On Wed, 18 Jan 2012 02:46:16 -0600, "kturunen"
<kturunen@n_o_s_p_a_m.gmail.com> wrote:
>This link below is to the board
>http://www.kanebebe.com/download/min...2-V3.0_SCH.pdf
>
>Can I solder the ID pin to something or am I just missing the host
>hardware?
ile the signaling is basically the same in both directions, a
peripheral and host have certain differences. For example, the host
supplies power, the peripheral does not. The host has pulldowns on
the signal lines, the peripheral has pullups to indicate function and
presence. Hosts that support high speed must also support full and
low speeds, a peripheral that supports high speed can not connect to a
low speed only host. The negotiation from full speed to high speed
also places certain roles on the two devices. The host runs the bus,
the peripheral (at the packet level is purely responsive). So there
are at least a few things to deal with. USB OTG, does provide help
here.
So with a bit of fiddling USB transceivers are capable of both roles.
But the real problem is the quite large software stack and functions
required on the host (often partially implemented in USB host chips).
A device designed as a peripheral simply has *none* of the stuff on
board needed to drive a USB bus. And while some might theoretically
be hackable, it is far from a small undertaking.
USB is *far* from being a simple connection like RS-232. While a
peripheral doesn't need too much intelligence (and easy to use USB
device/peripheral hardware is commonly available), the host has a very
large burden. If the device supports USB/OTG, it has a (slightly)
simplified host stack and can negotiate host mode when connected
point-to-point with a device.
And even if you have a proper USB host, it'll need an appropriate
driver to talk to the peripheral - for example, a number of tablets
can be USB hosts (usually USB/OTG), but only support mass storage
devices as peripherals (FWIW, many/most cameras can actually operate
in that mode). So you couldn't, for example, plug in your USB mouse,
and least not without getting HID-class support put on the host
system.