Standard Microsystems Corp. says it’s “sampling” to select customers an engineering prototype of its new USB97C210 USB 2.0 Memory Card Controller, which the company says will be Mac OS X compatible.
The USB97C210 is s Hi-Speed USB 2.0 multi-format memory card controller that’s designed for use in multi-function card readers. It interfaces with CompactFlash, SmartMedia, Memory Stick, Secure Digital and MultiMediaCard memory cards, as well as Microdrives.
The USB97C210 consists of a USB 2.0 physical layer transceiver and serial interface engine, data buffers, a Fast 8051 microprocessor with expanded scratchpad and program SRAM, and dedicated controllers for each memory card type. It’s designed for the transfer of large amounts of data, such as MP3 and MPEG files, to memory cards. A memory card reader incorporating the USB97C210 can be used to boot a PC from a memory card.
Object code for the drivers and firmware for the integrated 8051 controller are available free of charge from SMSC’s Web site. Source code for both the driver and firmware are also available under software licenses. Silicon engineering samples and evaluation boards are scheduled to be available in April, with mass production scheduled to begin about a month later.
Plans call for the USB97C210 will be offered in a 128-pin TQFP package. This version, called the USB97C210-NE, should cost US$7.50 in 100K quantities. A lower-priced version, the USB97C210-NC, will be available in a 128-pin QFP package. The USB97C210 data sheet, as well as technical information on SMSC’s other products, is available on SMSC’s Web site.