.NET Framework - USB support

Asked By Ros

29-Apr-07 08:10 PM

Does anyone know whether USB 1.1 or 2.0 support exists in the MF?

I read another article posted to this discussion group that states that USB
is supported for deployment of applications from the host computer (through
Visual Studio) and for debugging purposes only.

Does this mean that USB support (to enable a device to establish a duplex
conversation between itself and the host PC) can't be done at all in the
existing MF? or does it simply mean that an OEM managed USB driver is
required for the hardware is question?

The hardware we will likely be using for prototyping is EmbeddedFusion's
Tahoe development board.

If it is possible to obtain an OEM managed USB driver to provide USB support
for the hardware, will it also mean that the driver can be used with the
standard emulator to provide emulated USB support. If not; is there any other
way of getting emulated USB support?

Thanks,

Rosh.

Intergen
http://www.intergen.co.nz

01-May-07 10:39 AM

Unfortunately the answer to that is a complicated one. Generally, no, there
is no use of US other than debug and download at this time. Te wrinkle is
that sideshow device DO have a 2way communication that essentially hijacks
the normal debugger connection. The protocols for that are not documented so
not available for another usage. There are alternative, just none with "out
of the box" functioning solutions.

--
Steve Maillet
EmbeddedFusion
www.EmbeddedFusion.com
smaillet at EmbeddedFusion dot com

04-May-07 05:06 PM

Instead of a complete USB plug-n-play driver/controller stack as in Windows
CE, the USB support currently in MF is all inside the HAL (native code) just
for connecting as a USB function device into Visual Studio for development
use.  Its provided by Microsoft in the porting kit as a debugging feature
which will typically be replaced by the OEM for production use.

I think its just a matter of time before all MF ports will support a managed
USB driver that works on both the emulator and the target hardware MF port.
This is way up there on my list of MF porting features to do.

--
Bill Mar - embedded MVP
Special Computing
www.specialcomp.com