VIA Labs Manufacturer Skill

MPN Structure

VIA Labs MPNs follow this general structure:

VL[SERIES][VARIANT][PACKAGE][-REEL]
 |   |       |        |       |
 |   |       |        |       └── Optional: REEL, TR, TUBE, TRAY for packaging
 |   |       |        └── Package code (Q, L, B, T, or explicit QFN/LQFP)
 |   |       └── Variant letter (optional)
 |   └── 3-digit series number (7xx, 8xx, 82x, 10x)
 └── VL = VIA Labs prefix

Example Decoding

VL817-Q7
│  │  │
│  │  └── Q7 = QFN package variant
│  └── 817 = USB 3.0 hub controller
└── VL = VIA Labs prefix

VL822
│  │
│  └── 822 = USB 3.2 hub controller
└── VL = VIA Labs prefix

Product Series

VL7xx Series - USB 2.0 Hub Controllers

VL8xx Series - USB 3.0 Hub Controllers

VL82x Series - USB 3.2 Hub Controllers

VL10x Series - USB Power Delivery Controllers

Package Codes

USB Version by Series

Generation/Evolution

USB 3.0 Hub Evolution

VL812 (Gen 1) -> VL813 (Gen 2) -> VL815 (Gen 3) -> VL817 (Gen 4 - Latest)

USB 3.2 Hub Evolution

VL820 (Gen 1) -> VL822 (Gen 2) -> VL823 (Gen 3 - Latest)

Handler Implementation Notes

Pattern Matching

// VL7xx series - USB 2.0 hub controllers
"^VL7[0-9]{2}[A-Z]*.*"

// VL8xx series - USB 3.0 hub controllers
"^VL8[0-9]{2}[A-Z]*.*"

// VL82x series - USB 3.2 hub controllers (more specific)
"^VL82[0-9][A-Z]*.*"

// VL10x series - USB Power Delivery controllers
"^VL10[0-9][A-Z]*.*"

Series Extraction

// Series is always "VL" + 3 digits = 5 characters
// VL817-Q7 -> VL817
// VL822 -> VL822

if (upperMpn.matches("^VL8[0-9]{2}.*")) {
    return upperMpn.substring(0, 5);
}

Package Code Extraction

// Handle suffix after hyphen
// VL817-Q7 -> Q -> QFN

// Handle trailing suffix without hyphen
// VL817Q -> Q -> QFN

Replacement Compatibility

USB 2.0 Hub Family

All VL7xx series are generally interchangeable:

• VL750, VL751 (4-port)
• VL752 is NOT interchangeable (7-port)

USB 3.0 Hub Upgrade Path

Newer generations can replace older:

• VL817 can replace VL815, VL813, VL812
• VL815 can replace VL813, VL812
• VL813 can replace VL812

USB 3.2 Hub Upgrade Path

Newer generations can replace older:

• VL823 can replace VL822, VL820
• VL822 can replace VL820

Cross-Version Compatibility

NOT compatible across USB versions:

• VL7xx (USB 2.0) NOT compatible with VL8xx (USB 3.0)
• VL8xx (USB 3.0) NOT compatible with VL82x (USB 3.2)
• Different USB versions have different electrical requirements

Port Count Reference

Common Applications

Related Files

• Handler: manufacturers/ViaLabsHandler.java
• Component types: ComponentType.IC

Learnings & Edge Cases

• VL prefix for all parts: Unlike VIA Technologies (VT prefix), VIA Labs uses VL prefix
• 3-digit numbering scheme: 7xx = USB 2.0, 8xx = USB 3.0, 82x = USB 3.2, 10x = PD
• Generation within series: Higher second digit = newer generation (812 < 813 < 815 < 817)
• USB 3.2 overlaps with 8xx: VL82x is technically VL8xx but specifically USB 3.2
• 4-port is standard: Most VIA Labs hubs are 4-port; VL752 is exception with 7 ports
• Package suffix format varies: Can be hyphenated (VL817-Q7) or appended (VL817Q)