Alpha Micro Components has announced the release of its FTDI
FT12 series of high performance USB controller ICs designed to
facilitate mass data transfer from embedded systems applications
including medical, industrial data-logger, power-metering and test
instrumentation, to peripheral devices fitted with old style serial
connectors. Featuring native drivers present in the operating
system, they are also ideal for isochronous support for video
applications in security, industrial control and quality
inspections.
Operating at 12 Mbits/s and designed to the USB 2.0
specification, the new controllers support direct memory access
(DMA) operation, while providing system interfaces for 8-bit
parallel bus and SPI (Serial Peripheral Interface) Slave. The FT12
series is configurable as a standard device class and as such there
is no need to add USB drivers. They have been designed specifically
so that engineers can quickly understand the device functionality
and architecture, as well as take advantage of application software
and standard class drivers currently available and installed within
the market.
"With the FT12 family of parts, FTDI is expanding the choice for
engineers' USB implementations," said Maxine Hewitt, Director of
Marketing, Alpha Micro Components. "These ICs enable the standard
drivers of an operating system to be used, while providing
flexibility on the device side to optimise the development of a
broad range of applications. FTDI continues to strive to achieve
its goal of 'USB Made Easy', by architecting the devices in a
familiar fashion and at the same time providing high quality
support through development tools, application notes and worldwide
one-on-one technical assistance."
Composed of three members and inspired by the industry standard
D12, the FT12 series offers unique features like battery charging
detection, numerous interface options and optimised device
footprints - allowing the designer to choose the best-fit chip. A
serial interface engine (SIE) built into each FT12 handles the USB
protocol, as well as carrying out packet recognition, checking and
sequencing. Multiple USB transfer modes are supported,
enabling bulk and isochronous data transfer activity, as well as
supporting interrupt protocol.
The FT120 and FT122 are both supplied in TSSOP-28 and QFN-28
packages, while the FT121 is offered in TSSOP-16 and QFN-16 package
options. All of these advanced USB controller ICs have an operating
temperature range of -40°C to 85°C.
Development tool support is provided through 4 evaluation
modules that are all available through Alpha Micro Components
