Homebrew PCBs

I've been wanting to add downstream USB ports to a few projects for some 
time.  To deal with this now and for the forseeable future, I decided to 
put a 4-port hub on a DIP.  The idea is that a so-called hub-on-a-chip 
is merged with its support stuff onto a piece of PCB the size of a DIP-32 
or probably a DIP-40.  To add downstream ports to a design, put this 
microhub after the female USB-B jack, then hang your gizmo[1] and female 
USB-A jacks off the microhub.

How many of you would be interested in something like this?  I have a 
quick-and-dirty schematic at http://frotz.homeunix.org/microhub/.  The 
.sch file is from gEDA and you'll need the TI symbols I just uploaded to 
http://www.gedasymbols.org/user/david_griffith/.

[1] Something using an AVR ATmega with V-USB 
(http://obdev.at/products/vusb/index.html) loaded on it.

-- 
David Griffith
dgriffi@...

A: Because it fouls the order in which people normally read text.
Q: Why is top-posting such a bad thing?
A: Top-posting.
Q: What is the most annoying thing in e-mail?

So how is this better than just buying a $2 hub ready made?

ST

On Fri, Jul 31, 2009 at 8:32 AM, David Griffith<dgriffi@...> wrote:
>
> I've been wanting to add downstream USB ports to a few projects for some
> time.  To deal with this now and for the forseeable future, I decided to
> put a 4-port hub on a DIP.  The idea is that a so-called hub-on-a-chip
> is merged with its support stuff onto a piece of PCB the size of a DIP-32
> or probably a DIP-40.  To add downstream ports to a design, put this
> microhub after the female USB-B jack, then hang your gizmo[1] and female
> USB-A jacks off the microhub.
>
> How many of you would be interested in something like this?  I have a
> quick-and-dirty schematic at http://frotz.homeunix.org/microhub/.  The
> .sch file is from gEDA and you'll need the TI symbols I just uploaded to
> http://www.gedasymbols.org/user/david_griffith/.
>
> [1] Something using an AVR ATmega with V-USB
> (http://obdev.at/products/vusb/index.html) loaded on it.
>
> --
> David Griffith
> dgriffi@cs.csubak.edu
>
> A: Because it fouls the order in which people normally read text.
> Q: Why is top-posting such a bad thing?
> A: Top-posting.
> Q: What is the most annoying thing in e-mail?
>
>
> ------------------------------------
>
> Be sure to visit the group home and check for new Links, Files, and Photos:
> http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Homebrew_PCBsYahoo! Groups Links
>
>
>
>

On Fri, 31 Jul 2009, Stefan Trethan wrote:

> So how is this better than just buying a $2 hub ready made?
> On Fri, Jul 31, 2009 at 8:32 AM, David Griffith<dgriffi@...> wrote:
>>
>> I've been wanting to add downstream USB ports to a few projects for some
>> time.  To deal with this now and for the forseeable future, I decided to
>> put a 4-port hub on a DIP.  The idea is that a so-called hub-on-a-chip
>> is merged with its support stuff onto a piece of PCB the size of a DIP-32
>> or probably a DIP-40.  To add downstream ports to a design, put this
>> microhub after the female USB-B jack, then hang your gizmo[1] and female
>> USB-A jacks off the microhub.

No need to figure out how to shoehorn it into whatever you're making.

-- 
David Griffith
dgriffi@...
k

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Well, a DIP-40 isn't exactly tiny either, I'm sure there are some
pretty small 4-port hubs ;-)
I guess once the case is removed the PCB isn't large:
<http://www.dealextreme.com/productimages/sku_9476_1.jpg>
<http://www1.dealextreme.com/productimages/sku_2164_3.jpg>
<http://www.dealextreme.com/productimages/sku_3655_2.jpg>

And when you really don't have any space left inside your project, you
can always mount one of these to the outside with a decorative effect
;-)
<http://www.dealextreme.com/productimages/sku_10128_3.jpg>

I'd just modify some ready made units, that's what I do when I need a
serial port, just remove the case and SUB-D plug of a USB/RS232
converter and solder it to my circuit boad. I couldn't make it that
cheap even if I wanted - the FTwhatever chip probably costs more than
when I buy a whole converter.

Anyway, have fun, but personally I don't see the need.

ST

On Fri, Jul 31, 2009 at 9:42 AM, David Griffith<dgriffi@...> wrote:
> On Fri, 31 Jul 2009, Stefan Trethan wrote:
>
>> So how is this better than just buying a $2 hub ready made?
>> On Fri, Jul 31, 2009 at 8:32 AM, David Griffith<dgriffi@...> wrote:
>>>
>>> I've been wanting to add downstream USB ports to a few projects for some
>>> time.  To deal with this now and for the forseeable future, I decided to
>>> put a 4-port hub on a DIP.  The idea is that a so-called hub-on-a-chip
>>> is merged with its support stuff onto a piece of PCB the size of a DIP-32
>>> or probably a DIP-40.  To add downstream ports to a design, put this
>>> microhub after the female USB-B jack, then hang your gizmo[1] and female
>>> USB-A jacks off the microhub.
>
> No need to figure out how to shoehorn it into whatever you're making.
>
> --
> David Griffith
> dgriffi@...
> k
>
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>
>
>
> ------------------------------------
>
> Be sure to visit the group home and check for new Links, Files, and Photos:
> http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Homebrew_PCBsYahoo! Groups Links
>
>
>
>

On Fri, 31 Jul 2009, Stefan Trethan wrote:
[snip]
> I'd just modify some ready made units, that's what I do when I need a
> serial port, just remove the case and SUB-D plug of a USB/RS232
> converter and solder it to my circuit boad. I couldn't make it that
> cheap even if I wanted - the FTwhatever chip probably costs more than
> when I buy a whole converter.
>
> Anyway, have fun, but personally I don't see the need.

Here's what set me off on this merry errand: 
http://www.schatenseite.de/dulcimer.html.  This uses an ATmega and little 
else to replace the controller board of a Model M keyboard, making it 
natively USB.  What I want is a downstream port or two to connect a mouse 
as is common with Mac and Sun keyboards.  I have a Sun Type7 keyboard, 
but I can't give up my Model M.


-- 
David Griffith
dgriffi@...

A: Because it fouls the order in which people normally read text.
Q: Why is top-posting such a bad thing?
A: Top-posting.
Q: What is the most annoying thing in e-mail?

But it doesn't even have any windows keys!

;-)))))

Are there any active PS2 / USB converters that could be used? The ones
I know are just pin/pin adapters for mice which can already talk USB.
If there are any adapters they could probably be put inside the
keyboard with little difficulty.

In any event there is lotsa space in those old keyboards, I'm sure you
could fit several USB hubs. Unless of course you just have to have the
indides of your ancient keyboard looking like they were made that
way.....

ST

On Fri, Jul 31, 2009 at 11:20 AM, David Griffith<dgriffi@...> wrote:
> On Fri, 31 Jul 2009, Stefan Trethan wrote:
> [snip]
>> I'd just modify some ready made units, that's what I do when I need a
>> serial port, just remove the case and SUB-D plug of a USB/RS232
>> converter and solder it to my circuit boad. I couldn't make it that
>> cheap even if I wanted - the FTwhatever chip probably costs more than
>> when I buy a whole converter.
>>
>> Anyway, have fun, but personally I don't see the need.
>
> Here's what set me off on this merry errand:
> http://www.schatenseite.de/dulcimer.html.  This uses an ATmega and little
> else to replace the controller board of a Model M keyboard, making it
> natively USB.  What I want is a downstream port or two to connect a mouse
> as is common with Mac and Sun keyboards.  I have a Sun Type7 keyboard,
> but I can't give up my Model M.
>
>
> --
> David Griffith
> dgriffi@...
>
> A: Because it fouls the order in which people normally read text.
> Q: Why is top-posting such a bad thing?
> A: Top-posting.
> Q: What is the most annoying thing in e-mail?
>
>
> ------------------------------------
>
> Be sure to visit the group home and check for new Links, Files, and Photos:
> http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Homebrew_PCBsYahoo! Groups Links
>
>
>
>

On Fri, 31 Jul 2009, Stefan Trethan wrote:

> But it doesn't even have any windows keys!

And that's just the way I like it!

> Are there any active PS2 / USB converters that could be used? The ones
> I know are just pin/pin adapters for mice which can already talk USB.
> If there are any adapters they could probably be put inside the
> keyboard with little difficulty.

I bought one from clickykeyboards.com for that purpose.  Shortly 
afterwards, I found two projects dealing with using a microcontroller to 
entirely replace the driver board.  It's much cleaner that way.

> In any event there is lotsa space in those old keyboards, I'm sure you
> could fit several USB hubs. Unless of course you just have to have the
> indides of your ancient keyboard looking like they were made that
> way.....

Yes, there is quite a bit of space in the Model M.  The problem is how to 
keep things straight with the cabling.  I've nearly abandoned a Paia 
Fatman synthesizer for the very same reason in favor of a newer 
double-sided board.

-- 
David Griffith
dgriffi@...

Sounds intriguing, but i got ein "Fehler 404" from that link.

I have one of them ole ADB Mac keyboards that it would be great to  
revive...

PG

On 31/07/2009, at 8:38 PM, David Griffith wrote:

> On Fri, 31 Jul 2009, Stefan Trethan wrote:
>
> > But it doesn't even have any windows keys!
>

Ah the trailing full stop (period) confused my email client, now I can  
get the german dictionary out ....

PG

On 31/07/2009, at 7:20 PM, David Griffith wrote:
> Here's what set me off on this merry errand:
> http://www.schatenseite.de/dulcimer.html. This uses an ATmega and  
> little
>

Stefan Trethan <stefan_trethan@...> writes:
> So how is this better than just buying a $2 hub ready made?

Dude, this is the "Homebrew_PCBs" group.  We don't need an excuse to
build it ourselves ;-)

On Fri, 31 Jul 2009, Piers Goodhew wrote:

> On 31/07/2009, at 7:20 PM, David Griffith wrote:
>> Here's what set me off on this merry errand:
>> http://www.schatenseite.de/dulcimer.html. This uses an ATmega and
>> little

> Ah the trailing full stop (period) confused my email client, now I can
> get the german dictionary out ....

Click the UK flag in the upper right corner.

-- 
David Griffith
dgriffi@...

A: Because it fouls the order in which people normally read text.
Q: Why is top-posting such a bad thing?
A: Top-posting.
Q: What is the most annoying thing in e-mail?