Self-adapting USB 2.0 signal conditioner IC saves power and simplifies system design

Diodes Incorporated announces the introduction of the PI5USB212, a USB 2.0 signal conditioner that operates from a supply voltage down to 2.3V. Designed for use in notebooks, PCs, docking stations, cable extenders, TVs, and monitors, the PI5USB212 automatically detects a USB 2.0 high-speed connection. It also preserves signal integrity when driving long PCB traces or cables of up to 5m.

This IC symmetrically boosts the USB D+ and D– channels for common-mode stability and applies pre-emphasis to compensate for intersymbol interference (ISI). The wide supply voltage range simplifies system design and extends the operating window of portable and battery-powered equipment.

The device is configured using either I2C commands or pin strapping, adjusting signal-boost and ISI-compensation levels. It has two control pins (boost/SEN); pulling the boost pin down via different resistors controls the AC gain/pre-emphasis levels. The SEN pin selects high, low, or medium receiver sensitivity (DC gain) to ensure optimum signal integrity, depending on channel conditions. It automatically detects a low-speed (LS) mode/full-speed (FS) connection to avoid applying signal compensation when not needed.

The PI5USB212 is compatible with USB 2.0, OTG 2.0, and battery-charging (BC) 1.2, and supports USB features including device-attach and high-speed detection, as well as a 5.5V tolerance. It automatically detects when no USB attachment is present and saves energy by reducing its supply current to 0.7mA (typical), and 13µA (typical) when disabled via the RSTN disable pin.