Infineon targets secure USB 2.0 peripheral controllers

USB 2.0 Hi-Speed (480 Mbps) remains a practical interface for many embedded peripherals that need reliable wired connectivity with predictable latency and power behavior. Infineon Technologies AG has introduced the EZ-USB™ FX2G3, a next-generation USB 2.0 peripheral controller aimed at higher-throughput USB devices that also require hardware-backed security.

What changes with the FX2G3 platform
The EZ-USB™ FX2G3 builds on the established EZ-USB™ FX2LP platform, targeting applications where peripheral-side USB performance, power efficiency, and device security must coexist without adding external components. The controller is positioned for embedded system designers who want a flexible USB peripheral front end that can bridge local interfaces to USB Hi-Speed hosts while keeping data handling deterministic.

A key driver behind this product category is continuing demand for efficient data transfer in connected devices across industrial automation, healthcare, and consumer peripherals—areas where cost-sensitive hardware still benefits from USB 2.0’s ubiquity and compatibility.

Data path built around DMA and on-chip buffering
At the core of the FX2G3 is a high-bandwidth data subsystem designed to move data from LVCMOS inputs to USB outputs using DMA transfers. The architecture supports transfer speeds up to 480 Mbps, aligning with USB Hi-Speed host systems.

For buffering, the controller integrates 1024 KB (1 MB) of SRAM inside the high-bandwidth subsystem. This on-chip memory is intended to absorb bursty input streams and reduce the risk of throughput collapse when host-side polling or servicing intervals fluctuate—relevant for imaging, sensing, and measurement peripherals.

Security hardware for peripheral-side protection
The FX2G3 integrates a crypto engine intended to raise the baseline security of USB peripherals. In practice, this enables device designers to offload cryptographic operations to dedicated hardware rather than relying entirely on software routines, helping protect sensitive data flows and device authentication mechanisms in systems where USB is used as a primary data and control link.

This security emphasis reflects increasing requirements in regulated and identity-centric environments such as biometric access devices and medical instrumentation.

Serial integration options for embedded peripherals
The controller includes Serial Communication Blocks (SCB) to simplify attachment to common peripheral subsystems. This improves integration flexibility when the USB controller must interface with multiple device-side components or when the design needs to support different embedded communication topologies without redesigning the USB front end.

Where the controller fits in real systems
The company positions EZ-USB™ FX2G3 for multiple sectors where USB connectivity is still widely deployed. In biometric systems, the controller is intended to support fast fingerprint recognition and facial authentication workflows where secure handling of identity data is mandatory. In medical and healthcare devices, it targets portable diagnostics, imaging, and patient monitoring systems that often require steady streaming, consistent buffering, and predictable peripheral behavior.

For industrial automation and robotics, the FX2G3 is aimed at real-time data collection and communications in robotics and automation platforms, where sensor integration and low-friction connectivity to host controllers are key design requirements. In consumer electronics, it is positioned for gaming devices, audio peripherals, and USB accessories, where throughput and power efficiency affect user experience.

By combining a DMA-oriented data path, 480 Mbps USB Hi-Speed support, 1 MB on-chip SRAM, and a hardware crypto engine, the EZ-USB™ FX2G3 targets embedded USB peripherals that need reliable throughput while meeting tighter security and system-integration constraints.

www.infineon.com