EZ-USB™ HX3 USB 5 Gbps Hub Controller
USB 5 Gbps USB-IF certified 2- or 4-port hub controller IC with BC v1.2, ACA-dock, shared link, ghost charge, and automotive grade options
EZ-USB™ HX3 is a USB-IF certified 5 Gbps hub controller available in both 2- and 4-port options. It is compatible with various host controllers, device classes, operating systems, and supports multiple USB charging standards. It has integrated termination, pull-up and pull-down resistors, and supports configuration options through pin-straps to reduce the overall system BOM. EZ-USB™ HX3 also offers ghost charging and ACA-dock features.
- USB-IF certified USB hub controller
- Backward compatible with USB 2.0
- Two or four USB 5 Gbps DS ports
- Multi-TT support
- USB shared link for onboard systems
- Battery Charging (BC) v1.2 support
- Accessory charger adapter dock
- ARM® M0 CPU, 16 KB RAM, 32 KB ROM
- GPIOs - overcurrent, power enable
- LED status indicators
- In-system programming over USB
- Windows, macOS, & Linux compatible
- Standalone hubs
- Motherboard hubs
- Monitor hubs
- Advanced port replicators
- Docking stations
- Split-PC designs
- External personal storage drives
- Keyboard hubs
Shared link is a proprietary feature that enables a USB 3.0 downstream port to be split into a USB 5 Gbps port and a standard USB 2.0 480/12/1.5 Mbps port for onboard connection in the embedded system applications. It enables up to eight bridge device connections from four USB 3.2 Gen 2 downstream ports. The shared link mode requires a separate VBUS control for the removable USB 2.0 and the embedded 5 Gbps devices. To ensure the embedded 5 Gbps device does not fall back into USB 2.0 operation, an external power switch is required.
Ghost charge is a proprietary feature that enables the charging of USB devices on the downstream (DS) port when the upstream (US) port is not connected to a host. An example would be an EZ-USB™ HX3 docking station with an undocked laptop. When the USB port is disconnected from the host, EZ-USB™ HX3 actively identifies if any of the DS ports are connected to a device that requires charging. It analyzes the charging requirements and selects the appropriate signaling method, accordingly, aligning with the detected charging specification. Ghost charge is enabled by default and can be disabled using the configuration options outlined in the datasheet.
In traditional USB setups, the host is responsible for supplying VBUS power to enable and charge the connected devices. However, in the case of on-the-go (OTG) hosts, an Accessory Charger Adapter Dock (ACA-dock) serves the purpose of providing VBUS power and a charging mechanism for the host. EZ-USB™ HX3 is designed to support the ACA-dock standard, as defined in the BC v1.2 specification, by integrating the functions of the adapter controller. When the ACA-dock feature is enabled, EZ-USB™ HX3 activates the external power switch to supply VBUS power to the USB port. To indicate to the OTG host that it is connected to an ACA-dock, the ID pin is connected to ground using a resistor. This feature can be easily disabled by utilizing the configuration options outlined in the datasheet.
CYUSB3xxx-BVXA(T) EZ-USB™ HX3 are automotive standard AEC-Q100 qualified 4-port USB 5 Gbps hub controllers with backward-compatible with USB 2.0, able to operate in automotive temperature range. EZ-USB™ HX3 configurable USB 5 Gbps and USB 2.0 PHY for onboard systems can improve signal quality, extending the reach of USB ports to remote locations such as the center console or the rear seats, giving the automotive system designers more flexibility, and making USB-IF compliance easier.
