Programmable USB Hub

ESD Mitigations with Acroname

The next-generation circuitry in today’s consumer and industrial electronics is smaller, faster, better. Consumers love the innovations. But test engineers are not as enthusiastic. Because that innovation comes with a striking downside: increased susceptibility to electrostatic discharge.

If the USB devices you’re using aren’t built for rugged environments, a catastrophic failure could — and probably will — happen. You’ll have to tell the C-Suite that all your electronic components fried because your ESD mitigations failed.

How to Accomplish a Host Switch With the USBHub2x4

Often a simple USB switch with a physical button is used to switch USB devices between two different host computers. In many cases it would be nice to execute the host switch without physically pushing a button on the device. The Acroname Programmable USBHub2x4 hub allows a user to switch hosts programmatically without pushing a button.

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The need for USB-C and power delivery ports in automobiles is speeding up, and the auto industry is adapting to the new demands.

Daisy Chain Acroname USB Hubs

Customers often ask how many Acroname USBHub3+ hubs can be daisy-chained.

The answer is pretty simple: four.

However, getting there requires some understanding of the USB specification and the internal topology of Acroname hubs. Also, by following our suggested configuration, customers can maximize access to one of the most useful features of Acroname products: fully programmable USB ports.

Expand Hub Functionality with BrainStem API

Acroname's hubs are a robust hardware solution to many common usb related tasks:  remotely simulating a manual plug-cycle, charging (or not charging) batteries on connected devices, and switching control between two host computers.

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When it comes to advanced and cost sensitive electronic products, it remains vital to accurately test these devices during manufacturing and assembly to make sure they provide what the consumer expects and that each and every feature works how it should, right out of the box. The last thing a company needs is for faulty product to reach the hands of hard-won customers. Having disappointed consumers and managing recall related expenses are important problems to be avoided. But at what cost?

USB Hub vs USB Switch

Several customers have asked us whether or not a USB hub or a USB switch is right. There are important and distinctive differences between these two classes of devices, both architecturally and functionally. In many cases, both devices can be used in the same system to complement one another to achieve the required system functionality.