Synopsys unveils 30 percent smaller area, low power USB 2.0 PHY IP for 28-nm processes

MOUNTAIN VIEW, USA: Synopsys, Inc. (NASDAQ: SNPS), a world leader in software and IP for semiconductor design, verification and manufacturing, today announced the addition of the new DesignWare USB 2.0 picoPHY IP to its USB 2.0 PHY IP product line that has been successfully deployed in more than 300 customer designs, and in more than 50 different process technologies ranging from 180-nanometer (nm) to 32-nm.

Targeted at mobile and high-volume consumer applications such as feature-rich smartphones, mobile internet devices and netbooks, the DesignWare USB 2.0 picoPHY supports advanced 28-nm processes in a 1.8V architecture, is 30 percent smaller than the previous USB 2.0 PHY generation, and offers reduced pin count and low standby power consumption.

The DesignWare USB 2.0 picoPHY IP is the first PHY IP to support the new Battery Charging version 1.1 and USB On-the-Go (OTG) version 2.0 specifications from the USB Implementer's Forum (USB-IF).

The Battery Charging v 1.1 specification allows mobile devices to draw up to 1.8 A of current when connected to a wall charger. The Battery Charging specification enables portable devices to distinguish among various power sources, such as a wall charger, standard host port and USB charging port, and selects the most efficient method to charge the device.

By supporting the USB OTG version 2.0 specification, the DesignWare USB 2.0 picoPHY incorporates the new Attached Detection Protocol (ADP) feature, which improves the power efficiency of portable devices that communicate directly to USB peripherals without the need for a PC Host.

In addition, the DesignWare USB 2.0 picoPHY supports advanced power management features, such as power supply gating and support for ultra-low standby current to help designers lower the leakage power of mobile system-on-chips (SoCs) while maintaining the integrity of the USB 2.0 connection.

"Delivery of USB IP solutions from providers like Synopsys helps system designers benefit from the latest functionality offered by USB technology," said Jeff Ravencraft, president and chairman of the USB Implementers Forum.

"With the prevalence of USB on mobile devices, IP solutions like Synopsys' new DesignWare USB 2.0 picoPHY IP will enable designers to quickly incorporate this technology into their SoCs designs and bring new USB-enabled products to the market quickly."

"For nearly a decade, designers have successfully incorporated Synopsys' high-quality DesignWare USB 2.0 PHY IP into their SoCs which they have shipped in hundreds of millions of units," said John Koeter, vice president of marketing of the Solutions Group at Synopsys. "The addition of the new DesignWare USB 2.0 picoPHY IP to this already widely adopted product line provides designers with a competitive edge through our continued innovation and support for the latest processes and specifications."

The DesignWare USB 2.0 picoPHY IP is expected to be available to early adopters starting in Q4 2009 for 28-nm processes, with a roadmap for 40- and 32-nm.