USB Insight Hub plugs into your computer through a USB Type-C connector and exposes three USB 3.0 downstream ports, each with a 1.3-inch screen that displays relevant information about the attached device. That information includes operating system enumeration name (COMx, TTYx, or drive letter), voltage, and current. USB Insight Hub also allows you to control the individual activation and deactivation of the D+/D- USB 2 data lines to force enumeration and control the power of each downstream device. A small application running on the host computer extracts USB information from the operating system and sends it to the Hub over USB.

You probably already have at least one USB hub on your desk or workbench. Bring that beloved peripheral into the modern era and improve your connectivity experience with USB Insight Hub.

Eliminating Small Inconveniences That Add Up

Plug and unplug your favorite USB development kit or tool. As you repeat this operation and change or add boards, your operating system assigns different enumeration names to the devices until, at some point, you lost track of which "virtual port" corresponds to which device. The same thing happens with virtual serial ports, USB flash drives, and other such peripherals. We’ve all been there, and we’ve all had to disconnect and reconnect one or more devices in order to refresh the enumeration. Which is just…no way to live.

With USB Insight Hub, our companion app runs on your computer, extracts the enumeration data for each USB port, and sends it to be displayed on the corresponding screen so you can easily identify all of the virtual ports running through the Hub.

Keeping an Eye on Power Usage

Each one of USB Insight Hub’s ports has a dedicated voltage and current meter that provide realtime feedback on your device behavior. This allows you to verify at a glance that everything is working normally or detect abnormal patterns on the fly.

To avoid damaging your host computer and to handle downstream devices faults gracefully, USB Insight Hub implements three highly configurable protections for each port:

• Short-circuit protection: a fault is detected in the downstream device so power is deactivated
• Over-current protection: current drain on a downstream device surpasses some threshold so power is deactivated
• Back-current protection: prevents a downstream device with its own power source from feeding current back to other devices connected to that host port or, ultimately, to the host computer itself

Accessible Power & Data Control

We love USB Hubs with independent power switches as they allow you to force a power cycle without having to unplug something and then plug it back in. USB Insight Hub provides a push button on each port that toggles power and a display that shows the current state.

It also features a USB-2 D+/D- switch on each port that toggles data connectivity on long press. (USB 3.0 SS data lines do not have this option.) Independent control of power and data is useful in a number of scenarios:

• Forcing re-enumeration of a device without removing power
• Determining the power consumption of a device without active USB communication
• Maintaining USB communication without providing power (to an externally powered USB device, for example, or a "smart" charger)

USB Insight Hub also has a global power button, of course, but its ability to "stagger" the power-up sequence of connected devices allows for more predictable enumeration and more control over the initial power draw.

Modern Connectors

USB Type-C connectors are the new standard for interfacing to peripherals for reversible connectivity and improved power delivery. USB Insight Hub provides two USB Type-C ports for upstream connections:

• DATA/PWR: provides data (USB 3.0) connectivity and power
• AUX PWR: provides a dedicated, power-only USB Type-C port that allows you to increase the hub's power to 3 A with a standard charger or up to 5 A with an appropriate USB Type-C power supply.

The host and external power supplies are ORed together using special eFuses that reduce voltage drop in the power path and implement advanced over- and under-voltage protections to inrush current control.

USB Insight Hub also includes a JST connector for STEMMA QT support to facilitate expansion opportunities involving sensors and actuators over I²C.

Finally, our downstream USB 3.0 Type-A ports are conveniently spaced 32 mm apart to accommodate larger devices and connectors.

A Simple User Interface

USB Insight Hub’s 1.3-inch color displays allow for big, bright fonts that are easy to read from a considerable distance. You can rotate the content on those displays, as well, depending on your workshop setup.

Power and data buttons are mechanical, to provide better haptic feedback, and a setup button provides easy access to system configuration options.

Virtual Interface Accessible From Your Browser

USB Insight Hub’s ESP32-S3 can operate as an access point or as a Wi-Fi client and hosts a Web UI that mirrors the device’s physical displays and buttons. So, when the Hub itself is not physically accessible, you can use your browser to visualize its enumeration, current, voltage, and protection status. You can also control the power and data lines this way, which means you can remotely power cycle a device if you notice that it’s in a faulty state. The Web UI also provides a more convenient interface for certain advanced configurations.

Practical Mechanical Design

USB Insight Hub is composed of two PCBs interconnected by a flat flexible cable and vertically mounted using four standoffs, which are sandwiched between four acrylic pieces to provide a reasonable level of protection. The transparent acrylic faceplate hosts the art and cutouts for the buttons, but it also provides solid protection for the displays.

Features & Specifications

USB Interface

• USB 3.0 hub functionality is provided by the Renesas uPD720210, which supports USB 2.0 lines (Low, Full, and Hi-Speed) as well as USB 3.0 lines (5 Gbps Super-Speed). All USB communication is carried out as a regular USB Hub; transactions are not intercepted or monitored in any way.
• One upstream USB 3.0 Type-C port for data and power (up to 3 A @ 5.5 V)
• Three downstream USB 3.0 Type-A ports
• Individual USB 2.0 D+/D- switches for each downstream port

User Interface

• 3x color 1.3-inch TFT displays (240x240), IPS, 170° viewing angle, 250 NITs
• 3x mechanical push buttons for power and data control and 1x setup button
• A dedicated latching switch to control device-wide power
• Remote Web UI provided via WiFi (AP or client).

Controllers

• An Espressif ESP32-S3 microcontroller running Arduino code provides display, metering, control, and communication with the host computer (via USB 2.0).
• STM8S003K3 is used as an IO extender.
• Programming headers for the primary and all auxiliary microcontrollers

Power

• One dedicated USB Type-C connector for auxiliary power up to 5 A @ 5.5 V.
• A dedicated power and energy monitor (PAC1943) for current and voltage monitoring on each downstream port, with resolutions of 1 mA and 1 mV.
• Individual switch (AP22653) for power control to each downstream port with hardware current protection configurable to 0.5, 1.0, 1.5, and 2.0 A. Reaction time is under 6 ms.
• Software overcurrent protection configurable in 1 mA steps. Reaction time is under 20 ms.
• Software Reverse current protection configurable in 1mA steps. Reaction time is under 20 ms.
• All data and power inputs and outputs are properly protected against ESD.

Host-Computer Compatibility

• Readily available Windows, Linux, and MacOS drivers for the USB Hub chip and the ESP32-S3 microprocessor
• USB property-extraction software for Windows
• Work-in-progress USB property-extraction software for Linux and MacOS (available for download shortly after we ship to backers)

Other Features

• Downstream ports are spaced further apart than they are on most hubs
• Acrylic protection for the PCBs and displays
• Additional STEMMA QT connector to extend functionality
• 2.4GHz WiFi wireless interface

Simplified Block Diagram

Comparisons

Support & Documentation

USB Insight Hub is open hardware. You will find the schematics and firmware in our GitHub repository. If you have questions or suggestions, please reach out using the appropriate "ask a question" link on our campaign page. We look forward to hearing from you!

Manufacturing Plan

This is the third hardware revision of USB Insight Hub, and the design is frozen in terms of features. That said, we still have some compliance testing to do, and we need to implement the design-for-manufacturing (DFM) changes required by our PCBA provider before we begin mass production.

Other manufacturing milestones include the procurement and fabrication of various acrylic pieces, final assembly, functional testing, and packaging. We are contracting with a CM that has experience manufacturing similar devices, but each stage will require careful supervision and a plan to scale up – from initial production samples to small batches to full production. We will be overseeing the entire process.

Fulfillment & Logistics

After they are assembled and tested by our CM, each batch of USB Insight Hubs will be shipped to Crowd Supply’s fulfillment partner, Mouser Electronics, who will distribute orders to backers worldwide. You can learn more about Crowd Supply’s fulfillment service under Ordering, Paying, and Shipping in their guide.

Risks & Challenges

The transition from prototype to production comes with many challenges, and we made several decisions, in the early stages of that process, to mitigate the associated risks. To minimize component-sourcing issues, we decided to stick with parts that are readily available through at least three retailers and identified drop-in replacements where possible.

Compliance testing is another significant challenge, one that we’re quite focused on right now.

In terms of software, we expect to continue improving the stability of USB Insight Hub’s firmware and software while the campaign is live and throughout the manufacturing process. Developing the Linux and MacOS versions of our USB property-extraction software is a significant element of this.