USB is a standard interface for communication between computers and peripherals, implemented by USB chipsets. USB 2.0 increased bandwidth to 480 Mbps. USB chipsets are used in standalone bridge controllers and USB hubs. Peripherals on the slave side of a USB connection also use USB chipsets.
The Universal Serial Bus (USB) is an interface standard for communication between computers and peripherals. The hardware portion of a USB interface is implemented in one or more integrated circuits known as USB chipsets. The software portion usually consists of one or more chipset drivers. Most laptop, desktop, and server computers connect to external peripherals through host ports provided by a USB chipset. USB hubs, specialty computers, and embedded systems also often include USB chipsets for connecting to external devices or other computers.
USB was first created in 1996 for International Business Machines (IBM) Corporation compatible personal computers (PCs). Early versions of USB were commonly used to connect keyboards and mice as the interface ran at a relatively slow speed. Version 1.1 supported speeds of 1.5 Megabits per second (Mbps) and 12 Mbps. In 2000, USB 2.0 was released, which increased bandwidth to 480 Mbps for hard drives, digital video cameras, and other high-speed devices. A USB chipset usually implements the host controller and many details of the lower layers of the USB protocol.
Early USB chipsets and host ports were implemented on plug-in Peripheral Component Interconnect (PCI) cards rather than system motherboards. Eventually, most motherboard manufacturers included a USB chipset in their designs. As motherboards became more complex, chip manufacturers integrated many of the legacy PC peripheral support chipsets into one large southbridge chip, including the USB chipset. This process will likely be repeated as newer and faster versions of the USB interface specification are released.
Many embedded systems and other specialty electronic devices use USB to communicate with peripherals and storage devices. Some are designed around a microcontroller that includes an integrated USB host controller. Others may incorporate a third-party development board that provides an Inter-Integrated Circuit (I2C®) bus or other standard interface to a USB chipset. Intellectual Property (IP) cores from various vendors can also be used to add USB chipset functionality to a larger custom chip design.
USB chipsets are also used in standalone bridge controllers to connect non-USB devices to a USB bus. Common bridge controllers can connect an Advanced Technology Attachment (ATA) or Integrated Drive Electronics (IDE) bus storage device to a USB connection. These controllers typically do not require any firmware on the bridge or any special drivers on the host system. USB hubs are also built around USB chipsets. These hubs allow you to connect many USB devices to a single USB port, similar to network hubs.
A different type of chipset is usually used in peripherals on the slave side of a USB connection. These devices must respond to messages from the host system and transfer data when requested using USB protocols. Most of these operations are implemented by the device’s USB chipset. Common USB peripherals include printers, hard drives, and other storage devices. Most scanners, digital cameras, and even some display devices use USB as their primary interface.
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