The Cypress EZ-USB FX3 controller supports Microsoft's USB 3.0 test platform

     Cypress Semiconductor Corporation has announced that the EZ-USB® FX3 USB 3.0 controller has been selected for the Microsoft SuperMUTT USB Test Tool. SuperMUTT works with almost any host drive that supports USB 3.0 to detect USB compatibility with Microsoft's upcoming Windows 8.

     Microsoft SuperMUTT requires a highly flexible USB controller that can connect to any platform (such as Cypress's EZ-USB FX3), and this custom test tool can be used to simulate a variety of different USB devices. Cypress's EZ-USB FX3 device integrates an ARM9™ controller and 512kB of RAM to provide developers with a powerful programmable tool for testing USB 3.0 drives. In addition, the FX3 uses the Universal Programmable Interface (GPIF), a flexible parallel interface that not only communicates with any other device, but also works well with SuperMUTT.

     USB has been widely used in hundreds of billions of devices, especially in consumer electronics, PC peripherals and portable devices. USB 3.0 is the next development trend in the wired USB market, which not only maintains the high ease of use and flexibility that users have come to expect, but also dramatically increases the data rate (up to 5 Gbps). Compared to USB 2.0, USB 3.0 also provides better power management (only 20% of USB 2.0) and faster battery charging (50% less charge time). Just as the Cypress FX2 controller contributed to USB 2.0, the new Cypress FX3 controller will support USB 3.0 for a variety of platforms.

     Mark Fu, Senior Director of Marketing, Cypress USB 3.0 Business Unit, said: "We are very pleased to help Microsoft support the SuperMUTT tool. USB compatibility testing for Windows 8 is an important element in the widespread adoption of USB 3.0. Strong compatibility will ensure a high-quality user experience, not only for USB 3.0, but for all USB devices in Windows 8."

     Aidan Marcuss, senior director of Windows Core Markets and Industry Environments, said: "Customers expect USB 3.0 to work right and easily every time. Continuing to provide industry-leading USB and device support in Windows 8 is critical to us. The flexibility of the Cypress EZ-USB FX3 controller helps us achieve this goal."

     Cypress is the market leader in USB controllers, having shipped more than 1 billion units since 1996. Cypress USB products, including the new USB 3.0 controller, not only offer a high degree of design flexibility and compliance with USB standards, but also complete product support covering software tools, development kits and reference designs.

     The new USB 3.0 controller allows designers to quickly and easily customize solutions to the final market needs, while the ARM9 core can be fully used as a standalone microcontroller. Cypress entered the USB market in 1996 with the goal of "making USB ubiquitous." Since then, Cypress has become the industry's leading supplier of USB devices, supporting a wide range of applications. Cypress's proven product portfolio includes enCoRe, EZ-USB USB controllers, West Bridge peripheral controllers and WirelessUSB 2.4-GHz RF products.