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Electronics => Projects, Designs, and Technical Stuff => Topic started by: sw_guy on February 17, 2024, 06:39:52 am

Title: USB hub IC with preprogrammed vendor id
Post by: sw_guy on February 17, 2024, 06:39:52 am
If we leave out of options ICs that are available only on certain consumer eshops (likeGL850G-HH and SL2.1A) what could be an option to include USB hub in circuit? I think one of those chips that has preprogrammed vendor id is USB2412, but that is pretty much the only one I have found (available on Digikey/Mouser).

sw guy
Title: Re: USB hub IC with preprogrammed vendor id
Post by: Nominal Animal on February 17, 2024, 07:34:16 am
USB 3? USB 2? USB 2 full-speed or high-speed? How many ports?
Title: Re: USB hub IC with preprogrammed vendor id
Post by: sw_guy on February 17, 2024, 09:59:14 am
USB2. Min 2 ports.

sw guy
Title: Re: USB hub IC with preprogrammed vendor id
Post by: voltsandjolts on February 17, 2024, 10:17:34 am
You're still leaving us guessing here.

How about an SSOP16 USB2 FS HS hub, it's about as simple as it gets: Terminus FE8.1
https://aliexpress.com/store/1100386256/search?SearchText=fe8.1 (https://aliexpress.com/store/1100386256/search?SearchText=fe8.1)

Example schematic:
https://github.com/ataradov/usb-sniffer-lite/blob/main/hardware/output/usb-sniffer-lite.pdf (https://github.com/ataradov/usb-sniffer-lite/blob/main/hardware/output/usb-sniffer-lite.pdf)

No programming required.

Edit: apparently this device is actually HS capable https://terminus-usa.com/product/fe8-1-usb2-0-high-speed-4-port-hub-controller/ (https://terminus-usa.com/product/fe8-1-usb2-0-high-speed-4-port-hub-controller/)
Title: Re: USB hub IC with preprogrammed vendor id
Post by: Nominal Animal on February 17, 2024, 11:31:51 am
Of Microchip products, only the USB2412 series has a fixed configuration (it was designed by SMSC), and is the cheapest option at Mouser (2.36€ in singles for USB2412-DZK, as usual for high-speed USB 2.0 hubs you need a 24 MHz crystal and a smattering of passives also).

For open source products, there are alternatives; but, if you want USB-IF certification or write your own Windows USB signed drivers, I think you're going to have to pay the USD $6000 for a Vendor ID (https://www.usb.org/getting-vendor-id).  Note that because that legal entity cannot sell Product IDs, it is best to make sure the business entity buying such a Vendor ID can design and implement many other USB interface devices; there are, after all, over 65 thousand Product IDs per Vendor ID.

For example, if you have your own Vendor ID, you can use it for any native-USB microcontroller projects (including super-cheapies like CH55x) you –– that same legal entity –– create, commercial or open source.  In Finland, I'd definitely have that stuff in a wholly-owned subsidiary, so that it can sell such design and implementation services for others as well; noting that the name initially associated with the USB Vendor ID will stick "forever": it is not like web certificates with their revocation lists and updates, USB Vendor IDs are forever.
Title: Re: USB hub IC with preprogrammed vendor id
Post by: sw_guy on February 17, 2024, 02:36:48 pm
FE8.1 is basically what I am looking for (or GL850G-HH or SL2.1A), but Aliexpress/Ebay etc. is not option for a vendor channel.

Fortunately there is one option at least (for this application). Unit price (of the chip) is not a limiting factor (as long as the USB controller is <$10), but 6k initial cost is a limiting factor.
Private vendor IDs would be nice - the same way as IPs and MAC addresses.

sg
Title: Re: USB hub IC with preprogrammed vendor id
Post by: voltsandjolts on February 17, 2024, 05:11:14 pm
FE8.1 is basically what I am looking for (or GL850G-HH or SL2.1A), but Aliexpress/Ebay etc. is not option for a vendor channel.

It's a quick way to get samples, I didn't say it was the only vendor channel.
e.g. get a quote direct from the manufacturer:
https://terminus-usa.com/product/fe8-1-usb2-0-high-speed-4-port-hub-controller/ (https://terminus-usa.com/product/fe8-1-usb2-0-high-speed-4-port-hub-controller/)