Preface
As early as 2015, Apple released a MacBook laptop with only a USB-C interface, setting off a wave of thin and light notebook computers, and many well-known brands have launched thin and light notebook products. However, as devices become thinner and lighter, there are fewer and fewer interfaces, and even the early New MacBook only has a USB-C port, which brings a lot of inconvenience to users, especially for those who need to connect to external devices frequently or rely on wired networks. In order to solve this problem, the USB-C docking station came into being to solve the urgent needs of users.
However, for docking station manufacturers, if they want to join the network port expansion, they must add a network port conversion chip to realize the conversion between the USB interface and the network port. The following charging head network will introduce the cases found in the dismantling of the charging head network in the past to help you understand the application of such chips.
Application of network port converter chip in USB-C multi-port docking station
Some of the parameters of several chips appearing in the article are shown in the figure, and the following editor will introduce them to you in detail.
Realtek RTL8153
REALTEK RTL8153 SUPPORTS USB 3.0/2.0/1.1 AND 10/100/1000M NETWORK RATES AS A USB 3.0 PORT CONVERTER, WITH BUILT-IN CROSS-DETECTION AND AUTO-CORRECTION, POLARITY CORRECTION, ADAPTIVE EQUALIZATION, CROSSTALK CANCELLATION, ECHO CANCELLATION, TIMING RECOVERY, AND ERROR CORRECTION IN A QFN-48 PACKAGE.
Application examples
eeco四合一多功能扩展坞
The eeco 1A1C 4-in-1 multi-function docking station comes with a USB-C cable, a matte body and a curved design on both sides. The overall product is small and flat, and does not take up desk space. This docking station integrates USB-C, USB-A, HDMI, and RJ45, the four most frequently used interfaces, to meet the basic needs of daily office activities.
Related Reading:
Teardown Report: EECO 4-in-1 Multi-function Docking Station
HP USB-C Mini Multifunction Docking Station
HP's USB-C Docking Station has a built-in cable design that further reinforces the USB-C One-Wire Connectivity concept. The docking station comes with VGA and HDMI interfaces, which is convenient for expanding the screen. Wired network support makes the connection more stable. It comes with a USB3.0 port that can be used to expand storage devices, a USB2.0 port that can be used to connect a mouse, and supports USB-C charging, which greatly simplifies the use of laptops and peripheral peripherals.
Related Reading:
Teardown Report: HP USB-C Mini Multifunction Docking Station
Lenovo Lecoo 4K 17-in-1 Desktop Vertical Docking Station
This docking station launched by Lecoo is connected to a laptop through a USB-C interface, which can expand the USB-C port of the computer to a gigabit wired network port, USB-A interface, SD/TF card reader, and can also read the M2 hard disk built into the docking station, connect wired audio, fully meet the expansion needs of thin and light notebooks, and is a good helper for the office.
Related Reading:
Teardown report: Lenovo Lecoo 4K 17-in-1 Desktop Standup Docking Station
Superior USB-C multi-function docking station
Superior's USB-C multi-function docking station D026A adopts an aluminum alloy shell, the body shell is anodized and gray, the surface is sandblasted and the feel is delicate, and the whole product is very small and does not take up space. The dock features four 3A1C ports, two SD/Micro SD card slots, HDMI and Gigabit LAN ports. The data transmission speed is fast, you can also listen to songs while charging, etc., and the network interface has an indicator to make it more convenient to check the connection status, which fully meets daily needs.
Related Reading:
Teardown Report: UNITEK Superior USB-C Multifunction Docking Station
Realtek RTL8153B
Realtek RTL8153B can be used for docking station network connectivity, supports USB 3.0/2.0/1.1 and 10/100/1000M transfer rates, and also supports cross-detection and auto-correction, polarity correction, adaptive equalization, crosstalk cancellation, echo cancellation, timing recovery, and error correction in a QFN-40 package.
Application examples
VAVA USB-C multi-function docking station
The VA-DK001 docking station launched by VAVA supports connecting to the notebook through the USB-C interface, connecting an external power supply, providing USB PD power supply and interface expansion for the notebook, and the docking station has two built-in HDMI interfaces to expand the display of two screens. The docking station has multiple USB ports for easy connection of storage devices and peripherals. It also supports wireless charging function, realizing one-stop charging and expanding function implementation, and simplifying desktop placement.
Related Reading:
Teardown Report: VAVA USB-C Multifunction Docking Station
Infineon CYUSB3610
Infineon's CYUSB3610 is a USB3.0 to Gigabit Ethernet converter that is backward compatible with 10/100 rates, with an integrated USB 3.0 physical layer and controller on chip, power-saving mode, advanced power management and Wake-on-LAN functions, and is available in a QFN-68 package.
Application examples
思科USB-C+RJ45 PoE注入器
Cisco's PoE injector is rugged and durable in a gray plastic housing. One of them is equipped with RJ45 wired network interface and USB-C power supply interface, and the other side is equipped with USB-C interface, and the two interfaces have logos respectively to indicate the connected devices. By using an injector, power and wired network connectivity can be achieved via the phone's built-in USB-C port.
Related Reading:
Teardown Report: Cisco USB-C + RJ45 PoE Injector
AsiaInfo Electronics AX88179A
AsiaInfo AX88179A is a USB3.2 Gen1 to Gigabit Ethernet controller that is backward compatible with integrated 10/100Mbps mode, supports USB Spec 3.2 Gen 1, 2.0 and 1.1 specifications, and is available in a QFN-40 package.
Application examples
Greenlink 4K 9-in-1 USB-C Multi-function Docking Station
This USB-C multi-function docking station is made of silver-gray aluminum alloy shell, which is durable and compact, suitable for daily carrying. THE DOCK COMES WITH A 25CM LONG USB-C CABLE, WHICH IS EASY TO CONNECT TO A LAPTOP. The docking station has HDMI and VGA ports, and has 4K output capability, which can be used to connect new and existing monitors and projectors. And it also has USB interface expansion and card reader, wired network port and PD power supply function, comprehensive functions.
Related Reading:
Teardown Report: Greenlink 4K 9-in-1 USB-C Multi-function Docking Station
Summary of the charging head network
Charging head network understands that market demand is an important factor to promote the wide application of network port conversion chips. In recent years, with the rapid popularity of thin and light notebooks, consumers have higher and higher requirements for notebooks for portability and design. However, this thin and light design is often accompanied by a reduction in the number of interfaces, which makes laptops face many limitations when connecting external devices, so the demand for multi-function docking stations is also increasing.
One of the core functions of the multi-functional docking station is to realize wired network access through the network port conversion chip to make up for the lack of thin and light notebook interfaces. The four network port converters mentioned in the article, Realtek, Infineon, and AsiaInfo, all support USB3.0 applications, with a maximum transmission rate of up to 1000Mbps, which can easily cope with the data transmission requirements of Gigabit broadband and NAS intranet, and are suitable for various all-in-one, single-port converter applications.