Parade Technologies Expands USB 3.0 Product Line with Dual Repeater/Redriver Chip

Posted May 6th, 2011

Smallest Package Size on Market Aids Compact Design

San Jose, Calif.—9 May 2011—Parade Technologies Ltd. (www.paradetech.com), a leading video display and interface IC supplier, today announced the expansion of its USB 3.0 Repeater/Redriver IC product line. Parade’s new PS8720 is a Dual USB 3.0 Repeater/ Redriver that supports two bi-directional USB ports on a single device. The PS8720 is housed in a 32-pin 3x6mm TQFN package, the smallest Dual Repeater/ Redriver package on the market.

“Parade entered the USB 3.0 market last fall and our single-port device has been well received by system OEMs,” explains Jimmy Chiu, VP of Marketing at Parade Technologies. “The need to support multiple USB ports led us to develop our new Dual Redriver product, and the OEM requirement for board layout efficiency led us to utilize the smallest package possible for this new part.”

At 5 Gb/s, USB 3.0–also known as “SuperSpeed” USB–delivers a ten-fold speed increase over the widely adopted USB 2.0 “HighSpeed” standard. The transition to 5Gb/s challenges system designers to maintain signal integrity in notebook, docking station and other system designs. PC board traces longer than 5 inches (127mm) from the USB host controller will require USB Repeater/Redrivers for signal reconditioning. System boards frequently require multiple Repeater/Redriver in order to position USB ports at convenient locations on the system’s external interface.

Lowest Power Dual USB 3.0 Repeater/Redriver Available

The PS8720 includes automatic detection of LFPS (Low Frequency Periodic Signaling) as well as normal SuperSpeed USB data.  LFPS is used for out-of-band signaling for device initiation and power management. The device is compliant with USB 3.0 signal specifications for LFPS and SuperSpeed USB data at 5Gbit/s.

Parade is offering two versions of its Dual bi-directional USB 3.0 Repeater/Redriver. The PS8720A uses a single 1.5V power supply; the PS8720B uses a single 3.3V power supply. The 1.5V PS8720A is the lowest power Dual USB 3.0 Repeater/Redriver IC available. Both Parade Dual Repeater/Redrivers support all four USB 3.0 power management modes, which allow for power saving, suspend and power down modes when the device is not active.

USB 3.0 is the Newest Version of the Most Widely Used Interface

USB has been widely adopted in computers, peripherals and consumer electronics. Leading market research firms estimate that more than three billion USB-enabled systems will be sold this year, increasing to more than four billion per year by 2012. The USB 3.0 interface is now incorporated into some personal computer chip sets, and wide chip set adoption is expected within the next twelve months.

Price and Availability

The PS8720A/B is sampling now, and production volumes will be available September 2011. Both devices are available in a 3x6mm 32-pin TQFN package.

The PS8720A/B will be available for $2.00 /ea. in high volume.

About Parade Technologies, Ltd. and Parade Technologies, Inc.

Parade Technologies, Ltd. is a privately held fabless semiconductor company that specializes in developing video display and high-speed interface ICs.  The company leverages high-speed analog, mixed-signal and digital design expertise with system level knowledge to elevate product performance, power efficiency and customer satisfaction to new heights. Parade recently delivered its 100 millionth IC. The company was chosen by the Global Semiconductor Alliance as a finalist in both 2009 and 2010 for the ‘Startup to Watch’ Award.

Parade Technologies, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Parade Technologies, Ltd, is located in San Jose, California.  As Parade Technologies, Ltd’s marketing representative in the United States, Parade Technologies, Inc. can be reached at (408) 329-5540, or on the Internet at http://www.paradetech.com.

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