4way .. hub with some help allows access to 4 cards

[simeon]

so with this design you can connect any usb device like a gotek or a laptop
to one of 4 cards memory etc
the cards can all mount too a pc via a hub
can be used to connect any two pcs etc pc mac shares 4 card etc etc
very flexible not just stuck too the gotek or even memory cards
but its what i had in mind when ive made it

some surgery and some parts about 20 euros to make one
some thin ribbon cable and a soic pic ive just got dil and it all open
soic recommended the single sided pcb type on the hub i got from ebay
i just drilled and placed vero pins in and cut the d- d+ track to form the switched pairs
dont laugh too much at the relays they solve many issues like a custom ic logic etc
not good
sometimes old tech meets new and marries
so some accepts on the schematics are for debug

take a look youll see whats done so far
the plan is not to ever power from the gotek etc
alone the gotek should have the choice of 4 cards no pc

or plug the hub in to external power as it has a small socket
and it can power vcc and also the cards not mounted too the gotek
and bound too the pc etc
so has a dual use as a 4 way bank select or interchange with the pc etc
very handy!!!!!

ive seen boxes to share one usb device with 4 machines
but not seen this it has some cavities like no drives open on a pc when switching etc
as the drives stack will reorder each time you change something

if you find one please post a link

the source code is written in c and ive added comments
some tricky flow with the new device plugged in routines
ive built flashed and started to test so far so good
im waiting for parts and more usb keys to arrive and i can really get mine done
and flash the code to a soic instead of dil

here is the ebay stuff i used

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2-100pcs-4-3 ... 2749.l2649
i used 5 X12mm 6x6 = 2 euros

https://www.ebay.co.uk/p/USB-2-0-High-S ... 717&chn=ps
the single side pcb hub {3 euros}

very small 30ma 150mw relays @ 5v
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/NEC-TOKIN-UB ... 2749.l2649

10 for 5-6 euros

some 1m usb cables from the £1 shop

let me know any ideas too add in and if i can help

[simeon]

flash code update

0.2R
the eeprom load on boot up was wrong
now when you hold a button and plug it into the pc or its psu
then it loads that state and not whats in the eeprom

if you dont hold a choice button on power on the eeprom value is loaded

minor bug
no body seems to have downloaded the project

very handy 4 cards access to the gotek and the pc.. with little effort ,,,

[simeon]

hi people
i received the 4 X1GB keys and other bits
and the keys have key bits so dont fit ill cut off a bit for sure with my saw
cheep anyway $4
so far ive mounted and wired up the relays and too a dil pic and socket
so ill finish the code tomorrow
not happy with v2 v3 roll on
ill get time to fix it
omg i hate kids...

ill post some pictures and a bit of video i hope via youtube etc ill try
but so far so good it switches and the pc de mounts the cards and remounts them
within the ~500ms release
and i can select any card and it does the same
some idiots to fix in the code...
so the circuit is sound 0.8 is aok
the code needs a few twirks as do we all...
so the 1GB keys all mount too the pc an auto switch to as per
so it works double click to mount but some code tweaks and ill iron out the issues
yipeee !!!! 4 cards on one gotek and share with any pc mac usb any.... or any single usb 2 pc to any pc x4 usb device and pc to the remaining 3 on the hub
or up to 128 devices on any port not bound to a gotek etc etc
very many possibilities it appear relays solve many problems with any usb unless you use some custom vhdl
im sure someone pissed off will add??
if so please send me one free...!!! to bo honest i wouldnt care as vhdl is prob the best way
perhaps lol but vhdl these days is 3.3v
ha ha ha this is the best way or our
!!! old teck too use one usb and the pc too share the 3 left ...
wcis usb 5v wins this design is sound to share 4 cards
long live my saw... till tomorrow and i can get a bit of still tooo write...
if you use a vhdl etc 'chip' it wont run fast enough
only a custom usb ic will work
even then i dont think you can use less than 5 ic or 5 relays... same thing
these relays are cheep the circuit and stuff will cost less than 30 euros..
programmed ics is easy ask...

[simeon]

had a day off so got on with the designs
0.9 designs 0.1 revision
ive added two goteks share two cards each with the pc select deselect
ill fix another code block ill prob use another relay...{done!} for switching per bank
some keyboards{synths samplers} floppy ones setups will work with this nice...
with goteks i use a 6pin {and ground} svideo sockets and standard cables
does for rotary encoder and also the lcd etc and they are all now mega cheep
just enough connections 7

so this addition 0.9 allows two goteks to use up to 2 cards each and the pc can own one or two
or all etc select deselect
just stakein the claim on this accepts
.8 will always be 4 to one |& pc bin is 0000 0001 0010 0100 1000
.9 will always be 2 to two |& pc bin is 00 01 10 per bank 2 banks 00-01-10 00-01-10 no 11 on any bit group

i think with some help we can move this easy code for this pic over to SDCC and codeblocks
and then its free i like picc but its easy bin select code and better off for us all within free tools
a? any helpers @? ps... its not something i want to gain from this project its for us all
and interlinking of cards within some sort of framework that can be used
i think its a good tool not just for goteks etc or memory but for any up to 128 or 256 devices and share
ive said ive seen 1 device shared with upto 4 pc
but never 2 usb shared with pairs ...
or even 1 with 1 of 4 gota love the relay a whole new usb respect too it
solves the issues flow.. sure... one thing missing in usb is device arbitration
would be handy...

[simeon]

started the debug got a couple of free days so ill sort it out

i plan to make one code
upon inital run you can set the boxes mode
.8 or .9
its stored
as is the last state etc in eprom however i think from the datasheet you get 50,000 or so eeprom flashes
so current state perhaps needs nvram again i see 50,000 so not sure more ram etc is 50,000
perhaps add a byte stored in another cell then bi check it
so many weights too add

so also i plan a small foot print single sided pcb with 6 relays 6 diodes 6 tac buttons
and a pic and a few pins thru too connect too the pc hub
i may use very small reed relays for the vcc switching {cheep better and easy}
i dont see the point in 4 cards 4 goteks and one pc hub
but prob someone would like it one more chip a selector and three pins on the Aport
so ill add a plan to make this using a pic with more i/os
not sure i can be bothered im happy with 2 X 2 card and hub mount
pic 16F84A soic are cheep 2 euros inc post from ebay
really easy to program from two small wire solders two resistors one diode and any rs232 port

please i would like some feedback

perhaps i should keep the whole design and replace the pic with better

i would prefer it moved to a free compiler

[simeon]

so where is it!!!!

ive been busy with life badly jarred my big toe awch!!!

so v0.9.1 schematic
iron out the schematic first too the best fit
then the code flows better!!

yes i know it can be done in some custom vhdl etc easy
but pic is fun and cheep no special tools and a kit of bits can be used
with any cheep hub like the one i posted a link

ive reworked the ports and design to allow two modes
mode 1 is 1, 2, 3,4 slots on the hub can be available to the gotek or pc port 1
mode 2 is 1,3 2,4 slots on the hub can be available to the gotek or pc port 1 and 2

next ill make a small single sided pcb design board

that fits on top of the cheep hub!!
it will contain the soic pic 6 relays buttons and diodes, resistors all smd
so the code

ive started to rework it so you can choose mode
this is all done just the detect stuff to sort in the main routines

ill make a release soon
if anyone wants too build one
use the links at the top to get the bits
the pcb i am doing today
i expect a one of well debugged code
and as you need to use a soic ill arrange some sort of ebay for a chip etc programmed
as i say first power up you can choose mode
after this you can press all the buttons and power it
and it will reset mode... the unit defaults to mode 1 and can be set to mode 2
this is then stored till you again hold down all the buttons and power up

the jumpers allow to lock out port 2 for one port to 1 of 4 share
let me know any feedback |
views are very welcome

[Jeff]

please i would like some feedback

The problem is that today very few people are willing to make the board themself... That's the issue with DIY projects.


About the relay : Are you using some specific model for usb differential pair ?
(i know that there is some usb multiplexer ic available.)

[simeon]

hi thanks

i agree
its better if some chinese company takes up the idea ???
and moves it too vhdl etc.. fpga small scale
as i said ive seen units too share one usb device with 4
but never a pc hub while connected share with 2 gotek up too 2 device each
or 1 gotek etc usb laptop etc share up to one of 4 devices with the pc hub
so this type is unique and i agree needs some custom thinking and a product
perhaps the producers in china will see a product in this
this the hierarchy of these devices is still being resolved
well mine works with 1 of 4 cards mounted too my laptop did have to use a 750ms delay
for 30 euros and a few bits of wire and program a pic...
im done with this ive no room in my life to give it space...

you affirm what i think its best left too a custom flash core stamp on a premade board

as it does confirm with usb switching

i do like relays as i say mine works so screw anyone else not willing to wire there own

[simeon]

i resign and wave all rights too this design and concept to Jean-François@DEL NERO (HxC2001)
{good for his team too make} ??? finish it in the best way
he can choose to produce an IP model of this concept at will
and a physical units at verbatim

simeon@vsmlibs

{send me two please ill debug!!!}

[simeon]

relay switched has 0 zero latency
but a mux chip will always start to stack...
eek!!!
better too hard/soft switch usb plug in then power
as this devices tries too do
custom chips solve many problems and introduce others...

why introduce latency {ic's B to F } when you dont need it

just relays solves the usb issue's with multiple ics and many flashes and updates this and that

foe...

from now on ask jean

he owns the rights...

[simeon]

whats missing in usb memory land is device arbitration hardware or software

adding this will help usb memory in the gotek and any usb devices that wish to share fixed memory
can prob reuse scsi c libs ie

i can use a sampler scsi to another sampler and a pc in the middle in scsi
all devices are shared and fixed the hdds are shared seamlessly all on one wide ribbon

where is this missing accept with usb?? 1 23 and now 4 missing????
really only applies to memory {cards hdds etc} not usb dedicated devices like sound cards

but again this is a good idea so you can easily share your usb sound card
with more than one device up to 128 or 256 in usb land
you can even share your usb sound card over the internet via a ip port etc etc etc
one usb port used for transfer one for device control so when you plug in a card will use two port id's etc
then you dont need relays or a mux chip or a controller so the actual cards
and controllers need rewritten in hardware
usb 1 2 3 and now 4 are shit they are getting faster / bigger
but not flashable control cores easily. and not more intelligent !!!
arbitration takes a bit of a more cleaver usb interchange
they beef the speed and forget the logic thats needed!!!
plug in and play should also include share
and its so easy to add... too the protocol for usb chained devices
if we add arbitration then you can plug usb into usb any gender...

too late for old devices

we need to move on from usb 123 and planned 4

usb hardware as exists is redundant period.

arbitration is a mix of transfer and control
one channel for control one for transfer of all data

the mind boggles...!!!

[simeon]

looking more at this stuff
i see that a mux usb chip will need two support ics
1 micro and 1 16 way buffer ic all perhaps SMD
TOO COMPLEX

when 6 relays and one easy program pic fits the bill
i built two for 30 euros still got most bits too make another 2
too build and rework will take a pcb
i dont use pcb just wire wrap
so you can make a pcb or buy one... if made
or wire wrap 6 relays and one soic pic 16F84 20mhz 1us PI
its a no brainer
perhaps it will be produced as a made up idea
i dont care i build another 3 no issues with relays
works with any usb 2 device
pc's seem to release it very easy esp memory cards
fixed devices are harder too shift
this design is as is
its been made too connect memory cards too both gotek
other usb units and two pc's share and mount
its not for any profit
if you dont like something
then post something better or say nothing