VIA LABS ANNOUNCES USB-IF CERTIFIED USB POWER DELIVERY 3.1 EPR SILICON

With the release of the USB Power Delivery 3.1 specification’s EPR functionality, the maximum charging rate of USB Type-C was increased from 100W to 240W. Previously, the 100W limit was sufficient for smaller laptops, but higher-powered 15″ or larger models with discrete graphics cards often relied on proprietary charging schemes. As certified USB Power Delivery 3.1 silicon with support for EPR becomes available, many vendors are preparing to launch products featuring the new charging modes by the end of the year.

VIA Lab’s VL108 is one of the first general-purpose USB PD 3.1 and DP Alt-mode controllers to achieve USB-IF certification for EPR. It is intended for USB Type-C^® peripherals and has been optimized for multi-function docks with charge-through functionality. With an integrated USB Type-C charging upstream-facing port, VL108 can enable video output from a host system using USB4 or DP Alt-mode while simultaneously providing power to the host.

VL108 also features two integrated USB Type-C dual-role downstream-facing ports that can connect to a USB PD power adapter for charging functionality, a USB Type-C device for data transfers, or even a USB Type-C video converter. All ports support EPR, enabling up to 48V at 5A (240W) operation.