Nowadays it is typical that small embedded platforms and modules offer TTL level (5V or 3.3V) serial port interfaces in them. The easiest way to interface such port to PC is to use USB to TTL level serial port converter (it is easier than adding external TTL-RS232 converter board and then connect to normal serial →
One day I bough a very cheap quite nice looking (if you like Apple style) very cheap (2 USD) USB charger from dx.com. I was curious to see if anything useful could be built this cheaply. The product USB Power Charger Adapter – White (EU Plug / 100~240V) carried SKU 176662 code, but there does →
Have you ever wondered how stable voltage your USB power source gives and how much current does your device take (your mobile phone charging or own circuit? 0.28″ LED 3-Digit Red Display USB Power Charger Data Transmit Current Voltage Tester (3~10V/0~3A) is a product that can do that. It shows the charging voltage and current →
USB Type-C Connector is on the news today as they have introduced another new type of USB connector that is not directly compatible with any existing connectors. USB Type-C Connector Specifications Finalized article tells that today the USB-IF (USB Implementers Forum) announced that the latest USB connector which we first caught a glimpse of in →
Computer users pass around USB sticks like silicon business cards. Why the Security of USB Is Fundamentally Broken http://www.wired.com/2014/07/usb-security/ article tells that we typically depend on antivirus scans and the occasional reformatting to keep our thumbdrives from becoming the carrier for the next digital epidemic. But the security problems with USB devices run deeper than →
How could I measure the normal power consumption of my USB gadgets? How can I measure how much current a smart phone charging takes from USB port? A special built USB measurement adapter for multimeter or USB current/voltage meter can answer to to those questions (and sometimes you get some information from device manager USB →
Modern smartphones consume so much energy that charging them once a day is not always enough. When they are used intensively, the user sometimes has to look for a power source in the middle of the day, and charge their device whenever and wherever possible. At first glance, it seems absurd to worry about safety →
I just yesterday wrote about commercially make USB soldering iron product. But how building a DIY USB soldering iron? USB Soldering Iron article shows how to convert an inexpensive battery powered Soldering Iron into a slick USB powered soldering iron. The conversion idea is to cut USB cable and wire it to the battery contacts →
Powering all kind of gadgets from USB power has become very popular nowadays. Soldering from USB power? Now there are products for this. The question is that how useful they are because of the limited power available from USB port (just few watts). The maximum power you can get from normal USB 2.0 port is →
USB was originally designed for desktop use, but it is increasingly used for industrial applications. For USB to survive in those environments, it needs to be made more rugged. It means that ruggedizing USB for ground loops and using better (more protection and better locking) connectors are often needed. Ruggedize USB connections for tough environments →