USB2524-ABZJ - USB 2.0 4-Port Switching Hub | Microchip
MPN: USB2524-ABZJ ✓ ActiveUSB2524-ABZJ Overview
A USB hub controller is an interface integrated circuit that coordinates communication between one or more USB hosts and attached peripherals. In the broader hierarchy, USB2524-ABZJ belongs to the USB interface controller family, which sits within interface ICs and broader semiconductor devices. Unlike a conventional four-port hub with only one upstream connection, this device combines a Hi-Speed hub with switching logic so two hosts can share the same downstream device set.
The USB2524 is identified by Microchip as the industry's first USB switching hub combining USB Hi-Speed hub and switching functions in one device. Its two upstream ports and four downstream ports enable USB device sharing, dynamic host ownership, and reassignment without physically moving equipment. All required resistors on the USB ports are integrated according to the manufacturer data sheet, reducing discrete termination content on the PCB.
Operationally, the controller is intended to work with an external USB power-distribution switch device. That external device controls VBUS switching to downstream ports, limits current, and senses over-current conditions. The separation between data-port switching and power-distribution control allows a board designer to use a suitably rated power switch instead of integrating high-current switching entirely inside the 56-QFN controller.
Typical uses include shared test benches, industrial peripheral-sharing systems, embedded equipment with multiple USB hosts, kiosk configurations, and automatic test equipment that needs a peripheral to move between hosts. The 3.0 V to 3.6 V supply range suits conventional 3.3 V digital systems, although the complete board must also meet USB signal-integrity, impedance, VBUS, and current-protection requirements.
Layout is the principal implementation constraint for this 56-QFN-EP device. Differential USB data pairs require controlled impedance and minimized mismatch, while the exposed pad needs a deliberate thermal and ground strategy. Designers should also follow the manufacturer's USB layout guidance and confirm external power-switch selection, port-current budgets, EEPROM requirements, and all pin functions against the current USB2524 data sheet.
This page consolidates the verified manufacturer and distributor information, distinguishes confirmed electrical facts from unspecified parameters, and provides application, sourcing, and design guidance. It also records the absence of a verified pin-to-pin substitute rather than presenting functionally similar or differently packaged USB controllers as drop-in replacements.
Drop-in alternatives for USB2524-ABZJ — same package, pin-to-pin compatible. Different-package parts requiring PCB rework are excluded.
No drop-in alternatives available for this product.
Request AlternativesUSB2524-ABZJ Maximum Ratings & Electrical Characteristics
| Product Type | USB 2.0 multi-switch hub controller |
| USB Interface | USB 2.0 |
| Maximum USB Data Rate | 480 Mbps |
| Upstream Port Count | 2 ports |
| Downstream Port Count | 4 ports |
| Operating Supply Voltage | 3.0 V to 3.6 V |
| Package | 56-QFN-EP, 8 mm x 8 mm |
| Mounting Type | Surface mount |
| Controller Interface | Serial EEPROM |
| Port Resistors | Integrated into the hub |
| VBUS Switching | Controlled by an external USB power-distribution switch |
| Overcurrent Handling | Current limiting and over-current sensing performed by the external power-distribution switch |
| Downstream Port Reassignment | On-the-fly reassignment to either upstream host |
| Lead-Free Status | RoHS-compliant product indicated by distributor listing |
USB2524-ABZJ 56-qfn-ep, 8 mm x 8 mm Pin Configuration Guide
Pin configuration for USB2524-ABZJ (56-qfn-ep, 8 mm x 8 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 USB2524-ABZJ.
Refer to the datasheet for full pin configuration.
Typical Applications
USB2524-ABZJ is suitable for 6 applications: Shared USB Peripherals, Industrial Test Equipment, Embedded Peripheral Sharing, Automated Test Bench, Kiosk and POS Equipment, Server Management Peripheral Sharing.
Shared USB Peripherals
The USB2524-ABZJ is well suited to systems in which two USB hosts must share four downstream peripherals because any downstream port can be reassigned to either upstream connection on the fly. Its USB 2.0 Hi-Speed capability supports data rates up to 480 Mbps, while integrated port resistors reduce the discrete termination burden on the PCB. Designers can place a printer, scanner, storage device, or test peripheral behind the hub and change host ownership electronically instead of requiring manual cable movement. The implementation must still include the specified external USB power-distribution switch so that VBUS routing, current limiting, and over-current sensing are handled correctly.
Recommended
Industrial Test Equipment
USB2524-ABZJ fits industrial test systems that need several USB peripherals to remain connected while ownership moves between a controller and an operator workstation. Its two upstream ports and four downstream ports provide the fundamental topology for shared access, and the 480 Mbps USB 2.0 Hi-Speed mode supports moderate data-transfer workloads. The controller handles downstream-port reassignment, while an external power-distribution switch must provide controlled VBUS and over-current protection. Board-level USB impedance, cable routing, grounding, and enclosure behavior remain essential because controller package compatibility alone does not ensure reliable field operation.
Recommended
Embedded Peripheral Sharing
The USB2524-ABZJ allows an embedded platform with two USB host roles to share external devices without adding four independent hubs or physical switching relays. Its 3.0 V to 3.6 V operating range aligns with 3.3 V embedded logic, and the integrated USB port resistors simplify board design. A system can attach storage, programming tools, or communications modules to the four downstream ports and redirect them as the workload changes. Firmware and external power-switch logic must coordinate port state correctly to prevent data traffic from reaching a host that does not currently own the connected peripheral.
Recommended
Automated Test Bench
USB2524-ABZJ can simplify automated test benches by allowing four downstream instruments or peripherals to be assigned between two upstream hosts without rearranging USB cables. The 480 Mbps USB 2.0 operating mode is appropriate for control traffic and many data-acquisition peripherals, while on-the-fly host reassignment can shorten workflow changes. Because the controller relies on an external USB power-distribution switch, the test-board designer must budget downstream current, implement protected VBUS distribution, and verify that each peripheral remains within its permitted supply and signaling limits. The exposed-pad thermal design also needs adequate copper area in the 8 mm by 8 mm QFN footprint.
Recommended
Kiosk and POS Equipment
USB2524-ABZJ can support kiosks and point-of-sale systems that expose several service peripherals while maintaining a controlled host connection. Two upstream connections allow a primary system and a maintenance or diagnostic host to share four downstream connections, depending on system policy. The controller's USB 2.0 Hi-Speed interface and integrated port resistors are useful in compact embedded designs. Product integrators still need to implement the required external power-distribution switch, establish deterministic port-enable behavior in firmware, and validate USB signal quality across the enclosure, cable, connector, and peripheral choices used in the final installation.
Recommended
Server Management Peripheral Sharing
USB2524-ABZJ is applicable to server and management systems that need local USB peripherals shared by two computing contexts, such as an operating system and a service controller. The four downstream ports can be redirected to either upstream host on the fly, reducing physical intervention during maintenance. The controller operates from 3.0 V to 3.6 V and supports 480 Mbps USB 2.0 traffic, which can support storage, keyboards, or configuration adapters when their individual bandwidth requirements fit. For production equipment, designers should verify thermal conditions, downstream current limits, hot-plug behavior, and operating-temperature requirements because those details are not established by the supplied distributor excerpts.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for USB2524-ABZJ — comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product |
|---|---|
| Package | 56-QFN-EP, 8 mm x 8 mm |
| Brand | Microchip Technology |
| Product Type | USB 2.0 multi-switch hub controller |
| USB Version | USB 2.0 |
| Maximum Data Rate | 480 Mbps |
| Upstream Ports | 2 ports |
| Downstream Ports | 4 ports |
| Supply Voltage | 3.0 V to 3.6 V |
| Configuration Interface | Serial EEPROM |
| Port Reassignment | On-the-fly assignment to either upstream host |
| Verified Lowest Price | $5.3023 as of 2026-10-28 |
Key Differentiators
- Integrated dynamic host switching (vs Conventional single-upstream four-port USB hub)
- Integrated USB port resistors (vs Hub implementation using discrete USB termination components)
- External high-current power-switch architecture (vs Hub controller with more integrated downstream power switching)
Design Notes
Follow the official USB2524 data sheet for the 56-QFN-EP footprint, exposed-pad connection, and USB routing. Place the USB differential pairs as short and symmetric as practical, provide a continuous reference plane, and control impedance with the actual stackup. The 8 mm by 8 mm package leaves little room for routing errors, so connector placement, ESD protection, test points, and the external power-distribution switch should be planned together rather than added after the hub route is complete.
Do not implement downstream VBUS switching entirely in software-controlled hub logic. The manufacturer states that USB2524 works with an external USB power-distribution switch to control VBUS, limit current, and sense over-current conditions. Select that device from the supported USB2524 application information, verify each port's current requirement, and define safe behavior when a host releases ownership of a downstream port. The external switch also adds layout and thermal requirements beyond the controller's own 56-QFN footprint.
Treat USB signal integrity and exposed-pad thermal management as separate but coordinated constraints. Provide uninterrupted ground reference beneath the high-speed pairs, minimize stubs and test-point discontinuities, and observe manufacturer component and via guidance around the QFN. Use sufficient ground copper and thermal vias under the exposed pad while preserving the required USB return path. Validate the final assembly with the intended connectors and cables because board-level compliance cannot be inferred from the controller datasheet alone.
A USB 2.0 hub controller is not a complete USB power solution. The board still needs a compliant source of VBUS, downstream current protection, over-current response, correct connector wiring, and firmware that prevents simultaneous ownership conflicts. Also verify the serial EEPROM configuration, clock source, and all 56 terminal assignments against the current manufacturer data sheet before layout release. The verified excerpts do not expose the full pinout, so reconstructing it from a generic 56-QFN drawing would create a serious wiring risk.
Compliance Information
The JLCPCB distributor result labels USB2524-ABZJ as RoHS. The supplied manufacturer and distributor excerpts do not explicitly establish REACH, AEC-Q100, halogen-free, lead-free, or conflict-minerals status. A RoHS label is not assumed to prove the other declarations.
