ScanLogic Corporation and Softconnex Technologies, Inc. have announced a partnership that will provide OEM customers a complete USB solution for embedded devices, via ScanLogic's SL11H/SL811HS host/slave controllers and Softconnex's USBLink software. The combined solution provides the main stack and several built-in class drivers to enable embedded devices such as PDAs, set-top boxes, internet appliances,… video cameras, and other devices to communicate with external USB peripherals such as keyboards, mice, scanners, printers, storage devices, digital cameras, MP3 players, and many other embedded peripherals. The combination of ScanLogic's chips and and Softconnex's USBLink embedded USB software can support both applications requiring USB connectivity between two USB peripherals, or between a peripherals and a host computer.

About the USB controller

The SL11H/SL811HS USB master/slave controller provides full USB 1.1 host functionality interfacing to any microprocessor including RISC, microcontrollers and DSPs. The SL811HS automatically generates SOF and CRCs without external software accomplishing the maximum USB throughput rate of up to 12 Mbps. The device also supports root hub functionality for both low and full speed devices, including all USB communication protocol modes: Bulk, Control, Interrupt and Isochronous modes.

About the USB Software

USBLink provides OHCI and/or UHCI USB embedded software drivers under various operating systems, including Linux, QNX, PowerTV, VxWorks, Nucleus, ThreadX, and others. Virtually no software development is required on the customer's end.

The software creates a framework for developing Class Drivers to support USB devices. This framework allows either Class Drivers to manage USB device configuration or the USB stack to perform the necessary configuration, initialization of interface(s) and allocation of USB data pipes or endpoints.

USBLink supports simple topologies with one USB device attached to the root hub, as well as complex topologies including cascading USB hubs and several different USB devices. USBLink simulates a plug-and-play environment within the host RTOS, thereby allowing insertion and extraction of USB devices at will.

USBLink supports a variety of microprocessors, including Intel x86, ARM, StrongARM, MIPS, and PowerPC, and includes “class libraries” for the following kinds of USB devices: hubs, keyboards, mice, printers, digital cameras, scanners, speakers, microphones, hard Drives, floppy drives, CD-audio, and CD-ROM.

An Embedded Linux USB Application

According to SoftConnex's Chief Technology Officer, Thierry Giron, USBLink is being used in a thin server appliance based on an ARM9 core, and running the uClinux version of Embedded Linux. The system serves as a smart Internet gateway for small office / home office (SOHO) environments, and allows users to add external USB peripherals such as printers, storage devices, etc. In this application, USBLink supports the ARM9-based processor's built-in USB interface.

 
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