I'm still (a year later), on the quest for some way to act as a USB Host 
in a low-pin-count device.   What I am looking for is either a SPI (or 
I2C) peripheral or a full blown microcontroller which can interface to 
various USB devices - typically USB HID or serial CDC, but not mass 
storage.   The "other end" of this application will be a multidrop 
serial bus - the serial-port side code currently easily fits in 4Kwords 
in a PIC18f886 - Of course, i'm not sure how much room the USB side needs.

So, essentially I need a microcontroller with USB Host mode, and a 
serial port - or a pair of chips which do the same thing.

I'm looking to keep the costs low.   Plus, I'd love to stay with 
through-hole (dip), but I realize that may not be realistic 
anymore.      My ideal situation would be a 28 Pin PIC18 with USB host 
mode capable of talking to a couple (few) USB endpoints.   But since 
that doesn't exist, I'm looking.

So far, the most "interesting" device is the PIC32 with USB host - if I 
could get them in low-pin-count I'd go this way in a second.   I think 
this is the leader so far, though - since if I have to deal with a TQFP 
package, I may as well go with Microchip (you know, the devil you know)...

The other devices I've looked at include:

FTDI VNC1R - This is interesting, but the firmware seems pretty 
inflexible, so I'd have to put a PIC onboard as well. 
Various Cypress Hosts (SL811HS, EZ-Host, EZ-OTG, etc):  All look 
remarkably similar to the PIC32's...
Maxim MX3421E - SPI host controller.   Maxim (i.e. made from 
unobtanium), limited firmware availablilty, etc.

AVR USB host devices - again look remarkably similar to the PIC32's.

I believe all 4 of the devices above are only available in TQFP, BGP, or 
other similar fine-pitch devices.  The exception being the LS811HS, 
which has a PLCC variant - but it is not recommended for new designs.

Have I missed anything?

-forrest


-- 
http://www.piclist.com PIC/SX FAQ & list archive
View/change your membership options at
http://mailman.mit.edu/mailman/listinfo/piclist