Controller IC Supports Printing, Scanning, Faxing, And Copying

Aug. 21, 2000
Aimed at multifunction peripherals, the MFC2000 all-in-one controller IC from Conexant Systems supports printing, faxing, scanning, and copying. As a result, this single-chip solution reduces development costs and time-to-market by integrating all...

Aimed at multifunction peripherals, the MFC2000 all-in-one controller IC from Conexant Systems supports printing, faxing, scanning, and copying. As a result, this single-chip solution reduces development costs and time-to-market by integrating all the functionality necessary to build a multifunction peripheral. It includes all the hardware, firmware, and software needed for PCs and desktop computers. Designers only have to add a power supply, memory, scanner, and printer engine.

Based on an ARM-7 microprocessor, its built-in data and fax modem provides Internet connectivity, extends document communication to the Internet, and enables a unified messaging environment for small-office and home users. The modem supports V.34 (33.6 kbits/s) specifications for fax machines and V.90 (56 kbits/s) specifications for data modulation. The MFC2000 also includes Conexant's SmartDAA silicon data-access arrangement (DAA) technology, so it can be programmed for use on any public phone network worldwide.

A printer component features a 5-page/min. (color) and 12-page/min. (monochrome) print speed at resolutions up to 1600 dot/in. Its scanner-interface component incorporates an analog front end and a 12-bit analog-to-digital converter (ADC). These features support contact-image-sensor (CIS) and CCD scanners with up to 36-bit/pixel color depth and 600- by 1200-pixel dot/in. optical resolution. The overall solution supports either USB 1.1 or IEEE 1284 protocol interfaces to the host PC.

The MFC2000 comes with the DeviceGuys PC-host software. Unique features of this package includes "scan to e-mail" and "fax forward to e-mail" functions. These let users create one-touch settings on a multifunction peripheral to redirect scanned or faxed documents to e-mail or even to a web site without a PC.

Packaged in a 256-pin BGA, the MFC2000 comes in two configurations. The CX07201 is a four-in-one solution for color printing, scanning, copying, and faxing. The CX07202 is a three-in-one solution for color printing, scanning, and copying. Both are currently sampling. Production quantities are slated for September.

The company says the devices are competitively priced for consumer and small- and home-office applications.

Conexant Systems Inc., 4311 Jamboree Rd., P.O. Box C, Newport Beach, CA 92658-8902; (949) 483-4600; fax (949) 483-4078; www.conexant.com.

About the Author

Roger Allan

Roger Allan is an electronics journalism veteran, and served as Electronic Design's Executive Editor for 15 of those years. He has covered just about every technology beat from semiconductors, components, packaging and power devices, to communications, test and measurement, automotive electronics, robotics, medical electronics, military electronics, robotics, and industrial electronics. His specialties include MEMS and nanoelectronics technologies. He is a contributor to the McGraw Hill Annual Encyclopedia of Science and Technology. He is also a Life Senior Member of the IEEE and holds a BSEE from New York University's School of Engineering and Science. Roger has worked for major electronics magazines besides Electronic Design, including the IEEE Spectrum, Electronics, EDN, Electronic Products, and the British New Scientist. He also has working experience in the electronics industry as a design engineer in filters, power supplies and control systems.

After his retirement from Electronic Design Magazine, He has been extensively contributing articles for Penton’s Electronic Design, Power Electronics Technology, Energy Efficiency and Technology (EE&T) and Microwaves RF Magazine, covering all of the aforementioned electronics segments as well as energy efficiency, harvesting and related technologies. He has also contributed articles to other electronics technology magazines worldwide.

He is a “jack of all trades and a master in leading-edge technologies” like MEMS, nanolectronics, autonomous vehicles, artificial intelligence, military electronics, biometrics, implantable medical devices, and energy harvesting and related technologies.

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