Westbridge

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The Westbridge, is a chip that implements the "fast" peripherals interface of a motherboard in an embedded computer architecture. The westbridge can usually be distinguished from the southbridge, by being directly connected to the CPU and are aimed to interconnect high-speed peripherals (contrary to the northbridge which usually connects onboard mass memory). Its use come from the necessity to seamlessly connect the new mass storage devices such as the new SD2.0, that embedded processors cannot manage efficiently in a multitasking manner.

The term Westbridge is first introduced by the WBBU in Cypress Semiconductor, which design products to provide optimal performance and connectivity in the embedded world. WBBU enable direct connection with the periperals, creating ultra-fast transfers while offloading the main processor from data intensive operations. The West Bridge family complements the main processor by adding support for next generation and latest standards.

Applications that would benefit from West Bridge product include Handsets, Portable Media Players, Personal Digital Assistants, Portable Navigation Devices, Digital Cameras, Printers, and POS terminals.


Contents

[edit] Overview

"In order to manage multitasking challenges, system architects need new architectural options, such as the West Bridge, which eliminate baseband processor bottlenecks. Just like the North and South Bridges in the PC world, the West Bridge is designed to interconnect the main processor in an embedded system to external peripherals." [1] It seems that this word refers to a trademark owned by Cypress Semiconductor

[edit] West Bridge Peripheral Controllers Products

  • AntiochTM - Ultra-low power peripheral controller
  • AstoriaTM - Multimedia mass storage controller for embedded applications
  • MoBL-USB FX2LP18TM - Ultra-low Power Programmable MCU
  • MoBL-USB TX3LP18TM - World's smallest High-Speed ULPI transceiver.
  • MoBL-USB TX2TM - High-Speed UTMI transceiver, with the lowest standby (suspend) current in the industry
  • MoBL Dual-Port and MoBL ADM Dual-Port - Ultra fast and low power connection between multiple processors

[edit] References

  1. ^ Embedded.com - West Bridge-arrive at improved high-speed USB in multimedia handset design

[edit] External links

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