Hy everyone,
First of all, thanks for this great forum which never fails to impress me.
I have a question which some of you might help answering: I'm wondering if it's possible to use the mini-usb port of my smartphone to get some data input.
Let me explain myself a bit more: I know that smartphones (HTC Touch for me) aren't USB hosts. However, the data connexions are still present.
Here's what I'd like to do: even though the smartphone can't control another peripheral, I'd like that external peripheral to send data to the smartphone, and the smartphone to use that data to control the screen. That would give an alternative way of controlling the screen.
The input would come from another touch surface, so my guess is that using the data to control the screen shouldn't be much of a problem.
So? Any idea if it's possible? What kind of platform/language would be nice to do that? C#?
(I have JAVA development experience, but I'm quite a newbie as far as Win Mobile devs are concerned. I'm willing to learn though
I think I searched this forum (and others) quite extensively before posting. If by any chance I missed a related post, I'd be glad to know about it
No ideas? Anyone?
Last up before I stop...
prob. not
i dont think that is technically possible. i think one has to be the host, and that host provides power. so to power the input device(im thinking keyboard) it would need the smartphone/ppc to be a host....
but i have no clue in this area...maybe someone could prove me wrong?
Hey, thanks for your answer.
The powering issues could be overcomed by cutting the cables and giving power from an external power source (I think several people have tried doing it, I need to find the links again). By the way, the peripheral itself is plugged on 110V, so there's plenty of available power
I'm not seeking here to "control" the device, just to aquire the signal it's sending... Does that seem feasible, or does the peripheral need to be somehow "activated" by a Host before sending anything?
Well, in order to get data, the host must ask the slave each time it needs some. Other things must be done by the host, like usb enumeration. That means there has to be a host or it won't work, unless you use usb on-the-go, but I do not know many devices that support it.
according to the qualcomm website, the msm chipsets support otg
Related
Hi, did a few searches about this but couldnt find anything.
Is it possible to make the device(in my case, the Hermes) act as a keyboard for another device?
The thing is, i have a Xbox 360, and today they released a update which among other things contained msn/live messenger integration.
and to make it easier to use this, Microsoft are launching a keyboard, which you plug in the controller ,blablabla.
But they havent released it yet, so, i was thinking of using the kard-Keyboard on my device as a USB keyboard for it.
any comments?
Never heard of anyone doing an app like this.
It is possible theoretically but someone would have to write a special program that would kill AS, then take over the USB port and identify as a keyboard.
Doubt any one will bother with this since there are plenty of real USB keyboards available at any computer store (small ones too)
the tricky part would be that the program would have to change what kinda usb device the pda would say it was
sounds like some lowlvl hacks would be required
As far as I know this isn't so hard. For example WM5torage does similiar thing by emulating Mass Storage Device. Personally, I would be interested in the bluetooth keybord emulation.
This is technically possible, but somebody will have to write USB function driver for HID device class for that.
For bluetooth - dont sure, if stack will allow extension.
how hard would that be?
Do you know what devices supports USB host?
as far as I know: no ;-)
Athena, flame and shift
USB Host built in... !?
I have read most of the posts related to the USB Host thing...
Everytime i must read such things like that the Tytn has no hardware that supports USB-Host...
But Samsung says, that the CPU and Chipset has built in USB-Host AND USB-Device Ports...
http://www.samsung.com/global/business/semiconductor/productInfo.do?fmly_id=229&partnum=SC32442
So the statement that its hardware cannot do USB-Host is not true.
If the CPU and Chipsets has built in USB-Host Functionality, the Hardware-Ports in the Chips (i think) have to be used at the USB-Interface at bottom of the Tytn.
So at end, it has to be only a Software Problem to support USB-Host Functionality directly at Tytn...
Anyone who can follow my Ideas, or do i have an error in my thinking?
the usb functions of the cpu is not used there is another chip which handle usb for htc devices
even if the cpu support host non of the connections are passed on to any connctor
So is my Question, why should they do such irrational things ?
Why use another additional Hardware (at additional costs!!), if the already existing can do the functions ?
If they really do that, they must be mad... throwing dollars out of the window and make the product more expensive than it can be.
Its like i buy a Ferrari and only drive 130 km/h instead of 250 km/h on our german highways.
not sure the reason but it have been don for many generations of pda's from htc maybe the r&d cost of changing their pcb design is bigger then using their current design
or maybe they dont want to wander into the jungle of getting piles of support calls and mail with people wanting usb drivers for this and that not to mention the issue with having to be forced to substain a .5 mAmp output to usb devices with batt issues
and having to handle correct handling of init'ing connected usb devices after on off
But the Flame, Shift and Athena have USB-Host Funtionality you said.
Especially the Flame is much like the Tytn. So the Thing about Drivers, Batt and Current have to be the same.
I wonder in addition a little bit how it came to the sdhc compatibility that was not given under WM5 but now under WM6. For me that means the Hardware of SD is everytime the same, only the Software changes a bit. So the Tytn must accept cards up to 32gig...
Why they do such things will be a mystery on for the future.
I think with conventional explanation attempts it will not be done.
Maybe i will write a mail to HTC and will do the Question again there.
you should not sure if they will reply or even read it but you should all the same
but flame is not a htc device
hello,
i've heard that the universal WOULD support USB host drivers if an unconnected pin inside the universal was connected... could anyone tell me;
- if i manage to get the pin connected, would i get usb host features like on any other usb host phone with proper drivers?
- how hard is it to do?
- WHAT to do?
Oh man,really really nice interesting idea,hope it's true and possible,i hope someone knows all about that and soon writes here how that is possible maaan,would be really awesome to play with that
PalDragan said:
Oh man,really really nice interesting idea,hope it's true and possible,i hope someone knows all about that and soon writes here how that is possible maaan,would be really awesome to play with that
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nice to hear someone else would like to get it to work too
EDIT: just found this on another thread on another forum about a PXA270 phone, someone was trying to get it to work, seems like all we need is
- switch the pin to host mode
- a driver (maybe zenos latest ones?)
After about 6 months of not touching this project, I decided to take another quickie look at the PXA270 docs and programmers reference. What I now see is very interesting.
Originally, I was looking at bringing out the USB Host 1 interface pins to the outside world as they were only terminated internally on the motherboard. Only about 1% of users might be able to do that.
I then started to look at the USB OTG (On The Go) interface that this chip supports. The USB OTG interface can be used as both a client and host. It shares the same pins as the Axim's serial port. Unfortuately, there are two serial control lines pins that are not brought out to the connector, so I scrubbed that idea.
This past weekend I picked up the programmer's design reference book to look at how the various USB interfaces are programmed and I saw something that I missed before as this was in the USB Client section. It appears (to me anyways) that the USB Client pins can also be programmed to act as a USB Host when in the USB OTG low power operation mode. The manual discusses how the additional control registers are used along with an output mux and charge-pump circuit (to provide the +5v). Refer to the PXA27x Processor Family Developer's Manual - dated Jan 2006, sections 12.5.2 and 20.
I will be looking at this more closely to see if a simple driver can be written (Afarre, where are you...) to switch the USB client pins into Host mode. In addition to this, the USB device drivers would be needed. Please remember, an additional IO interface circuit will be needed to connect between any USB device and the Axim as the proper voltages are not on the sync connector.
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the_fish said:
nice to hear someone else would like to get it to work too
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Suuuuuuuuuure,every crazy idea to abuse my PPC and i'm in for the quest
PalDragan said:
Suuuuuuuuuure,every crazy idea to abuse my PPC and i'm in for the quest
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haha same, btw thats the link to the topic:
http://www.mobilitysite.com/boards/x50-x51-forums/140071-hacking-pxa270-internal-usb-host-24.html
Unfortunately, this means it's not for 99% of users as it requires a delicate hardware mod/addition to the motherboard (see my earlier posts & photos in this thread).
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seems like they were still working on the driver (which we already have(?)) so we only need the hardware mod.... i guess...
the_fish said:
haha same, btw thats the link to the topic:
http://www.mobilitysite.com/boards/x50-x51-forums/140071-hacking-pxa270-internal-usb-host-24.html
seems like they were still working on the driver (which we already have(?)) so we only need the hardware mod.... i guess...
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Ummm it's definately a crazy idea. We were discussing with mamaich (our guru) last year. Unfortunately it's not that simple to provide the power in sync connector, which is acting as a usb client (connector) at the moment.
tomal said:
Ummm it's definately a crazy idea. We were discussing with mamaich (our guru) last year. Unfortunately it's not that simple to provide the power in sync connector, which is acting as a usb client (connector) at the moment.
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did you read in the thread i posted a link to? they had the same problem, but also found out that it maybe is possible to provide the nessecary +5v too, they were not sure tho, and i thought maybe zenos drivers contain the code to do that.
the_fish said:
did you read in the thread i posted a link to? they had the same problem, but also found out that it maybe is possible to provide the nessecary +5v too, they were not sure tho, and i thought maybe zenos drivers contain the code to do that.
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Ok, seems there is a new idea of power injection from outside.
Anybody tried it...?
Couple of months ago, I was trying with outside +5v power but nothing happens
Win_XP said:
Couple of months ago, I was trying with outside +5v power but nothing happens
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did you use one of those special USB cables that have two female USB-A, one for power and the other for the device to plug in?
http://htc-tytn-ii.handster.com/software.php?id=3339&for=HTC+TyTN+II
i don't know anything about this.. i'm actually looking to hook up something that normally has a rs-232 port.. but is also made in usb.. It draws power from another source
with something like that program doesn't that suggest usb host is possible..
http://gnalpgnarf.handster.com/software.php?id=3339&for=gnalpgnarf
hmmm....am I right or am I wrong?
Theoretically speaking the idea with a pin is supposed to redirect power from intake to output, however, not only Uni is incapable of supporting the output (you are essentially attempting to piggyback another device), the external support will not be possible due to pin configuration, regardless of the cable used.
Another thing, other than sheer experimentation, what would be the real point of such USB host?
STOP TORTURING YOUR UNIs, GUYS!!!!
I am pretty sure, that the Universal doesn't support USB Host.
It did not, it does not, it will not.
Sorry guys!
To be honest:
Yes, the PXA270 chip supports USB Host, but in most HTC devices they use this feature already for something else, like: WLAN or 3G connection.
DOMy
seen this?:
http://hhtinker.blogspot.com/2008/10/usb-host-on-treo-650.html
do you know what USB Host already busy?
it used as data call transfer radio <-> CE.
USB hub will not solve this problem easy.
also if you want attach it to miniUSB connector, you need additional OTG chip.
=> Host on universal is very hard to do, ...impossible.
I wonder if the USB on the Nexus One allows me to connect an external hard drive. I'm only talking about data transmission with externally powered USB-devices. The N1 doesn't need to power USB-devices for me to be satisfied.
And if not: could the deficiency possibly be mended software-wise, or is it a limitation of the hardware itself?
Thanks beforehand!
no it cannot be the host. Read this on a google forum, someone posted the link as an answer to a similar question yesterday.
Thank you for your answer, britoso!
But oh, what a pitty!!!
Can't it possibly be fixed by booting with another software driver or something?
What's the point of removing this ability? It seems completely ridiculous. It gains nothing at all to "un-specify" USB host capability:
"Now, I have my files on this USB memory stick and here's the Nexus One. Oh, what's the use. Google didn't care at all about this kind of scenaria..."
Well, let's see what can be done with bulky wireless adapters and stuff like that then, to mend this unnecessary fail of the N1... I probably need to use a PC running Windows and a cable internet in order to have any use at all of the N1. Was this the purpose of this deliberate design "feature"?!?
this feature was not removed, but simply never implemented into the Android OS (afaik). if USB was host that means anything connected to it would have to draw power from the Nexus One's battery. Im sure HTC does not want this, because some things connected to USB can put incredible stress on a battery.
I thought the inability was due to a USB design that will allow charging, but doesn't allow hosting.
(at least that what I gathered about the n900 and why it couldn't act as a host.)
edit: nevermind nokia opted to skip on the go support to get the product out faster.
I don't know if there's a hardware limitation in place, but even if there isn't, the software does not support it.
There's an app for the n900 to add host support in the maemo repository. Don't know if it works though. I've always thought host support was due to the software.
Go here:
http://code.google.com/p/android/issues/detail?id=738
Sign in with your google ID. Vote for the feature by clicking the star.
(While you are there, click on "Back to list" and browse for other issues/features you care about and "star" them too...)
Its been accomplished on the Droid... Host mode works, but as there are no drivers, anything that runs over usb will turn on / charge but not connect.
http://www.engadget.com/2010/02/10/droid-gets-a-usb-hack-allowing-it-to-control-printers-and-camera/
mikecyber said:
Its been accomplished on the Droid... Host mode works, but as there are no drivers, anything that runs over usb will turn on / charge but not connect.
http://www.engadget.com/2010/02/10/droid-gets-a-usb-hack-allowing-it-to-control-printers-and-camera/
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Thanks for posting this as I saw this on another site and came here to raise awareness. I've heard that someone got a USB keyboard working over USB host. Could someone try this out on their N1?
Please forgive my ignorance - I'm a fairly new developer and know very little about hardware.
The subject line of the post pretty much says it all. I'm looking for something inexpensive with an eInk screen that I can use to type on, as regular monitors tire out my eyes after a while. If no software exists, I'd be very happy to contribute to that development, which is part of why I was looking to the Nook (I'm most comfortable in Java).
Does the current model or any previous eInk model have the capacity to connect a physical keyboard? If not, are there any other eReaders that do have this ability? (I know I can get an eInk screen for a netbook, but I don't want to spend that much if I can avoid it.) I saw a few old threads discussing whether or not USB Host was possible, but none seemed to have a conclusive answer one way or another.
Thanks for your help!
I'm not quite sure if the current version has Bluetooth. But since it is android and if it does have Bluetooth. Chances are there would be the possibility of connecting a Bluetooth keyboard.
Another possibility is getting an eeepc network and replacing the screen yourself with a pixelqi screen. That should be easier on your eyes (though probably not so easy on your wallet)
Sent from a Galaxy S 2 Far Away
Sorry, Volcanolotus, but the STR does not have bluetooth. One further option for that would be use the usb connector, converting it to usb host, and adding the physical keyboard. It is just a concept, but it may work.
apeine said:
Sorry, Volcanolotus, but the STR does not have bluetooth. One further option for that would be use the usb connector, converting it to usb host, and adding the physical keyboard. It is just a concept, but it may work.
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Hm. I thought so too. Fret not! I just thought of a solution. It has wifi right... Use this! https://market.android.com/details?...?t=W251bGwsMSwxLDEsImNvbS52b2xvc3l1a2l2YW4iXQ..
Though its really a clumsy solution but a solution nonetheless
Though i love the nook, would not a kindle, already having a keyboard be a better option?
Now, in regards to using the USB port as a USB host, in regards to cell phones running android, the hardware is there, though software uses have been hit/miss on. ICS (Android 4.0) enables usb host functionality natively in the operating system, this will probably be your best bet for the functionality you want. The downside is that I would expect it to be atleast a year or longer before ICS comes to the nook.
keyboard now working
I asked verygreen to work on this and 24 hours later, voila.
(Nook Touch Android Development) USB Host support (working)