Intersil’s Multiplexers Eliminate Separate Input/Output Jacks for High-Quality A/V Signals with Full-Speed USB Data Signals

ISL54415/6/7 Provide a Very Low-Distortion Path Suitable for A/V Playback, Can Handle Negative Signal Swings and Includes USB Cable Detection and Data Rate Negotiation Hardware Functions

Intersil Corporation (NASDAQ Global Select: ISIL), a world leader in the design and manufacture of high-performance analog semiconductors, today introduced a new family of dual 2:1 multiplexers. These devices enable transmission of quality audio, video, and high-speed USB data through a single input/output port, eliminating up to two ports on each portable device.

Intersil's ISL54415/6/7 multiplexers combine high-speed, low-capacitance switches for data signals with low-distortion, low-capacitance switches for audio and video, so they can be used for data downloading or for A/V playback through a single port without impacting performance in either mode of operation. This increases available board space, reduces external components, and lowers the manufacturing cost of portable devices that need to connect to other equipment such as TVs, flat screen monitors, headphones, speakers and PCs.

“The move to fewer I/O ports is well demonstrated by the recent launch of Apple's iPod Shuffle, which uses a single 1/8" jack for USB and headphone connections,” said Simon Prutton, vice president and general manager of Intersil’s Analog & Mixed Signal products group. “This new product gives the user the ability to display images on a TV from a portable media player, in addition to providing an audio output, and still using a single I/O port to minimize cost and size.”

Saving Space with Integrated Functionality
Intersil’s ISL54415/6/7 are dual 2:1 multiplexers that switch between USB or other digital data and A/V signals in personal media player applications.

This family is designed to reduce the number of connectors and cables required to connect Personal Media Players (PMP), Digital Still Cameras (DSC), camcorders and other consumer electronics products to other equipment such as TVs, flat screen monitors and PCs.

Negative signal swing capability on the audio and video inputs of these multiplexers allows these signals to be ac coupled, preventing battery discharge of the portable device if left connected to a powered-down piece of equipment.

Existing solutions rely upon bulky and costly external passive components such as inductors to prevent the A/V signals and the USB data signals from interfering with each other, sometimes resulting in the inability to transmit video signals. The ISL54415/6/7 overcome these problems while consuming very low power in operation.
.
All three of Intersil’s new multiplexers are available in space-saving micro TQFN 2.1 x 1.6 mm x 0.5mm packages. The ISL54415 incorporates the functions needed to detect a USB cable and provides the data speed indicator function for USB data transmission. The ISL54416 detects the USB cable but leaves the USB speed indicator function to users, while the ISL54417 is a basic USB/audio/Video switch without the USB detection capabilities.

Key Features

•Combined USB and audio/video switches eliminate USB or TV-out connector and cable
•Negative signal swing capability on A/V input allows ac coupling to prevent battery discharge
•USB cable detection and speed indicator functions eliminate need for external components
•Very low power consumption
•Very compact micro TQFN packaging

Target Applications

•Digital still cameras
•Personal media players
•Analog and digital camcorders
•Audio/video accessories