Embedded.fm · 16 Jul 2020 · 1h 11m · Episode 337
Kate Temkin, a hardware hacker at Great Scott Gadgets, explains the complexities of USB implementation, contrasting the ease of high-level stacks like TinyUSB with the challenges of vendor-provided CMS libraries and low-level FPGA designs. She details the differences between USB versions, connector types like USB-C, and communication modes, while highlighting her open-source tools Luna and FaceDancer for testing and emulation. Temkin also discusses the business of USB IDs, recommending services like pid.codes for open-source projects, and emphasizes the importance of community inclusivity in hardware engineering.
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Kate Temkin and Mikaela Szekely from Great Scott Gadgets discuss the challenges and tools of USB reverse engineering. They detail the creation of open-source hardware like the GreatFET and Rhododendron, as well as software tools like USBProxy and the new USB analyzer framework called USB. The conversation covers specific vulnerabilities, such as the Nintendo Switch stack smash, and the difficulties of high-speed signal analysis compared to low-cost logic analyzers.
Hosts Carl and Corey explain how to integrate USB connectivity into embedded devices, covering the physical layer, connector types, and implementation strategies. They detail the differences between USB connector standards like Type A, Type B, Mini, and Micro, and discuss power delivery specifications from USB 2.0. The hosts compare three main implementation methods: using FTDI USB-to-UART converters, utilizing microcontrollers with embedded USB peripherals, and employing standalone USB PHYs like the Maxim MAX3420 or TI TUSB1211 for FPGA-based designs.
Dave Jones and Chris Gammell discuss the ongoing chip shortages, highlighting how part scarcity forces engineers to redesign products or pay exorbitant prices on the gray market. They review the Luna USB analyzer from Great Scott Gadgets, an open-source tool using an Lattice FPGA for debugging USB 2.0, and critique the Illume COVID-19 home test for its unnecessary electronics and environmental waste. The conversation also covers career advice, including the value of debugging skills, the 'embedded resume' project by Aaron Vorce, and the importance of right-to-repair initiatives like the WAS conference.
Luke Valenty of TinyFPGA.com explains how open source toolchains like Ice Studio and APIO lower the barrier to entry for FPGAs, enabling makers to build custom microcontrollers and high-speed interfaces without proprietary software. He details the design of the Tiny FPGA BX board, which integrates a USB device directly into the FPGA fabric to eliminate expensive external chips, and discusses the challenges of manufacturing small QFN and BGA packages. Valenty also outlines his roadmap for the upcoming EX board, which will utilize Lattice ECP5 high-speed transceivers to support USB-3 and PCIe, aiming for a crowdfunding campaign in the fall.
Chris Gammell of Contextual Electronics discusses his recent FPGA workshops at Teardown, highlighting the rise of open-source toolchains like Yosys and NextPNR for Lattice and Xilinx parts, and the FOMU dev board's multi-layered architecture. Dave Jones of EEVblog details the Rich Tech RT1716 USB-C PD controller used in his Micro Supply, explaining how cross-vendor register compatibility allowed them to bypass poor documentation by leveraging Texas Instruments' reference code. The hosts also cover the used test equipment market, specifically finding deals on Vector Network Analyzers, and new open-source hardware projects like the STM32 multimeter and Great Scott Gadgets' USB debugging tools.
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