Electronic Design
  • Resources
  • Directory
  • Webinars
  • CAD Models
  • Video
  • Blogs
  • More Publications
  • Advertise
    • Search
  • Top Stories
  • Tech Topics
  • Analog
  • Power
  • Embedded
  • Test
  • AI / ML
  • Automotive
  • Data Sheets
  • Topics
    - TechXchange Topics --- Markets --AutomotiveAutomation-- Technologies --AnalogPowerTest & MeasurementEmbedded
    Resources
    Electronic Design ResourcesTop Stories of the WeekNew ProductsKit Close-UpElectronic Design LibrarySearch Data SheetsCompany DirectoryBlogsContribute
    Members
    ContentBenefitsSubscribeDigital editions
    Advertise
    https://www.facebook.com/ElectronicDesign
    https://www.linkedin.com/groups/4210549/
    https://twitter.com/ElectronicDesgn
    https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCXKEiQ9dob20rIqTA7ONfJg
    newpromo.png
    1. Technologies
    2. Embedded

    USB 3 Hub Handles Production Chores

    Jan. 4, 2017
    Technology Editor Bill Wong takes a hands-on look at Acroname’s programmable USB 3 hub that is designed for production work.
    William G. Wong
    Electronicdesign Com Sites Electronicdesign com Files Uploads 2016 12 18 Screen Shot 2017 01 04 At 7 39 30 Am
    1. Acroname’s programmable USBHub3+ hub has dual upstream ports and is programmable using either of these ports or a third, out-of-band port.

    Acroname’s programmable USBHub3+ hub (Fig. 1) is designed for production work. It is also a heavy-duty industrial hub certified to withstand ±15kV ESD strikes. It is certified to IEC61000-4-2 Level 4.

    I checked out Acroname’s BrainStem technology that is built into the hub using the HubTool (Fig. 2), as well as writing some simple Python scripts. There is also an API for C and C++, which means it is accessible to any language that has C/C++ link support. It also works with systems like TestStand and LabView.

    Electronicdesign Com Sites Electronicdesign com Files Uploads 2016 12 18 Fig 2 Hubtool
    2. The graphical HubTool is a Windows application that shows the hub’s status and can provide basic control of all the ports.

    The programmable interface is easy to use or access via the APIs, and it allows operations like enabling or disabling any downstream port. The system also has control of the data, SS lines, and power lines for any port. This includes monitoring the voltage and current (Fig. 3) on all ports and controlling how much current each gets up to 4A/port. Current limit trip points can be set for any port.

    Electronicdesign Com Sites Electronicdesign com Files Uploads 2016 12 18 Fig 3 Hubtoolplotwindow
    3. The HubTool can provide a graphical display or power usage.

    The rear panel (Fig. 4, top) includes a pair of host connections, although only one can control devices attached to the system since USB is a single root system. Software management can occur using either port, as well as the control port that is also a USB port. The latter only has control functions and is not accessible to or from the other ports in the system.

    Having two upstream ports is handy when running system tests since it is possible to switch from, say, a PC to a Mac that is already connected without unplugging and replugging a cable. I just tested it with a PC running Windows and another running Linux.

    Electronicdesign Com Sites Electronicdesign com Files Uploads 2016 12 18 Screen Shot 2017 01 04 At 7 46 00 Am
    4. The USBHub3+ has a pair of upstream ports and an additional downstream port for expansion.

    The USBHub3+ is as easy to use as a conventional hub, plus it has the bells and whistles that are easily accessible programmatically. How you take advantage of it will depend upon your application, be it system or USB product testing or industrial control with a fallback option. It was easy to get up and running in an afternoon from a programmatic standpoint.

    Electronicdesign 13840 Sourceesb

    Continue Reading

    Checking Out the NXP Hovergames NavQ Plus

    NCR 7300: Ahead of Its Time, Behind on Customers

    Sponsored Recommendations

    Designing automotive-grade camera-based mirror systems

    Dec. 2, 2023

    Design security cameras and other low-power smart cameras with AI vision processors

    Dec. 2, 2023

    Automotive 1 TOPS vision SoC with RGB-IR ISP for 1-2 cameras, driver monitoring, dashcams

    Dec. 2, 2023

    AM62A starter kit for edge AI, vision, analytics and general purpose processors

    Dec. 2, 2023

    Comments

    To join the conversation, and become an exclusive member of Electronic Design, create an account today!

    I already have an account

    New

    Securing Data in the Quantum Era

    Celebrating Field Engineers: The Unsung Heroes of Innovation

    Checking Out the NXP Hovergames NavQ Plus

    Most Read

    Observability Framework Exposes DDS

    Test Platform Uses Software Updates for Major Functionality Upgrades

    MEMS Mirrors: The Next Big Wave in MEMS Technology


    Sponsored

    How to design an intelligent battery junction box for advanced EV battery management systems

    Edge AI retail scanner demo: SoC selection and power usage

    Design automotive occupancy detection systems with new Arm-based processors

    Electronic Design
    https://www.facebook.com/ElectronicDesign
    https://www.linkedin.com/groups/4210549/
    https://twitter.com/ElectronicDesgn
    https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCXKEiQ9dob20rIqTA7ONfJg
    • About Us
    • Contact Us
    • Advertise
    • Do Not Sell or Share
    • Privacy & Cookie Policy
    • Terms of Service
    © 2023 Endeavor Business Media, LLC. All rights reserved.
    Endeavor Business Media Logo