Post by thread:[EE]: USB Memory Key

Hi all. Has anyone thought about making a USB Memory Key? IBM makes them, as I'm sure others do, but at a price of $64CDN for 8MB of memory, I can't justify it. Basically what it is is a small device that when plugged into a USB port, the computer recognizes as almost like a disk drive. It's a neat idea, and I was wondering if it could be done cheaper than buying from them. I don't really need 8MB of memory, but maybe a meg or two would be nice. Any ideas? Josh Koffman -- http://www.piclist.com#nomail Going offline? Don't AutoReply us! email spam_OUTlistservTakeThisOuTmitvma.mit.edu with SET PICList DIGEST in the body

That will work, but the cost is roughly the same...even though you do get a bit more storage. The size is much larger though. Surely there must be a more elegant solution. Anyone know how the commercial products work (ie. what microcontroller, etc)? Josh Koffman Arthur Brown wrote: > > What's wrong with USB SmartMedia/Flash Reader cost #20 > SmartMedia Cards 16MB #9 to 128MB at #60 > > Regards Art > > plus you can use them in your camera and Mp3 player.. > > {Original Message removed}

That was kind of what I was getting at. Question is, how do you emulate a drive to the host computer? Randy Glenn wrote: {Quote hidden}> > Anyone want to take a USB PIC or AVR, and an Atmel DataFlash chip? > > -Randy Glenn > > Measure twice, cut once, curse, discard. > Repeat.================================================= > .....PICxpertKILLspam.....home.com - EraseMEPICxpertspam_OUTTakeThisOuTyahoo.com > http://picxpert.dyndns.org > Not that the site works yet, of course... > ================================================= > > {Original Message removed}

"Simply" follow the USB Mass Storage spec. That's what the IBM thing does - no driver required under WinME/2k+ , Linux, and since a certain version of MacOS whose coefficient escapes me. Maybe this would be an application for a Cypress EZ-USB, Ramtron FRAM for code storage, and a DataFlash. I suggest this because: a. I want to be the first one b. They've got App notes available on the Mass Storage spec. That makes writing the code a bit easier c. You can get one in the Keyspan USA-19x USB PDA serial adapter, which can be had at several major computer outlets for about $40USD. Probably a good development solution (though not for making the final version - too bulky) -Randy Glenn Measure twice, cut once, curse, discard. Repeat.================================================= PICxpertspam_OUThome.com - @spam@PICxpertKILLspamyahoo.com http://picxpert.dyndns.org Not that the site works yet, of course... ================================================= {Original Message removed}

Josh Koffman <KILLspamPICLISTKILLspammitvma.mit.edu> wrote: > Has anyone thought about making a USB Memory Key? IBM makes them, > as I'm sure others do, but at a price of $64CDN for 8MB of memory, > I can't justify it. Basically what it is is a small device that > when plugged into a USB port, the computer recognizes as almost > like a disk drive. It's a neat idea, and I was wondering if it > could be done cheaper than buying from them. I don't really need > 8MB of memory, but maybe a meg or two would be nice. Any ideas? Josh: Windows Me, 2000, and XP (and recent versions of the Mac OS and Linux) include support for the USB Mass Storage Class, so you don't have to write any PC-side drivers; you just need to build a peripheral that's compliant with the Mass Storage Class spec and can communicate with a hard drive (or CompactFlash card) via ATAPI. Cypress Semiconductor, of course, has multiple solutions and owns a significant majority of the market for these things. > Anyone know how the commercial products work (ie. what > microcontroller, etc)? Most use Cypress's EZ-USB FX (full-speed programmable), EZ-USB FX2 (high-speed programmable), SLIIRIDE or ISD-200 (full-speed non-programmable), or ISD300 (high-speed non-programmable). I've never seen a commercial USB Mass Storage device that used any other USB microcontrollers (although there are some full-speed devices that use custom ASICs). -Andrew === Andrew Warren -- RemoveMEaiwTakeThisOuTcypress.com === Principal Design Engineer === Cypress Semiconductor Corporation === === Opinions expressed above do not === necessarily represent those of === Cypress Semiconductor Corporation -- http://www.piclist.com hint: PICList Posts must start with ONE topic: [PIC]:,[SX]:,[AVR]: ->uP ONLY! [EE]:,[OT]: ->Other [BUY]:,[AD]: ->Ads

The Q drive from Agate uses a Philips node controller and a SX. {Quote hidden}> -----Original Message----- > From: Andrew Warren [spamBeGoneaiwspamBeGoneCYPRESS.COM] > Sent: Monday, October 29, 2001 3:50 PM > To: TakeThisOuTPICLISTEraseMEspam_OUTMITVMA.MIT.EDU > Subject: Re: [EE]: USB Memory Key > > > Josh Koffman <RemoveMEPICLISTTakeThisOuTmitvma.mit.edu> wrote: > > > Has anyone thought about making a USB Memory Key? IBM makes them, > > as I'm sure others do, but at a price of $64CDN for 8MB of memory, > > I can't justify it. Basically what it is is a small device that > > when plugged into a USB port, the computer recognizes as almost > > like a disk drive. It's a neat idea, and I was wondering if it > > could be done cheaper than buying from them. I don't really need > > 8MB of memory, but maybe a meg or two would be nice. Any ideas? > > Josh: > > Windows Me, 2000, and XP (and recent versions of the Mac OS and > Linux) include support for the USB Mass Storage Class, so you > don't have to write any PC-side drivers; you just need to build > a peripheral that's compliant with the Mass Storage Class spec > and can communicate with a hard drive (or CompactFlash card) via > ATAPI. > > Cypress Semiconductor, of course, has multiple solutions and > owns a significant majority of the market for these things. > > > Anyone know how the commercial products work (ie. what > > microcontroller, etc)? > > Most use Cypress's EZ-USB FX (full-speed programmable), EZ-USB > FX2 (high-speed programmable), SLIIRIDE or ISD-200 (full-speed > non-programmable), or ISD300 (high-speed non-programmable). > > I've never seen a commercial USB Mass Storage device that used > any other USB microcontrollers (although there are some > full-speed devices that use custom ASICs). > > -Andrew > > > === Andrew Warren -- aiwEraseME.....cypress.com > === Principal Design Engineer > === Cypress Semiconductor Corporation > === > === Opinions expressed above do not > === necessarily represent those of > === Cypress Semiconductor Corporation > > -- > http://www.piclist.com hint: PICList Posts must start with ONE topic: > [PIC]:,[SX]:,[AVR]: ->uP ONLY! [EE]:,[OT]: ->Other [BUY]:,[AD]: ->Ads > > -- http://www.piclist.com hint: The PICList is archived three different ways. See http://www.piclist.com/#archives for details.