Lib-electronic-components vialabs

VIA Labs (ViaLabs) MPN encoding patterns, series identification, and handler guidance. Use when working with USB hub/PD controller ICs or ViaLabsHandler.

install

source · Clone the upstream repo

git clone https://github.com/Cantara/lib-electronic-components

Claude Code · Install into ~/.claude/skills/

T=$(mktemp -d) && git clone --depth=1 https://github.com/Cantara/lib-electronic-components "$T" && mkdir -p ~/.claude/skills && cp -r "$T/.claude/skills/manufacturers/vialabs" ~/.claude/skills/cantara-lib-electronic-components-vialabs && rm -rf "$T"

manifest: .claude/skills/manufacturers/vialabs/SKILL.md

source content

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

Series	Ports	Description
VL750	4	USB 2.0 4-port hub
VL751	4	USB 2.0 4-port hub (variant)
VL752	7	USB 2.0 7-port hub

VL8xx Series - USB 3.0 Hub Controllers

Series	Ports	Description
VL812	4	USB 3.0 4-port hub (1st gen)
VL813	4	USB 3.0 4-port hub (2nd gen)
VL815	4	USB 3.0 4-port hub (3rd gen)
VL817	4	USB 3.0 4-port hub (latest)

VL82x Series - USB 3.2 Hub Controllers

Series	Ports	Description
VL820	4	USB 3.2 4-port hub
VL822	4	USB 3.2 4-port hub (2nd gen)
VL823	4	USB 3.2 4-port hub (latest)

VL10x Series - USB Power Delivery Controllers

Series	Type	Description
VL100	PD	USB Power Delivery controller
VL102	PD	USB PD controller (variant)
VL103	PD	USB PD controller (latest)

Package Codes

Code	Package	Notes
Q	QFN	Quad Flat No-Lead
QFN	QFN	Explicit form
L	LQFP	Low-profile Quad Flat Package
LQFP	LQFP	Explicit form
B	BGA	Ball Grid Array
T	TQFP	Thin Quad Flat Package

USB Version by Series

Series	USB Version
VL750	USB 2.0
VL751	USB 2.0
VL752	USB 2.0
VL812	USB 3.0
VL813	USB 3.0
VL815	USB 3.0
VL817	USB 3.0
VL820	USB 3.2
VL822	USB 3.2
VL823	USB 3.2
VL10x	USB PD

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

Series	Downstream Ports
VL750	4
VL751	4
VL752	7
VL812-VL817	4
VL820-VL823	4

Common Applications

Product Type	Typical Series
Basic USB 2.0 hub	VL750, VL751
7-port USB 2.0 hub	VL752
USB 3.0 hub	VL817 (current), VL815
USB 3.2 hub	VL823 (current), VL822
USB-C PD controller	VL100, VL102, VL103

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)