MaxLinear Launches Carmel USB-to-UART Device for AI Data Centre and Hyperscale Infrastructure

MaxLinear, Inc. (NASDAQ: MXL), a leader in high-performance analog, mixed-signal and connectivity semiconductor solutions, announced Carmel™, MxL81434, a next-generation high-speed USB-to-UART product designed to support console access, system bring-up, monitoring, debugging, and infrastructure management in AI data centres and hyperscale cloud environments. Carmel™ combines 480Mbps High-Speed USB connectivity, four high-performance UART channels operating at up to 15 Mbps each, an integrated I²C master, and 32 GPIOs in a highly integrated device for modern server and rack-scale management designs.

Carmel™ extends MaxLinear’s USB-to-UART portfolio with high-speed connectivity and a console-access building block for server, rack-scale, and AI infrastructure designs.

We believe the market opportunity for USB-to-UART devices is substantial, with an estimated serviceable available market (SAM) of approximately 200 million units driven by AI data centre deployments. Building on the success of Coronado™ and Laguna™, Carmel expands MaxLinear’s participation in this growing market by addressing higher-performance console-access, debug, monitoring, and infrastructure-management requirements for next-generation AI server and rack-scale platforms.

Why Carmel Matters

• High-speed console access with up to 480Mbps High-Speed USB connectivity.
• Four independent UART channels supporting up to 15Mbps per channel.
• Integrated I²C and 32 GPIOs to consolidate management, monitoring, and debug functions.
• Large 1024-byte transmit and receive FIFOs to help sustain throughput and reduce host overhead.
• Robust ±15 kV HBM ESD protection for demanding server and data center environments.
• Low-latency console connectivity to support faster bring-up, recovery, diagnostics, and provisioning.

Performance Leadership

Featuring four UART channels operating at speeds up to 15 Mbps each, Carmel provides high-speed console connectivity for data-intensive debug, provisioning, diagnostics, and recovery workflows.

The device integrates 1024-byte transmit and receive FIFOs, helping sustain high throughput while minimising host processor overhead. An integrated I²C master and 32 GPIO channels allow designers to consolidate monitoring, reset management, debug access, and platform-management functions into a single device.

Executive Quote

“As AI infrastructure scales, the performance requirements for console access, debug, and platform management continue to increase,” said Amit D. Bavisi, PhD, Senior Vice President and General Manager of MaxLinear’s Analog Mixed-Signal Business Unit. “Carmel delivers high-speed USB-to-UART connectivity, combining 480Mbps bandwidth, four UART channels supporting up to 15Mbps each, integrated I²C management, 32 GPIOs, large FIFOs, and robust ESD protection to support low-latency access and reliable operation in next-generation AI data centres.”

Distribution Partner Quote

“We are very pleased to work with MaxLinear to expand its existing USB-to-UART product portfolio and bring the new Carmel™ high-speed USB-to-UART product to our cloud service provider customers,” said Johnny Hsu, Vice President of Marketing, WT Microelectronics. “As data centre and AI server architectures continue to evolve, customers face increasingly diverse and challenging console-access, management, and debug requirements. Carmel’s combination of 480 Mbps High-Speed USB connectivity, four high-performance UART channels, integrated management capabilities, and low-latency operation provides a compelling solution that helps enable next-generation server and rack-scale platform designs.”

Target Applications

• AI servers and accelerator platforms
• Rack-scale AI systems
• Universal Baseboards (UBBs)
• Hyperscale cloud infrastructure
• Enterprise data centres

Availability

Carmel™ samples are expected to be available in Q4 2026. For additional information, contact your MaxLinear representative.