Chipmaker SigmaTel has released Linux drivers for its family of USB-to-IrDA bridge controller chips. The chips support USB 2.0 Version 1.4 on the USB side, and up to 16 megabits/sec “Very Fast Infrared” (VFIR) on the infrared side.

Block diagram of SigmaTel's USB-to-IrDA converter chips
(Click image for larger view)
The bridge chips connect directly to the USB Bus and provide all functionality necessary between the USB 2.0 and an IR transceiver, SigmaTel says, enabling a USB IR communication subsystem to be implemented by adding an IR transceiver, 24 MHz crystal, and a few passive components for bypass and power filtering.

USB 2.0 has a target maximum data rate of 480 megabits/sec, according to the USB according to the USB Implementers Forum.

Three pin-compatible contoller chips are currently supported, enabling the creation of USB-to-IrDA products with varying price/performance points:

• STIR4220 Very Fast Infrared (VFIR) Controller (16 Million bits per second, mbps)
• STIR4210 Fast Infrared (FIR) Controller (4 mbps)
• STIR4116 Serial Infrared (SIR) Controller

“Our customers have asked for drivers supporting Mac and Linux platforms,” said Andrew Lambrecht, director of marketing for SigmaTel's Integrated Components Group. “These drivers now allow our customers to serve a broader market and new applications.”

The Linux drivers support Linux kernel 2.4.26 and area available on SigmaTel's website.

 
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