Dedicated USB-to-UART Bridge Chip Optimized for Android
April 26, 2013
12 Mbit/s USB host bridge IC simplifies integration of a USB link into peripheral hardware from any Android platform with a USB device port.
A 12 Mbit/s USB host bridge IC from FTDI, the FT312D, simplifies integration of a USB link into various peripheral hardware from any Android platform that has a USB device port. Running off a 3.3 V supply, the host bridge has been optimized for performance and is targeted specifically for a UART interface. The internal buffering mechanism consists of 5512 Bytes on the UART receiver side (if application on Android is not accepting data) and 256 Bytes on the UART transmitter side, enabling smooth data streaming between the USB port and the UART port of the IC. The chip handles the entire USB protocol itself, without the need for any USB or Android specific firmware programming, and is suitable for use on any Android platform supporting Android Open Accessory Mode. An operational temperature range of -40°C to 85°C allows the host bridge to be applied in demanding industrial settings. The FT312D host bridge IC is offered in Pb-free, 32-pin LQFP and QFN packages for $2.55 each/10,000.
