IC Revs Up ATA-To-1394 Data Transfer Rates

Featuring 32-bit ARM processing and 512 Kb of integrated flash memory, the OXFW911 IEEE-1394 to ATA / ATAPI (IDE) bridge chip claims to be the market's fastest solution for transferring data between storage peripherals using either a PC or Mac. This second-generation device, in conjunction with a physical interface device (PHY), offers a two-chip, single-firmware interface between ATA and 1394 ports. The bridge chip supports sustained data transfer rates of up to 45 MB/s, said to overcome potential bottlenecks associated with ATA-to-1394 interfacing.
Being ATA100 compliant, the OXFW911 bridge chip fully supports Ultra DMA mode 5 and the corresponding data transfer rate of 35 MB/s. The device can accommodate two IDE storage units simultaneously, making it suitable for use with RAID, combination drive, and digital convergence applications. Available in a 128-TQFP, the chip operates from a 3.3V supply.