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Feb 07, 2024

FTDI Chip simplifies USB technology

Aiming to make USB technology as straightforward to use as possible, FTDI Chip has introduced the FT260 – a human interface device (HID) class interface controller IC, which complements the company’s

Aiming to make USB technology as straightforward to use as possible, FTDI Chip has introduced the FT260 – a human interface device (HID) class interface controller IC, which complements the company’s vendor class portfolio.

Aiming to make USB technology as straightforward to use as possible, FTDI Chip has introduced the FT260 – a human interface device (HID) class interface controller IC, which complements the company’s vendor class portfolio.

It can provide USB 2.0 Full Speed (12Mbps) connectivity to a broad range of applicatioms – including connection of touchscreens, computer peripherals and IoT sensing apparatus, as well as USB interfacing of microcontroller or programmable logic centric system designs, plus industrial automation equipment and USB instrumentation.

Supplied in 28-pin SSOP and 28-pin QFN package options, these USB bridge chips have dual HID interface support, with I2C and UART bus conversion capabilities.

As the entire USB protocol is handled on the chip, the FT260 offering presents engineers with a plug-and-play solution that is simple to incorporate into contemporary embedded system designs. These ICs employ standard class drivers, which means it is not necessary to worry about installing complex vendor-specific drivers. Their flexible IOs mean they are compatible with 1.8V to 3.3V systems. During full operation only 24mA of current is drawn and this drops to just 385uA when in suspend mode.

The FT260 is compliant with the HID-over-I2C protocol, as specified by Microsoft with the release of Windows 8. A total of 4 different speed modes can be used while in I2C bus – standard mode (SM), fast mode (FM), fast mode plus (FM+) and high speed (HS) with 7-bit addressing supported.

The integrated memory resource enables storage of customised USB descriptors. The built-in oscillator PLL dispenses with the need for an external crystal – thereby saving space and lowering bill of materials costs. Furthermore, unlike competing ICs, the FT260 has USB battery charger detection mechanism included, so that more efficient charging may be benefitted from. To further assist engineers, this IC will be backed up by a series of board level products.

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