TI cuts USB Type-C footprint in half

By Nick Flaherty www.flaherty.co.uk

Texas Instruments (TI) has launched a multiport USB Type-C and Power Delivery (PD) minidock reference design that provides audio, USB data, power and video support in half the footprint of previous implementations.

This new reference design can be powered by a traditional power adapter, USB Type-C adapter or notebook computer, offering end users flexible, intelligent functionality. The reference design provides a fully tested, verified plan for a 2- by 4-inch dock, at least 50 percent smaller than existing docking solutions.

• World's first single port smartphones highlight shift to USB Type-C ...

At the core of the USB Type-C and Power Delivery Minidock with Video and Charging Support Reference Design (TIDA-01243) is the TPS65982 USB Type-C and PD controller. The TPS65982 enables dual-role port USB Type-C functionality, capable of delivering 60 watts of power and supporting DisplayPort Alternate Mode and USB data transmission. In addition, the design uses the TPS65986 USB Type-C and PD controller, HD3SS3212 SuperSpeed multiplexer, TUSB321 dual-role port controller and HD3SS460 Alternate Mode multiplexer, which work together to provide dual-role port capability for power, data and video transfer.

The design allows for autonomous PD negotiation for both source and sink, eliminating the need for an external microcontroller and by combining the highly integrated TPS65982 with other USB Type-C components in an optimized circuit, the minidock reference design allows engineers to develop up to 50 percent smaller docking stations.

The minidock also supports USB 3.0 or 4K resolution video and digital audio through various output options with DisplayPort and HDMI.

All the chips in the design are compliant with the current USB Type-C and PD standards, simplifying and speeding engineers’ design cycles. The design also combines the complete solution of TI USB Type-C and PD-compliant ICs, including port controllers, data multiplexers, DC/DC converters, load switches, field-effect transistors (FETs), signal conditioners and circuit protection, easing product selection and purchasing during design implementation.

The minidock TI Designs reference design (TIDA-01243) is now available for download. Additionally, an evaluation module allows designers to quickly evaluate and implement their minidock designs. The USB-CTM-MINIDK-EVM is available today for US$499 from the TI store and authorized distributors.

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USB-C powers world’s first single port smartphones

By Nick Flaherty www.flaherty.co.uk

The USB-C technology from Cypress Semiconductor has been used to develop the world's first signle port smartphone. 

LeEco has used a USB-C port on its flagship Le Max2 superphone—providing the only physical connector on the phone. The Cypress EZ-PD CCG2 controller helps enable the one-port design of the Le Max2, which is the first phone to remove the ubiquitous audio jack and use the USB-C port for audio, in addition to charging and data. 

LeEco’s Continual Digital Lossless Audio (CDLA) technology delivers true fidelity audio and lossless music experience via the USB-C port. The Le Max2 is also the market’s first phone to enable fast charging utilizing the USB Power Delivery (PD) standard, which allows transfer of more than 15W of power over the Type-C connector. The Le Max2 charger uses Cypress’s USB-C controller solution to implement USB PD as well.

Optimized for the 2.4-mm thin USB-C connector, the programmable EZ-PD CCG2 controller is capable of fully supporting USB PD and other proprietary charging standard implementations in smartphones, tablets, and mobile chargers. CCG2 provides a complete, robust solution by integrating the USB-C transceiver, PD protocol and policy layer functions. Available in a 3.3 mm2 20-ball Wafer Level Chip Scale Package (WLCSP), a 14-pin DFN and a 24-pin QFN, CCG2 also includes system-level ESD protection and termination resistors needed for all USB-C applications. 

“LeEco selected the Cypress USB Type-C and Power Delivery solution because of its interoperability performance and robust implementation of the PD protocol for flexible, on-demand PD charging,” said Gao Chao, Hardware Director of LeEco. “With Cypress’s strong support, we were able to get to market first with faster PD charging in our Le Max2 phone.”

“The Le Max2 marks a new generation of smartphones that will use a single USB-C port to connect and charge,” said Ajay Srikrishna, vice president of the USB product line at Cypress. “Cypress’s programmable EZ-PD controllers enable our customers to bring their innovative designs to market quickly, with the confidence that comes with our USB-IF-certified solutions. The Le Max2 charger is one of only three chargers on the market to be certified as compliant to the USB Power Delivery standard, and the other two are also based on Cypress solutions.”

The USB Type-C standard is gaining rapid support with top-tier PC and electronics manufacturers by enabling slim industrial designs, easy-to-use connectors and cables, and the ability to transmit multiple protocols and deliver up to 100W of power. The USB Type-C standard’s 2.4-mm-high connector plug is significantly smaller than the current 4.5-mm USB Standard-A connector. In addition to the transport of USB signals, DisplayPort and Thunderbolt signals can be delivered over the same connector via the USB Type-C standard’s Alternate Mode capability.

http://www.cypress.com/ccg2