4 ms·
Related: When designing small electronics devices, my go to for plug-in power and simple data transmission (including serial-over-USB) is USB-C. It's small, rev
by the__alchemist 5y ago
Related: When designing small electronics devices, my go to for plug-in power and simple data transmission (including serial-over-USB) is USB-C. It's small, reversible, and common due to phone chargers... and you can still wire it up and use it easily by just using the D+/- lines, power, and ground. (With appropriate CC resistors etc)
- jmgao 5y agoAnd the best part is that you don't even need a connector, you can just build it right into your PCB! USB-A also lets you do a PCB-only connector, but if you're doing anything that requires a cable instead of just plugging directly into a port, it's a lot more annoying to require a USB-A extension cable than any USB-C cable.
- grrrrrbox 5y agoWhat PCB thickness? Got a footprint?
- jmgao 5y ago0.8mm, https://github.com/jmgao/PCB-USB-C https://github.com/jmgao/PCB-USB-C
- grrrrrbox 5y agoThank you!
- prutschman 5y agoThe Eagle one yours is based on says it needs 0.6 mm PCB to work. Is it just close enough not to matter?
- jmgao 5y agoAnnoyingly, the USB-C midplate is specified at 0.7mm. In my experience, 0.6mm boards are too thin to make a reliable connection. Going thicker has worked perfectly with all of the cables I've tried. I suppose there might be some risk of damaging your cables, but it doesn't seem too likely to me (the spec is 0.7 +/- 0.05), and I haven't had any problems.
- anyfoo 5y agoDo you have an example for such a "USB-C edge connector"? Intuitively I would have said that common PCB thickness is too large, or do I misunderstand what you mean?
- jmgao 5y agoYeah, you need a 0.8mm thick PCB, but everyone can do that now (JLCPCB and oshpark both do it for the same price as a regular 1.6mm board). Here's a footprint: https://github.com/jmgao/PCB-USB-C https://github.com/jmgao/PCB-USB-C
- LeifCarrotson 5y agoYou can also do this with thicker PCBs (2.4 or 2mm, nominal 2.235mm, 1.6mm works with a good USB cable or a shim) to form a USB-A male connector, eg: https://eleccelerator.com/usb-business-card/ https://eleccelerator.com/usb-business-card/ http://goodfet.sourceforge.net/hardware/goodfet31/ http://goodfet.sourceforge.net/hardware/goodfet31/
- anyfoo 5y agoSweet, I will consider that next time I need something USB-like, thanks!
- Eduard 5y agoI need photos to understand this, including one where a cable is connected to it
- jmgao 5y agoSure: https://photos.app.goo.gl/CerrZNcQiQE254pTA https://photos.app.goo.gl/CerrZNcQiQE254pTA
- spookthesunset 5y agoVery cool!
- 5y ago
- asciimov 5y ago> common due to phone chargers Thanks to Apple keeping iPhones on lightning connectors the only things with USB-C I have in my house is a Nintendo Switch and a Soldering Iron.
- ace2358 5y agoI don’t understand, my new iPhone 13 came with a usb-c to lightning cable. My new iPad is usb-c too as well as my new kindle and new Sony camera. Even my vape has usb-c! Edit: and my soldering iron!
- asciimov 5y agoOk, so the iPhone 13 does come with a usb-c to lightning, but that cable is completely useless to me as it didn't come with a charger. All my previous iPhones and iPads came with a usb-a chargers. Other than that Switch Charger I've got no other USB-c chargers.
- photojosh 5y agoOlder devices! And some new ones that still have USB-micro. It's quite difficult to buy a USB-C cable that is not USB-C or Lightning on the other end. While USB-A on the charger's side with USB-C on device side is quite common and comes with a lot of devices that don't include a charger. I couldn't find USB-C to USB-micro device cables at any retail store near me. Ended up getting them off Amazon. My transition to all USB-C is also much slower than it could be, since you can't get 6- or 10-port chargers that are all USB-C. iirc best I've seen is 2x USB-C and then 4 USB-A. Use cases: - my embedded dev boards are all USB-micro (sometimes 2x of) and worse, USB-mini or USB-B. setup for dev on the go from my MBP now is a foot-long USB-C to USB-micro. - charging older Kindles, bike lights, etc
- Vladimof 5y ago> my go to for plug-in power and simple data transmission (including serial-over-USB) is USB-C Can you push for USB-O, the round USB connector? /s
- amelius 5y agoCan you recommend an IC and development tools?
- the__alchemist 5y agoI've been using STM32 and nRF-52. For development tools, I've been using Probe-Run to flash, and Defmt to debug.