RS Components is the first distributor to bring a new FTDI USB evaluation kit to market. Now available on rswww.com, the MORPH-IC-II compact development module from FTDI Chip has been developed to ease the development of new designs combining Hi-Speed USB capability with an FPGA.

The MORPH-IC-II module combines FTDI’s FT2232H USB interface IC together with an Altera Cyclone-II FPGA and utilises the Multi Protocol Synchronous Serial Engine (MPSSE) interface of the FT2232H to quickly program / reprogram the FPGA over USB. The module is ideal for developers of applications requiring users to reconfigure hardware functionality ‘on-the-fly’ by downloading new software over USB.

Commenting on the introduction of the new evaluation kit, Lance Hemmings, Central Product Manager – Semiconductors and Optoelectronics at RS said, “The FTDI name is synonymous with innovative connectivity. By introducing this new kit we are providing our design engineering customers with a simple, cost effective development environment, which is perfect for new applications requiring the fusion of FPGAs and USB.”

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Vinculum-II delivers increased capabilities and memory at a reduced cost

Mouser Electronics, Inc., known for its rapid introduction of the newest electronic components and technologies, today announced it is stocking the Vinculum-II Embedded Dual USB Host Controller IC from FTDI, a specialist in easily converting legacy peripherals to USB.

Mouser’s stock includes the FTDI Vinculum-II Embedded Dual USB Host Controller IC, the second generation of FTDI USB Host devices. The embedded CPU in the Vinculum-II is dramatically upgraded from the previous VNC1L device, greatly increasing the processing power. It features a powerful 16-bit MCU core with 256KB Flash and 16KB RAM memory. The Vinculum-II is a complete USB system solution that supports a range of flexible interfaces, including UART, SPI, FIFO, plus a PWM output block to control motors and other analog devices. The complete USB protocol data processing is handled entirely by hardware resources within the device, freeing up processing resources for user developed applications. This fully programmable USB Controller is supported with the new Vinculum Software Tool Suite, which provides a royalty-free C based integrated development environment to enable users to easily develop applications for the VNC2. To learn more, visit http://www.mouser.com/ftdivinculum2.

In support of the new Dual USB Host Controller IC, Mouser is stocking the full range of Vinculum-II (VNC2) development modules and tools. The FTDI V2-EVAL is a complete evaluation and prototyping platform for the VNC2. This two board system features a main board with USB connectors and headers to access VNC2 interfaces plus separate daughterboards for connecting 32, 48, and 64-pin variations of the VNC2. The FTDI V2DIP1 and V2DIP2 are VNC2-based development modules with a single USB connector (V2DIP1) or two USB connectors (V2DIP2).

These modules are targeted for prototyping with the VNC2 and for application integration to enable USB capability within a finished product design. The FTDI VNC2 Debug Module consists of a miniature board with a USB miniB connector, which provides USB connectivity to Vinculum-II IDE development tools running on a PC. The VNC2 Debug Module can be used to program and debug firmware running on the VNC2 device.

Mike Scott, Mouser Vice President of Active Products, remarks, “The new Vinculum-II USB IC from FTDI allows designers to create products that take advantage of the significant increase in performance and functionality. We work hard to find the newest products from our suppliers that can enable tomorrow’s designs and are excited to offer this next generation USB controller to our engineering customers.”

With its broad product line and unsurpassed customer service, Mouser offers customers the latest, most technologically advanced components for their newest design projects. Mouser Electronics’ website is updated daily and searches over 6.7 million products to locate over 1.7 million orderable part numbers available for easy online purchase. Mouser.com also houses an industry-first interactive catalog, data sheets, supplier-specific reference designs, application notes, technical design information, and engineering tools.

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Premier Farnell plc, in line with the company’s focus on Electronic Design Engineers (EDE), driving business to the web and growth in emerging markets, announces a global franchise distribution agreement with Future Technology Devices International (FTDI), a leading specialist in the design and supply of silicon and solutions for Universal Serial Bus (USB) connectivity.

Premier Farnell customers will now have global access to FTDI Chip’s expansive portfolio of USB ICs and connectivity products including converters for legacy RS232, RS422 and RS485-based applications and technologies that enable USB connectivity within embedded designs. Most products will be offered from stock. In this agreement FTDI will extend their marketing support to Premier Farnell and collaborate on new product information via element14, Premier Farnell’s innovative information portal and online community exclusively created for electronic design engineers to globally collaborate, share and access new information to support them in their design work.

Through Premier Farnell’s global distribution network and element14, FTDI products can be ordered in bulk and are available for next-day delivery. Local language websites and regional offices ensure that Premier Farnell’s customers receive excellent sales and technical support on all its product lines.

FTDI designs and supplies complete silicon, hardware, and software solutions for enabling USB connectivity within customer products. The company’s silicon solutions include their industry leading range of USB converter ICs, providing flexible connectivity to a wide range of devices and applications. More recently, FTDI have expanded their portfolio with the Vinculum II USB Host / Slave controllers designed to provide USB Host level functions and capabilities within embedded applications. FTDI’s mission is to provide designers with complete low-risk, ready-to-use USB connectivity within their products while providing benefits of reduced development cost and faster time to market.

“This global distribution agreement with FTDI is an integral part of our business strategy to enhance the Premier Farnell value proposition by continually developing and growing our already extensive line card of leading technology suppliers to satisfy the evolving requirements of our customers worldwide,” said David Shen, Group Senior Vice President and Global Head of EDE and Technical Marketing of Premier Farnell. “We are excited by the opportunity this new distribution agreement with FTDI affords us to attract new design engineering customers worldwide”.

“FTDI offers solutions that significantly simplify and speed both the migration of legacy designs to USB and the integration of USB into new applications,” said Fred Dart, CEO of FTDI Chip “We offer the easiest route to USB migration by combining USB Serial and USB FIFO silicon solutions with our ready-to-go royalty free USB drivers and our “total” solution offers customers reduced development and debug costs with a quick time to market. Through our new global agreement with Premier Farnell we will be able to support and service the worldwide design community with the technology to address legacy peripherals to UBS for the next generation of innovative technology applications.”

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Programmable dual USB 2.0 host/slave System on Chip controller offers cost effective solution for lowering design component count

Alpha Micro Components, the independent franchised distributor of electronic components, announced today that it has added the Vinculum VNC2 from Future Technology Devices International Limited (FTDI) to its portfolio of products. The VNC2 is the latest addition to the Vinculum family of USB Host Controller ICs and suits a broad range of USB consumer and industrial related applications including camera, mobile accessories, data loggers, toys, keyboards, game controller interfacing, Point of Sale applications, medical devices and USB to USB bridges.

The VNC2 is a programmable dual USB 2.0 full speed Host/ Slave system on chip (SOC) controller which builds on, and enhances, the capacities and functionality of the VNC1L, the initial member of FTDI’s Vinculum family. This has been achieved while reducing the device cost as well as introducing the capability for designers to develop their own application firmware and programme the host controller themselves.

VNC2 comes with a fully supported software development tool suite which is wrapped up in a GUI Integrated Design Environment (IDE). This is a free of charge and royalty free software development environment – which includes a compiler, driver, libraries, RTOS kernel, linker and debugger, allowing designers to fully utilise the increased memory and multitude of communication protocols handled by VNC2. The software development toolkit is based on the ‘C’ language and provides a comprehensive suite of object files to provide support for USB host functionality including USB Flash Drive (B.O.M.S.) storage, HID, USB COMMs class and FAT File functionality.

Christos Papakyriacou, Managing Director of Alpha Micro Components, commented: “Alpha Micro has worked successfully with FTDI for the past 14 years and we are confident that the newest addition to the Vinculum product range will strengthen our product portfolio offering to design engineers. FTDI and its products have a very solid reputation within the engineering community due to the reliability and robustness of its drivers’. The VNC2 provides easy USB connectivity for a broad range of devices making it an ideal solution for designers across a vast array of industrial, automotive and medical applications.”

Additional features of the VNC2 include:
* Embedded 16-bit Harvard architecture MCU core, with 256KBytes of Flash memory and 16Kbytes RAM
* 2 x Full-Speed / Low-speed USB 2.0 ports supporting independently configurable Host or Slave operation
* 2 x slave Serial Peripheral Interfaces (SPI) and 1 x master SPI
* PWM (Pulse Width Modulation) interface
* Support for reduced power modes
* Multiple packages size options (32-/48-/64-pin QFN and LQFP packages)
* Backwards compatible with VNC1L with 48-pin LQFP package
* RoHS compliant, and extended temperature support (-40°C to +85°C)

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Digi-Key Corporation and FTDI Announce Global Distribution Agreement

Digi-Key Corporation and Future Technology Devices International Limited (FTDI) announced today that the companies have signed a global distribution agreement.

FTDI’s products provide easy interfacing to devices over the Universal Serial Bus (USB). Offering a simple route to USB migration, its products combine easy-to-implement IC devices with proven ready-to-use, royalty-free USB firmware and driver software.

FTDI products stocked by Digi-Key are featured in its print and online catalogs and are available for purchase directly from Digi-Key.

“We are very pleased to add FTDI’s respected USB connectivity IC products to our product portfolio,” said Mark Larson, Digi-Key president and COO. “Digi-Key customers will benefit from and are sure to appreciate the reduced development and debug costs and fast time to market associated with these products.”

FTDI Sales and Marketing Manager Daniel McCaffrey commented, “Engineers constantly inform us of the importance of getting our products listed in the Digi-Key catalog. Digi-Key is recognized across the industry for it leadership in supply chain and support, and it is that credibility that helps our customers order from Digi-Key with confidence. Our products, with their royalty-free drivers that are supported across all operating systems, complement the service offered by Digi-Key.”

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