Realtek Semiconductor Corp., one of the world’s leading network and multimedia IC providers, announced its USB 3.0-to-Gigabit Ethernet controller. The RTL8153 will target Ultrabook, Tablet, IPC, and Motherboard applications, and supports the latest system platforms and features. Alongside ultra low power consumption and package size, the RTL8153 also offers simplified design-in with very low RBOM. It is pin-to-pin compatible with the current USB2.0-to-10/100M RTL8152B.
Realtek also provides an industrial version of the USB3.0 GbE Controller (RTL8153I) that meets heavier demands required for industrial use and features increased operating temperature range (-40 to 85°C) and support for IEEE 1588.

The feature rich RTL8152B/RTL8153 USB-to-Ethernet controllers support the latest power saving scheme ‘LPM/LTM’, which is ideal for the Intel Shark Bay platform and for AOAC for Windows 8 from Microsoft.

Realtek USB to Ethernet Controllers support driver-free installation for various Operating Systems, including Android (Linux), and MAC OS via built-in CDC ECM technology, as well as inbox driver support for Windows 8.1. Realtek has applied state-of-the-art power saving technology (including IEEE 802.3az Energy Efficient Ethernet) to both the RTL8152B and RTL8153, and has achieved very low power consumption. Battery-powered devices will benefit from longer battery life while using the RTL8152B/RTL8153 to make their internet connection. To minimize design effort, the package size for the RTL8153 has been standardized to a 48-to-48 pin co-layout with the current USB2.0-to-10/100M RTL8152B; the same circuit design can be used with the USB3.0-to-Gigabit Ethernet controllers.

The RTL8153 features a built-in 5V to 3.3V linear regulator in order to take USB bus power directly, with no requirement for an external switching regulator. A built-in OTP memory eliminates external EEPROM, and only a single 25MHz clock input is required. Realtek also provides the complete HDK, SDK, and reference component list to customers to help speed their design.

“With extremely low power consumption and RBOM costs, full support for the latest platforms and features, auto driver installation, and RTL8152B co-layout circuit design, the RTL8153 makes the customer design-in process highly flexible”, said Realtek’s Executive Vice President Jessy Chen. “The RTL8153 supports auto driver installation for Windows OS and CDC-ECM for Linux, Android, and MAC OS eliminating end user concerns regarding installation of these USB to Ethernet dongles. Battery life has also been greatly extended due to the ultra-low power consumption”.