New Advanced Drivers from FTDI Chip Promote More Efficient System Operation
Selective suspend mechanism helps to reign in system power budget
FTDI Chip can confirm that it has updated its current, highly expansive USB driver portfolio in order to include a selective suspend feature. The revised drivers have just passed Microsoft certification and are available to download free of charge from the FTDI Chip website forthwith.
With the launch of lower powered versions of X-Chip series proving highly successful, the company has now followed this up with enhanced power management in the accompanying driver technology. Supporting many popular Windows environments (with WHQL pass for this feature being achieved in relation to Windows 7, 8, 8.1, Server 2008), the innovative selective suspend feature now incorporated into the FTDI Chip drivers means that the USB host can either enable or suspend a port/peripheral as needed via software control - resulting in far greater flexibility for design engineers when implementing their systems as well as a marked reduction in the overall power consumption. This new capability can be employed for controlling USB ports that are configured together as part of a hub structure, so that it is possible to access particular peripherals or conversely power them down when they are not required to be active. Among the applications where this could prove to be an operational advantage are card readers and biometric scanners on laptop PCs, as well as potential opportunities being envisaged in building automation, environmental monitoring and industrial control systems.
"This additional functionality incorporated into our drivers will be of real benefit to engineers and we see great scope for its future utilisation," state Dave Sroka, Global Product Marketing Director for FTDI Chip. "By providing it as a standard feature we feel that many applications can benefit, especially considering the growing number of distributed systems with sensing capabilities, like the Internet of Things, where power consumption is key and where having the software capability to activate/deactivate subsystems can have large impact on power budgets."
For more information on the company's driver portfolio go to: http://www.ftdichip.com/FTDrivers.htm
About FTDI Chip
FTDI Chip develops innovative silicon and software solutions capable of enhancing the way that people interact with today's technology. Through application of its "made easy" principle, the company is able to support engineers with highly sophisticated, feature-packed, simple-to-use and robust product platforms which enable the creation of electronic designs that have higher performance, fewer peripheral components and lower power budgets, as well as utilising less board space. These products are focussed on making advancements two fundamental areas; the transferring of data between electronic devices via Universal Serial Bus (USB) interconnects and Graphic User Interface (GUI) implementation. Its long-established and ever expanding USB portfolio, which comes with proven, ready-to-use, royalty-free firmware and driver support for all major operating systems, includes peripheral, host and bridge chips, as well as highly integrated system solutions with built-in microcontroller functionality. These are complemented by its graphic controllers which, which by taking a unique, more streamlined approach, allow engineers to dramatically reduce the development time and bill-of-materials costs involved in implementing next generation GUIs. They combine display, audio and touch functionality in a single compact package and are offered along with an array of development modules and software.
FTDI Chip follows a fab-less semiconductor model, partnering with the world's leading foundries. The company is headquartered in Glasgow, UK, with research and development facilities located in Glasgow, Singapore and Taipei (Taiwan), plus regional sales and technical support sites in Glasgow, Taipei, Portland (Oregon, USA) and Shanghai (China).
For more information go to http://www.ftdichip.comÂ
Regional sales offices and distributor lists are available at http://www.ftdichip.com/FTSalesNetwork.htm
For further information and reader enquiries:
Dave Sroka - FTDI Chip
Unit 1, 2 Seaward Place, Centurion Business Park, Glasgow, G41 1HH, UK
Tel: +44 (0) 141 429 2777Â Â
Fax: +44 (0) 141 429 2758
E-mail: marketing@ftdichip.com
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