Renesas Electronics Receives USB-IF Certification for its Second Generation USB 3.0 Host Controller and USB 3.0 IP Core

TOKYO, Japan -- September 13, 2010-- Renesas Electronics Corporation (TSE: 6723), a premier provider of advanced semiconductor solutions, today announced that its latest Universal Serial Bus 3.0 (USB 3.0) xHCI (eXtensible Host Controller Interface) host controller (part number µPD720200A) and USB 3.0 intellectual property (IP) core (IP: NBU3DEVG1) have passed USB 3.0 compliance and certification testing by the USB Implementers Forum (USB-IF). The “Certified SuperSpeed USB (USB 3.0)” certification from the USB-IF offers manufacturers and consumers the assurance that it will function in accordance with the specification and will interoperate with the billions of USB-enabled devices that exist in the market today. Including its world's first certified xHCI USB 3.0 host controller (part number µPD720200), Renesas Electronics now offers three USB-IF-certified USB 3.0 products, which will pave the way for the swell of industry support for the USB 3.0 standard.

Renesas Electronics' newly USB-IF-certified µPD720200A USB 3.0 xHCI host controller supports fast data transfer rates of up to 5 gigabits per second (Gbps), while achieving low power consumption of 50 milliwatts (mW) with no peripheral connection to the ports, reduced by 85 percent from the company's existing µPD720200 USB 3.0 xHCI host controller. Renesas Electronics' two USB 3.0 host controllers, the µPD720200 and the µPD720200A are the only certified USB 3.0 xHCI host controllers commercially available now (as of September 13, 2010).

Renesas Electronics also received USB-IF certification of its USB 3.0 device controller core, the NBU3DEVG1, listed as the USB 3.0 IP building block. The newly certified IP core is fully interoperable with the company's USB 3.0 xHCI host controllers and is also backward compatible with previous versions of the USB standard. By adopting the newly USB-IF-certified core, system manufacturers can improve efficiency and speed time-to-market, while focusing on developing their own differentiated logic.

Leadership in USB with Three USB-IF-Certified USB 3.0 Products

As a member of the USB Implementers Forum (USB-IF) since 1996, Renesas Electronics (formerly NEC Electronics) has played a leading role both in defining USB standards and in developing USB technology. In April 2000, the company (then NEC Electronics) launched the µPD720100 device, the world's first USB 2.0-compliant host controller chip and an extensive lineup of other USB devices, and has earned a reputation for delivering dedicated customer service and high quality.

In May 2009, Renesas Electronics (then NEC Electronics) introduced the industry's first USB 3.0 xHCI host controller and, only after four months of its release, the company became the world's first to earn the “Certified SuperSpeed USB (USB 3.0)” certification from the USB-IF, and also started mass production of the µPD720200 host controller. In the following year, the company released its second USB 3.0 xHCI host controller (µPD720200A) and passed the compliance and certification testing in only two months.

AvailabilitySamples of Renesas Electronics' USB-IF-certified µPD720200A xHCI host controller and device controller IP core, the NBU3DEVG1, are currently available. (Availability is subject to change without notice.)

About Renesas Electronics Corporation

Renesas Electronics Corporation (TSE: 6723), the world's number one supplier of microcontrollers, is a premier supplier of advanced semiconductor solutions including microcontrollers, SoC solutions and a broad-range of analog and power devices. Business operations began as Renesas Electronics in April 2010 through the integration of NEC Electronics Corporation (TSE:6723) and Renesas Technology Corp., with operations spanning research, development, design and manufacturing for a wide range of applications. Headquartered in Japan, Renesas Electronics has subsidiaries in 20 countries worldwide. More information can be found at www.renesas.com.