Brent Brown wrote:
> On 2 Mar 2009 at 17:46, Dave Tweed wrote:
> > I take it that it's the USB "host" device that goes inside the
> > enclosure, and you don't control this piece of equipement, hence
> > the requirement for a standard full-size type-A connector.
> > 
> > How about using a mini-USB or micro-USB cable, and an off-the-shelf
> > adapter to the full-size "A" connector inside the box?
> 
> There are presently two options for inside the box. Option 1 is a
> standard off the shelf USB hub, so yes I could use mini USB cables
> with adaptors.., although I would be more worried than usual about
> vibration causing plugs to work loose. Option 2 we will include a
> USB hub controller on our own PCB, so once again yes we could
> conceivably use mini USB connectors.

The hidden implication in my first response was that if you *do* control
the equipment the cable connects to (option 2), then you can use any
connector at all (consistent with the high-speed digital signal).

You don't need to confine yourself to the officially-blessed connectors.
That's only required if you want to put the USB logo on the cable and
allow connection to arbitrary other equipment.

For example, I'm using Hirose DF11 type board-to-wire connectors for
nearly all of my signals, including USB, in a vehicle-mounted system.
These are reasonably compact and have a mechanical detent for good
retention. Since they use individual crimp-on wire contacts, they can
be passed through pretty much any hole prior to snapping them into the
housing.

-- Dave Tweed
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