ACG1F USB-C Controller From Cypress to Convert USB Type-A ports to USB Type-C ports

Cypress Semiconductor Corp. announced its USB-C controller, ACG1F.

Designed for mainstream and entry-level notebooks and desktop PCs, ACG1F is a cost-effective single-port USB-C controller used for systems which need to convert legacy USB Type-A ports to USB Type-C ports.

ACG1F integrates a VBUS load switch for power and fault protection, enabling a more robust solution to accelerate USB-C adoption in PCs. ACG1F features a 32-bit ARM Cortex-M0 processor with 16KB flash for USB-C programmability. It also includes the USB Type-C Connector System Software Interface (UCSI) driver implementations and extensions from Microsoft Corp. to enable broader support for customers developing USB-C solutions.

The USB-C standard for connectivity is being adopted by the manufacturers of PCs as well as makers of peripheral devices and accessories. USB-C offers a range of user benefits including reversible plug orientation as well as support for multiple standards including USB 3.1 (which delivers double the data transfer rates of USB 3.0 with speeds up to 10Gb), Thunderbolt, DisplayPort, and HDMI.

“IDC anticipates that USB-C will continue its strong momentum and will be among the fastest growing technologies in personal computers over the next several years due to adoption by manufacturers and consumers alike,” said Linn Huang, VP, devices and displays, IDC. “Fast, versatile, robust, and you’ll never have to wonder which way is up, USB-C is a game-changer and should eventually reach ubiquity. By 2022, USB-C will be embedded on greater than 80% of all notebooks with 25% of notebooks featuring only USB-C ports.“

“As the leading provider of USB-C controllers, Cypress is extending its leadership with ACG1F within the mainstream and entry-level PC and notebook market,” said Ajay Srikrishna, VP, wired connectivity business unit, Cypress. “This high-volume market, which will continue to grow as USB-C continues to replace legacy USB Type-A ports on a large scale, represents a strong business opportunity for Cypress.“

The ACG1F controller is sampling to major OEMs and will be in volume production this quarter.