Design 12:1 2.0 USB Multiplexer | Matija

[Stric_Matic]

Hi everyone,

I've been trying to design a 12:1 2.0 USB multiplexer for a while, with very little success. I've bought a couple of MAX4999 8:1 multiplexers, trying to use two of them in parallel such as shown in the datasheet.

I've put them on a breakout board from Adafruit, and started testing on a breadboard. I'm need at least 12 USB devices to be accessed individually as removable disks, by the microcontroller (Arduino YUN mini). One of which, for example is Mobius Action Camera.

Obviously, the first concern is the high-speed traces and if you can play with them on a simple breadboard, but I did test a single device, with lines running through the breadboard and everything seemed to work fine as long as they didn't run through the multiplexer.

Any thoughts, suggestions, criticism?

Much appreciated,
Matija

 

[rbelli1]

Why not get a USB hub? Then they can all be accessed at the same time.

BoB

 

[Stric_Matic]

That's a great idea! The reason I'm looking into the multiplexing ICs is cause hubs with 12 ports are too big (I'm building a mobile device), and power consuming. But if you find one that is relatively small, please let me know!

 

[donpacino]

they have 2 port devices as well

 

[rbelli1]

If you cascade two 7 port hubs you will get 13 ports available. 6 open ports plus the second hub in the first hub. The all 7 from the second.

BoB

 

[davenn]

Why not get a USB hub? Then they can all be accessed at the same time.

BoB

I agree

That's a great idea! The reason I'm looking into the multiplexing ICs is cause hubs with 12 ports are too big (I'm building a mobile device), and power consuming. But if you find one that is relatively small, please let me know!

what you are trying to do isn't likely to be any smaller

 

[rbelli1]

But if you find one that is relatively small, please let me know!

Just google USB hub. You will find all different sizes and shapes. You can also get the hub chips that are not much bigger than the multiplexer you are looking at. Pay very close attention to the layout guidelines in the datasheet and application notes.

BoB