USB2228-NU-05 - USB 2.0 Flash Media Controller | Microchip
MPN: USB2228-NU-05 ✓ ActiveUSB2228-NU-05 Overview
A USB flash media controller is a type of USB interface controller that bridges a USB host and one or more flash-card formats. In the product hierarchy, it belongs to interface controllers, then USB controllers, then integrated circuits and semiconductors. Rather than implementing flash-card protocol conversion in a system controller, the USB2228 provides dedicated interface circuitry and on-chip firmware for communicating with supported removable media. This division of responsibility can simplify host-side software and reduce the electrical burden on a general-purpose embedded processor.
The fourth-generation controller supports USB 2.0 operation with a parallel interface. Its 3 V to 3.6 V operating-supply range is suitable for systems using a regulated 3.3 V rail. The listed 75 mA supply current provides a baseline for power budgeting, although application-specific current can vary with operating state and attached media. Integrated card-power FETs are identified in the product description, allowing the controller to manage card-power signaling in designs using the supported flash-card interfaces.
The USB2228 is designed for compact removable-media systems rather than general-purpose USB peripherals. Its supported media families include xD-Picture Card, SmartMedia, Memory Stick, High Speed Memory Stick, and Memory Stick PRO. On-chip firmware reads and writes High Speed Memory Stick and MS PRO media, as stated in the USB2227/USB2228 datasheet. The 128-pin VTQFP provides the mixed-signal, power, logic, and media-interface connections required by this multi-format controller.
Typical uses include legacy USB card readers, portable media adapters, multifunction peripherals, and embedded systems requiring removable flash-media access. The controller is most appropriate when an existing USB host must interoperate with one of the explicitly supported card formats. Software and PCB validation are necessary before adopting this controller in a new design because support for newer SD, CF, or USB flash media is not established by the provided sources.
Designers should verify the exact pin assignments, clock requirements, media-connector routing, card-power limits, and host-driver support against the manufacturer datasheet. The 14 mm by 14 mm VTQFP also requires a 128-lead PCB land pattern and careful signal-integrity review of parallel and USB interfaces. The provided data does not expose individual pin names, so no pin-level assignments are asserted in this record.
This page consolidates verified manufacturer and distributor information, distinguishes confirmed USB 2.0, voltage, package, current, and media-support facts from unspecified parameters, and provides drop-in alternatives with their sourcing limits documented. It is intended to support engineering selection while avoiding unsupported claims about pinout, pricing, lifecycle transitions, or unlisted electrical characteristics.
Drop-in alternatives for USB2228-NU-05 — same package, pin-to-pin compatible. Different-package parts requiring PCB rework are excluded.
Variants in this series
Same-series models that are drop-in compatible with USB2228-NU-05 (same form factor and footprint) — differing in Integrated Card Power FETs.
USB2228-NU-05-E2
✅ Drop-In📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
USB2228-NU-05-E6
✅ Drop-In📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
USB2227-NU-05
✅ Drop-In ⚠️ Specs UnverifiedContact for price
View Datasheet →USB2251-NU-05
✅ Drop-In ⚠️ Specs Unverified📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
USB2228-NU-05-E2C
✅ Drop-In ⚠️ Specs Unverified📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
USB2228-NU-05 Specifications
| Controller Type | USB 2.0 Controller |
| Host Interface | Parallel |
| Supply Voltage Range | 3 V to 3.6 V |
| Supply Current | 75 mA |
| Package | 128-pin VTQFP (14 mm x 14 mm) |
| Media Interface | Flash media card controller |
| xD-Picture Card Support | Supported |
| SmartMedia Support | Supported |
| Memory Stick Support | Supported |
| High Speed Memory Stick Support | Supported |
| Memory Stick PRO Support | Supported |
| On-Chip Firmware | Firmware reads and writes High Speed Memory Stick and MS PRO |
| Integrated Card Power FETs | Integrated |
| USB Standard | USB 2.0 |
USB2228-NU-05 128-pin vtqfp (14 mm x 14 mm) Pin Configuration Guide
Pin configuration for USB2228-NU-05 (128-pin vtqfp (14 mm x 14 mm) package). Pin numbering, functions, and connection diagrams are defined in the manufacturer datasheet. Refer to it for the exact footprint and soldering guidelines.
No detailed pinout data available for USB2228-NU-05.
Refer to the datasheet for full pin configuration.
Typical Applications
USB2228-NU-05 is suitable for 6 applications: USB Flash Media Card Reader, Legacy Portable Media Adapter, Multifunction Peripherals, Embedded Flash-Media Gateway, Industrial Removable-Media Terminal, USB Media Docking Accessory.
USB Flash Media Card Reader
The USB2228-NU-05 fits a USB flash-media reader built for xD-Picture Card, SmartMedia, Memory Stick, High Speed Memory Stick, or Memory Stick PRO formats. Its USB 2.0 interface connects the reader to a host, while the parallel host-facing interface delegates supported flash-card transactions to dedicated controller circuitry. With a 3 V to 3.6 V operating range and a listed 75 mA supply current, it supports a regulated 3.3 V architecture. Designers should pair it with the appropriate media connectors, card-detection circuitry, and host firmware, while verifying insertion, removal, power sequencing, and supported-format behavior in the manufacturer reference design.
Recommended
Legacy Portable Media Adapter
The USB2228-NU-05 is appropriate for a portable adapter that gives a modern USB host access to legacy removable flash media. Its fourth-generation controller supports xD-Picture Card, SmartMedia, Memory Stick, High Speed Memory Stick, and Memory Stick PRO, reducing the need to implement those protocols in a general-purpose embedded controller. The USB 2.0 upstream connection provides a standardized host interface, while the 3 V to 3.6 V supply range fits battery-derived 3.3 V rails after regulation. The principal design trade-off is media-format obsolescence: a new product should confirm that legacy cards remain a genuine market requirement before allocating board area around the 128-pin VTQFP.
Recommended
Multifunction Peripherals
The USB2228-NU-05 can add legacy flash-media access to a multifunction peripheral that already communicates with a USB host. The controller's parallel interface and dedicated on-chip firmware for High Speed Memory Stick and MS PRO can offload media protocol handling from the system processor. Its USB 2.0 upstream connection allows the media function to coexist with other peripheral functions, while the listed 75 mA supply current helps establish the initial 3.3 V power budget. Integration still requires careful partitioning of USB, media, clock, and card-power signals, plus validation that the host software can expose the removable-media function safely during hot insertion and removal.
Recommended
Embedded Flash-Media Gateway
The USB2228-NU-05 can serve as the removable-media gateway in an embedded system that bridges a USB host and supported legacy flash cards. Its dedicated controller architecture is useful when the main processor is occupied with application control and lacks practical media-protocol resources. Operating from 3 V to 3.6 V, the device fits a regulated 3.3 V power domain, and the 128-pin VTQFP exposes the necessary parallel and media connections. Because this is a specialized legacy-format controller, an engineer should evaluate the complete system cost, connector availability, media population, and long-term product support rather than adopting it merely because its upstream interface is USB 2.0.
Recommended
Industrial Removable-Media Terminal
The USB2228-NU-05 may be used in an industrial or diagnostic terminal that accepts legacy flash media for configuration, logs, or field-service data. USB 2.0 provides a recognizable connection to host equipment, while support for xD-Picture Card, SmartMedia, Memory Stick, High Speed Memory Stick, and Memory Stick PRO permits use with the media formats already present in the installed base. The 3 V to 3.6 V operating range and 75 mA listed current support a conventional 3.3 V rail plan. Industrial adoption should account for connector robustness, ESD protection, card-power sequencing, enclosure access, and long-term availability. The controller should not be assumed suitable for newer SD or CF media without separate verification.
Recommended
USB Media Docking Accessory
The USB2228-NU-05 is suitable for a docking accessory designed to recover data from supported removable flash formats. It connects to a computer or embedded host through USB 2.0 and uses its dedicated media-controller logic to handle xD-Picture Card, SmartMedia, Memory Stick, High Speed Memory Stick, and Memory Stick PRO. This architecture can produce a more consistent user experience than an entirely software-driven reader, especially where host operating-system support for legacy media is limited. The 3 V to 3.6 V supply range and 75 mA listed consumption simplify initial power budgeting, but the product must still address connector insertion life, card-power limits, media detection, firmware maintenance, and the 128-pin package's board-space requirement.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for USB2228-NU-05 — comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | USB2228-NU-05-E2 | USB2228-NU-05-E6 | USB2227-NU-05 | USB2251-NU-05 | USB2228-NU-05-E2C |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brand | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology |
Key Differentiators
- Dedicated multi-format flash-media controller (vs USB2251-NU-05)
- Integrated media-control firmware (vs USB2227-NU-05)
- Documented USB 2.0 parallel-interface configuration (vs USB2228-NU-05-E2)
- Integrated card-power FET functionality (vs USB2251-NU-05)
Design Notes
Allocate the exact 128-lead VTQFP land pattern and preserve the manufacturer's recommended component and copper geometry. The verified package is 14 mm by 14 mm, so it is materially larger than common USB controller packages. Place decoupling and supporting components close to their associated pins, route high-speed USB signals as a controlled impedance pair, and avoid switching-regulator and magnetic-component placement beneath sensitive media or clock routes.
Design the USB2228 power rail for the verified 3 V to 3.6 V supply range and listed 75 mA supply current, adding margin for startup, card activity, and any attached media load. The integrated card-power FETs should be evaluated for the voltage, current, and sequencing requirements of every supported media format. Confirm absolute maximum ratings and output-load behavior in the manufacturer datasheet rather than extrapolating from the nominal 3.3 V operating condition.
Do not assume that USB 2.0 compliance means support for SD, CF, or generic USB flash storage. The verified USB2228 media list is xD-Picture Card, SmartMedia, Memory Stick, High Speed Memory Stick, and Memory Stick PRO. Confirm connector pinouts, insertion detection, card-power limits, host-driver behavior, and firmware support for the exact media population; otherwise the resulting product may satisfy the USB link while failing at the media interface.
Use the manufacturer reference design as the basis for clock, parallel-interface, media-connector, and card-power routing. Keep sensitive traces short where practical, provide continuous return paths beneath high-speed signals, and observe the package pin arrangement before finalizing connector orientation. The supplied excerpts do not expose individual pin names or routing values, so numerical trace geometry and component values should be copied from the applicable USB2227/USB2228 application guidance rather than estimated.
Compliance Information
The provided sources do not state RoHS, REACH, AEC-Q100, lead-free, halogen-free, or conflict-minerals status. AEC-Q100 is not applicable to the USB interface-controller function, but no automotive qualification claim is made. Obtain current declarations from Microchip Technology before procurement.
