On Wed, Jul 13, 2011 at 10:35 AM, AJ ONeal <[email protected]> wrote: > Even though I can't build a usb hub or card-reader cheaper, I could make my > device smaller: > http://hphotos-snc6.fbcdn.net/278601_10150247408205502_723670501_7254858_3420305_o.jpg > I've buying buying and ripping apart various usb hubs, card readers, and > sata-usb adapters in order to find the smallest and easiest to reverse > engineer. > If I could get a case designed for it, it would be fine to just order the > parts, rip them apart, and reassemble them, but that's not a long term > solution since most of these companies are little chinese shops that shoot > up, produce 10,000 units, and go out of business. > I guess it's putting the cart before the horse a little bit, but reducing > the size of MediaBox from 5 inches to 3 inches and knowing that I can get it > down to an inch and a half with just my bare hands and a soldering iron is > really motivating.
OK, I see where you're coming from now. The reason there aren't any 'open source hardware' schematics for devices like that is that pretty much any dirt cheap device that performs some common function is built around some specialized ASIC that performs all the functions of the device and just needs power, a clock, and some connectors. And the datasheet for the ASIC, which is freely available from the part designer, tells you exactly what you need to hook up to it and usually even has a sample schematic or at least a block diagram. So if you search for 'USB hub ASIC' you find a page like this: http://focus.ti.com/docs/prod/folders/print/tusb2077a.html And then you find the datasheet link (In this case, it's http://focus.ti.com/lit/ds/symlink/tusb2077a.pdf ) and you get all the information you need to use it. Then you just need to buy one (or get a sample sent to you) and design it into whatever you're making. --Levi /* PLUG: http://plug.org, #utah on irc.freenode.net Unsubscribe: http://plug.org/mailman/options/plug Don't fear the penguin. */
