’s latest USB drive provides an impressive 16GB of storage.
The key uses disk-less Silicon HDD technology, rather than the significantly more expensive Flash technology.
The drive is only compatible with Windows, and will work with 2000, XP, and Vista.
Information on availability has not yet been released.
Artimi Inc debuts wireless USB chip
Permalink: Artimi Inc debuts wireless USB chip
Artimi Inc. of California has revealed the A-150 - a WiMedia-compliant dual-mode wireless USB and Bluetooth chip.
The A-150 is a low power, highly integrated chip, providing battery optimised wire replacement for high speed data transfer, synchronization and streaming media in power sensitive consumer, communication and PC peripheral devices including Digital Still Cameras, Camcorders, MP3 [...]
NXP announces smallest USB transceiver for mobiles
Permalink: NXP announces smallest USB transceiver for mobiles
NXP Semiconductors’ range of new generation, UTMI+ Low-Pin Interface (ULPI) High-Speed USB transceivers, includes the smallest transceiver on the market.
The transceivers were developed specifically to meet the needs of ultraslim mobile phone handsets and other small mobile devices. The smallest in the range measures a mere 2.2 x 2.25 x 0.6mm, in a 0.4mm [...]
USB is top mobile phone interface
Permalink: USB is top mobile phone interface
New research by iSupply Corporation, which monitors the status of the electronics industry value chain, shows that USB is the interface of choice for people to transfer content on and off their mobile phones.
iSupply found that USB was employed in more handsets than all other interface standards combined in 2006.
The company believes that [...]
USB Dongle Provides WiMax and 3G Connectivity
Permalink: USB Dongle Provides WiMax and 3G Connectivity
In preparation for the expected expansion of Mobile WiMax services in 2007, Samsung has introduced the Mobile WiMAX USB Dongle SPH-H1200, a device that easily enables PCs to connect to both WiMAX or 3G.
The portable device measures 9.6 x 4.6 x 1.5 cm, around the size of a mobile phone, and is ideal for mobile [...]
Artimi Develops New Wireless USB For Cameras
Permalink: Artimi Develops New Wireless USB For Cameras
Artimi, the fables simconductor company, has developed a wireless USB (WUSB) technology for cameras which may become an industry standard within the next 2 or 3 years.
WUSB technology allows users to wirelessly send pictures from a camera to a computer or printer.
WUSB is a new short-range, high speed wireless extension to the USB [...]
China Sets USB Interface Standard For Handsets
Permalink: China Sets USB Interface Standard For Handsets
China’s Ministry of Information Industry has announced that all handsets sold in China must include a USB interface for battery-charging and data-transmission.
The government hopes that this will help consumers save money as they will not need to purchase a new power adapter each time they purchase a new handset. Also, with USB as the [...]
Belkin Brings Wireless USB Kit To Market
Permalink: Belkin Brings Wireless USB Kit To Market
Belkin plans to launch a Wireless USB hub and dongle as soon as March, after next-generation ultra-wideband (UWB) technology was approved by the EC’s Radio Spectrum Committee in December 2006.
The dongle plugs in a PC’s USB 2.0 and connects with the four-port hub wirelessly at up to 480Mbit/sec. Together the hub and dongle will [...]
Micro-USB Specification Announced for Mobile Phones
Permalink: Micro-USB Specification Announced for Mobile Phones
The USB Implementers Forum Inc, a forum for the advancement and adoption of USB technology, has announced the completion of the Micro-USB specification.
This USB-IF connector specification is a new connector technology which will replace many of the Mini-series plugs and receptacles currently used in portable products. The specification was developed in response to [...]