Microchip’s USB5816C SmartHub is a 6 port, SuperSpeed (SS), low power, configurable USB3.1 Gen1 hub and fully compliant with USB-IF's USB 3.1 Gen1 specification (TID963) supporting the latest ECNs for USB-IF logo compliance for the new USB Type-C™ industry initiative.  The USB5816C also supports Hi-Speed (HS), Full Speed (FS) and Low Speed (LS) USB signaling, offering complete coverage of all defined USB operating speeds. The new SuperSpeed hubs operate in parallel with the USB 2.0 controller, so 5 Gbps SuperSpeed data transfers are not affected by slower USB 2.0 traffic.

Microchip SmartHub's are defined as USB hubs that integrates system levels functions typically associated with a separate MCU or processor.  The USB5816C SmartHub enables communication to other peripherals in addition to USB. The USB5816C's I/O Bridging capability allows the host to seamlessly interface to peripherals via I2C, SPI or GPIOs over USB.  The USB5816C also enable a downstream device to take control of the host system by swapping roles and becoming the host port.  USB5816C based systems can also switch between two different hosts if required. This role changing technology is called FlexConnect and can be initiated through hardware or software commands.

New technologies like the USB Type-C connector and power delivery are changing the USB landscape. Designed to simplify the latest USB hub designs, the USB5816C has built in Billboard support giving you the option to offload this function from the power delivery controller onto the hub. In addition, the hub can expand beyond six ports through PortSplitting which allows for embedded applications to only use the interface needed for internal USB connections.

MPLAB® Connect Configurator, Microchip’s proprietary software utility, can be used to program on-chip, One Time Programmable (OTP) ROM for the USB5816C which stores required register settings to ensure the desired start up configuration at power on. All LED, GPIOs and port control signal pins are under firmware control, allowing for maximum operational flexibility. However, for even more simplicity, the USB5816 can be configured through a series of external low-cost resistor bootstraps. A handful of bootstap pins are available on the USB5816C to enable standard configurations for GPIOs and downstream ports. No OTP programming required.

• Six downstream USB3.1 Gen1/2.0 ports including a single USB Type-C
• Integrated Hub Feature Controller (HFC) enabling I/O Bridging and FlexConnect
• USB to I2C/SPI/GPIO bridge endpoint support
• Reversible upstream and downstream Port 1 roles on command
• Integrated Billboard class device for Power Delivery notification support
• PortSplitting - USB downstream port can be split for custom applications using embedded USB3 devices in parallel with USB2.0 devices.
• Battery Charging - USB-IF rev1.2 support on downstream ports (DCP, CDP, SDP) including legacy Apple® iOS, Blackberry®, China Charging and many others
• Port Config Straps - Predefined configuration of port settings – Battery Charging ports, Non-Removable ports, Disabled ports
• USB Link Power Management (LPM) support
• IETF RFC 4122 compliant 128-bit UUID
• Compatible with MSFT Windows 10, 8, 7, XP, Apple OS X 10.4+, and Linux hub drivers
• Available in 100-pin (12mm x 12mm) VQFN RoHS compliant package
• Industrial grade temperature support (−40°C to +85°C)
• Applications
• Expansion Hubs
• Docking Stations
• LCD Monitors
• HDTVs