Programmable Industrial 4-port USB Switch for USB-C

The USB-C-Switch enable selecting 1 of 4 devices to connect to a host or 1 of 4 hosts to connect to a device with up to a USB 20Gbps connection. It is software programmable with four bi-directional channels selectively connecting to one bi-direction channel. Used by companies worldwide to help automate validation and manufacturing testing of USB devices and hosts, USB-C-Switch supports: Apple CarPlay™, Android Auto, USB-PD and other modes. Built inside a rugged steel housing and designed to withstand strong electrostatic discharges (ESD) of up to ±15kV.

When combined with an Acroname Universal Orientation Cable (also known as Vconn pass-thru cable), the USB-C-Switch can emulate a cable flip to connected devices with software control. The programmable flip features allows for tests of all the connections on a port without multiple manual cable plug events. A Keep-Alive-Charge circuit, controlled from software, allows the USB-C-Switch to provide charging current to devices on the 4 mux ports while they are not connected to the common port; this is useful when the devices are battery powered and may only be connected to the common port for short periods of time. Channel priority mode enables automatic host switching when using USB A-to-C cables.

For advanced users, the USB-C-Switch includes a "split mode" which allows for mixing function groups in the connection. For example, a host on the common port can have a data connection to a USB device on port 0, while power to the device can come from port 1. The split mode functionality enable creative solutions to problems faced by manufacturing and validation systems.

Two Editions available to fit your testing needs:

Re-Driver

Best for general connectivity or longer cables; allows USB signal tuning to compensate for insertion and other losses.

Passive

Best for measuring device signal-integrity with de-embedding.

Good for device functional testing when using short cabling.

Why choose Acroname’s industrial 4-Port USB-C Switch?

The USB-C-Switch is a device that allows engineers to control USB connections during testing and development. It has several layers of internal switches that make it a 4:1 bi-directional selector and USB-C line controller. It can act like a cable, connecting USB2, USB3, power, CC, Vconn, and SBU lines between the common port and one of the 4 "mux" ports. USB-C-Switch can be controlled using a free application or custom software via APIs in C, C++, Python, and LabVIEW. USB-C-Switch is uniquely addressable and controllable from a host PC via USB-C control port which also provides power to the system.

This product may expose you to chemicals which are known to the State of California to cause cancer, birth defects or other reproductive harm. For more information, go to www.P65Warnings.ca.gov. A list of specific chemicals can be found in the product documentation.

Features

Enable/Disable any port
Automate type-C hot-plug / unplug actions
Automate type-C connector flip actions (using Acroname UOC cable)
Enable automatic host switching with port priority mode for USB A-to-C connections
Customize USB signal equalization settings (Redriver option only)
Monitor voltage on all ports
Monitor current on the common port
Monitor voltage and current on CC and VCONN
Individually enable/disable SuperSpeed and HiSpeed data, CC, SBU and power connections for any port
Maintain software control through a dedicated control port
Separate or combine USB lines between Mux Channels using advanced SPLIT mode
MacOSX 10.8+, Linux, ARM6, ARM7, and Windows 7, 8 and 10 (32bit and 64bit) platform support
Python, C, C++, .NET and LabVIEW APIs
Selectively connect one USB Type-C® (USB-C) connection to any one of 4 channels
Bidirectional 1:4 or 4:1 configurations
All ports support USB 3.2 (Gen 2x2, 20Gbps)
All ports support USB PD profiles up to 100W (20V, 5A)2 – Execute USB-C cable flip via software control3
Supports pass through of USB Alt-Modes
Available in Passive or Redriver versions
DIN rail mountable using C31-DINM-1
Certified to withstand ±15kV ESD strikes

Applications

Uses for USB type-C multiplexer

Manufacturing testing of USB Type-C ports
USB device validation and development
USB functional testing
USB peripheral management
USB Alt-mode testing
USB PD profile testing
Regression test environments
Automating USB Type C port “flip”
Automating USB plug/unplug operations
Automation of Apple CarPlay® or Android Auto® testing
Automatic host switching for USB A-to-C connections

Cable Flip

A key feature of the USB-C connector is its symmetric design allowing for insertion in either orientation. This makes the USB-C connector user-friendly yet complicates the development of devices using the USB-C standard. The orientation is defined by the cable or downstream device in the system; more specifically, by components inside of the USB-C male plug of a connection. The USB-C specification makes determining connector orientation a responsibility of the active devices in the system.

The diagram below shows example block diagrams of the flip feature when connecting a host through a full-featured, non-marked cable to a direct-connected downstream device. Related USB SS, HS and SBU lines are also routed appropriately, though omitted from the diagram for clarity.

Cable flip operations

Keep-Alive Charging (KAC)

It is common to use battery powered devices on either side of the USB-C-Switch. When these devices are not in the active path, either on the common or mux side, the device battery may discharge. The USB-C-Switch has the unique feature of Keep-Alive Charging (KAC) for the mux channel connections. When KAC is enabled, the KAC circuit connects power from the control port VBUS to all non-selected mux channel VBUS lines. KAC power is applied only to inactive mux channels and is not applied to the actively selected mux channel since the actively selected channel has a power path to the common port. KAC is automatically disabled when mux split mode is enabled.

Bidirectional application

Mux Modes

Default Mode

The default behavior of the USB-C-Switch is to act as a port selector, where all USB-C lines are connected between the common port and one selected mux channel.

Channel Priority Mode

In channel priority mode, the USB-C-Switch automatically selects the lowest-numbered mux port where VBUS is detected, enabling simple automatic host selection. Note that this will only work with USB A-to-C cables, since VBUS is not immediately available on USB-C to USB-C connections.

Split Mode

In some cases, it is desirable to split the connections in a USB-C cable and route them to different mux paths. A common application is to be able connect a USB device to a host machine for USB data while connecting VBUS charging from a device specific charger.

Mux split mode diagram

Split mode gives control over individual signal groups, allowing each group to be connect to a mux channel. VBUS can be connected to any combination of mux channels or disabled on the mux channels. Signal groups under Split control assignment are: VBUS, SSA (TX1+/-, RX1+/-), SSB (TX2+/-, RX2+/-), HSA (D+/-, Side A), HSB (D+/-, Side B), CC1, CC2, SBU1, and SBU2.

Downloads

Files

Attachment	Size
USB-C-Switch Datasheet v1.11	1.98 MB

Specs

Typical Performance Characteristics

Specifications are valid at 25°C unless otherwise noted. Indoor use only. Sample rates are typically limited by the USB throughput of the host operating system except where bulk capture is supported.

Parameter	Conditions/Notes	Min	Typ.	Max	Units
VBUS common to mux port ON		200	250	350	mΩ
VBUS current measurement resolution		-	1.95	-	mA
VBUS current measurement accuracy		-	±0.5	-	%FS
VBUS voltage measurement resolution		-	8	-	mV
VBUS voltage measurement accuracy		-	±0.2	-	%FS
CCx current measurement resolution		-	976	-	µA
CCx current measurement accuracy		-	±0.5	-	%FS
CCx voltage measurement resolution		-	4	-	mV
CCx voltage measurement accuracy		-	±0.5	-	%FS
Keep-alive charge (KAC) voltage	Sourced from control port VBUS	4.5	5.0	5.5	V
Keep-alive charge (KAC) current limit	Constant current mode short circuit to ground	600	800	1000	mA
A5 common to A5 mux DCR		1.0	-	1.1	Ω
B5 common to B5 mux DCR		1.0	-	1.1	Ω
A5 common to B5 mux DCR	Software flip condition	1.0	-	1.1	Ω
B5 common to A5 mux DCR	Software flip condition	1.0	-	1.1	Ω

Reviews

Comments

Android Auto and CarPlay regression, done!

Average: 5 (1 vote)

We set up our whole lab with the USB-C-Switch to test our car stereo headunit software. This is a game changer for our lab. It allowed us to quickly swap headunit software loads and test against multiple mobile devices all with programmed switching. Love it! Worth every penny.

2021-07-15

Great product and wonderful technical support

Average: 5 (1 vote)

Very good equipment a support. We had some issues with the shipping due to customs borders and the support servcie was able to unblock fastly. In addition, we did not choose the correct equipment the fist time and the support service helped us to decide what equipment was the best one. We had no problem to give it back and get the refund. Finally, the ordered the right equipment for our use case and it works perfectly!! Thanks you very much.

2020-03-13

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Kit Includes

1 - USB-C-Switch: Programmable Industrial 4-port USB Switch for USB-C
1 - USB-C male-to-male full featured, e-marked cable, 1.5 foot C59-USBC-C
1 - USB-C to A male-to-male cable, 1.5 foot (C40-USBC-A)
2 - Acroname Universal Orientation Cables (UOC), 1.5 foot 1x C67-USB-UOC 1x C70-USB-UOC