Infineon Technologies CY7C68300A-56PVXC

Overview

CY7C68300A-56PVXC from Cypress Semiconductor is a fixed-function USB 2.0 to ATA/ATAPI bridge IC supporting high-speed (480 Mbps) and full-speed (12 Mbps) operation, compliant with USB Mass Storage Class Bulk-Only Transport and T13 ATA/ATAPI-6 specifications. It integrates a 4-Kbyte FIFO buffer, supports 48-bit addressing for large HDDs, and enables single-master/slave ATA device connection in self-powered configurations using 3.3V supply.

For engineers reviewing the CY7C68300A-56PVXC datasheet, CY7C68300A-56PVXC pinout, CY7C68300A-56PVXC application, or CY7C68300A-56PVXC equivalent, key selection considerations include ATA interface enable control (ATA_EN), I²C-compatible EEPROM configuration (SCL/SDA), 24-MHz crystal timing (XTALIN/XTALOUT), and USB suspend/resume behavior under ATA bus sharing scenarios.

Technical Context

The CY7C68300A implements a hardwired bridge architecture with dedicated USB 2.0 transceiver, Smart USB FS/HS engine, and ATA interface logic - no firmware programmability. Its internal PLL derives clocks from a 24-MHz crystal, and the 4-Kbyte FIFO buffers data to mitigate ATA seek latency during USB transfers.

It supports PIO modes 0, 3, 4 and UDMA modes 2, 4 on the ATA side, with configurable initialization enabling automatic ATA/ATAPI device enumeration without host software intervention. The ATA_EN pin provides hardware-level bus arbitration by tri-stating all ATA signals (DD0–DD15, DIOR#, DIOW#, DMACK#, INTRQ, DA0–DA2, CS0#, CS1#, IORDY, DMARQ, ARESET#) when deasserted.

Key Specifications

Pinout & Package

Package: 56-pin SSOP (56PVXC suffix) - surface-mount, 0.5 mm pitch, JEDEC MS-012AC compliant; requires controlled-impedance USB differential routing and short XTAL trace paths.

Key Features

Applications

Equivalent & Alternatives

The following parts are listed as comparable options for similar USB-to-ATA bridge applications.

Compared with GL852G-USB2.0 and FE-2000A, the CY7C68300A uniquely combines hardware ATA_EN arbitration, ATAPI packet command translation, and I²C-based field-configurable USB descriptors - making it the only option supporting seamless PATA device integration in shared-bus industrial docking and test equipment.

Availability

CY7C68300A-56PVXC is available at Aetrix Electronics and suitable for external USB HDD enclosures, industrial data loggers, and USB docking stations requiring stable component supply, long-term lifecycle assurance, and consistent SSOP packaging for automated assembly.

Supply support for CY7C68300A-56PVXC includes scheduled delivery planning, volume procurement assistance, BOM continuity management, traceable sourcing, and lifecycle availability coordination for OEM customers, industrial embedded developers, connected-device designers, and electronics production programs.

Manufacturer

Cypress Semiconductor (now part of Infineon Technologies) is a fabless semiconductor company specializing in USB, memory, and programmable system-on-chip solutions for industrial, automotive, and consumer electronics.

The EZ-USB AT2™ product line was designed specifically for high-reliability USB-to-ATA/ATAPI bridging in self-powered storage peripherals - emphasizing hardware-controlled bus arbitration, EEPROM-based configuration, and native Mass Storage Class compliance without firmware development.

FAQ

Does CY7C68300A-56PVXC support SATA devices?

No. The CY7C68300A implements only ATA/ATAPI-6 compliant parallel interfaces (PATA) with 16-bit DD[0:15] bus and associated control signals. It lacks SATA PHY, 8b/10b encoding, or differential signaling capability. SATA compatibility requires external bridge chips or replacement with SATA-native solutions like FE-2000A.

What happens if ATA_EN is toggled during an active USB transfer?

Toggling ATA_EN LOW during data transfer forces immediate tri-state of all ATA signals and USB disconnect, causing host OS timeout errors and potential file system corruption. The datasheet explicitly warns against mid-transfer ATA_EN assertion/deassertion - it must only be changed during idle states or system initialization.

Can the CY7C68300A operate without an external EEPROM?

Yes, but it enters Board Manufacturing Test Mode instead of normal operation. In this mode, the ATA interface remains inactive, and only vendor-specific ATAPI commands (CfgCB/MfgCB) are accepted over USB - useful for factory programming but not for end-user storage functionality.

Is the 24-MHz crystal mandatory, or can an external clock be used?

An external 24-MHz clock may be applied to XTALIN with XTALOUT left unconnected, per section 3.2.3. However, crystal operation is preferred for stability and EMI control; if using an external clock, ensure 50% duty cycle, rail-to-rail swing, and minimal jitter (<100 ps RMS) to maintain USB timing compliance.