Mentor Graphics Corp. announced a USB software stack with a “Linux-like API” for its dual-role USB On-the-Go (OTG) controllers. The controllers, which are offered as hardware intellectual property (IP) for integration into custom chip designs, are said to support both the “USB host” and “USB function” capabilities of the USB OTG spec, including the ability to swap those roles dynamically.

Thanks to a “Linux-like API,” developers familiar with Linux will have an easy time building custom drivers for the stack, the company said. The stack's class loader is said to enable both static and dynamic linking of drivers, and ever-present devices such as keyboards and mice can be permanently linked to the stack. Alternatively, functions that are regularly connected and disconnected, such as printers and PDAs, can be loaded dynamically as the physical connections change.

Mentor Graphics said its Inventra USB OTG Software Stack is available now and includes: complete C language source code; sample build scripts and makefiles for popular platforms; source for class drivers; documentation and an integration guide.

 
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