<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?><rss xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/" xmlns:content="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/content/" xmlns:atom="http://www.w3.org/2005/Atom" version="2.0"><channel><title><![CDATA[First look: USB Host Expansion Board by Semireg]]></title><description><![CDATA[<p dir="auto">Want to hook up a USB keyboard to your PyCom WiPy? No problem. Need to interface a PyCom FiPy with an industrial machine with a DB-9 serial port? Plug in a standard USB-to-serial cable and get to work.</p>
<p dir="auto">Semireg Industries is pleased to announce the <strong>USB Host Expansion Board</strong> for PyCom dev modules. This board brings any USB device to the IOT. Our custom-designed boards arrived from <a href="https://macrofab.com" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">MacroFab</a> and they are performing as expected. We want to share a first look with the MicroPython community.</p>
<p dir="auto"><img src="/assets/uploads/files/1522948276175-2018-04-05-at-12.10-pm-resized.jpg" alt="0_1522948270467_2018-04-05 at 12.10 PM.jpg" class="img-responsive img-markdown" /></p>
<p dir="auto">Based on the <a href="https://www.maximintegrated.com/en/products/interface/controllers-expanders/MAX3421E.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">MAX3421E</a>, the <strong>USB Host Expansion Board</strong> acts as the &quot;computer end&quot; (host) of any USB device. Since USB is not native to WiPy/FiPy/etc, you are in full control of the USB communication. That means it's up to you to write USB drivers in MicroPython. Semireg is here to support your efforts.</p>
<p dir="auto">As of today Semireg has working MicroPython USB drivers for the following:</p>
<p dir="auto">• <a href="http://www.gearmo.com/product-category/usb-to-serial/usb-to-serial-adapters/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">FTDI USB to Serial</a> (common usb-to-serial w/ DB-9)<br />
• USB HID - Keyboard<br />
• USB CDC ACM (common on <a href="http://www.ti.com/tool/MSP430USBDEVPACK" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">MSP430</a> and other non-FTDI serial adapters)</p>
<p dir="auto">Our company has experience interfacing with USB devices. We have published two MacOS apps with direct support for USB label printers from Brother, DYMO, Zebra (<a href="http://semireg.com/labelscope/printers/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">LabelScope</a>) and USB weight scales (<a href="http://semireg.com/mass/scales/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">MASS</a>). If there is demand we can port these over to MicroPython so people can build <strong>connected</strong> weight scales and label printers.</p>
<p dir="auto">The board is not yet for sale. We need community feedback before a larger production run.</p>
<ul>
<li>What do people want included on the board?</li>
<li>What makes this approach more attractive than a Raspberry Pi?</li>
<li>What kind of licensing do your projects demand?</li>
</ul>
<p dir="auto"><em>Semireg Industries is a company based near Minneapolis, USA. We design, build and integrate hardware and software solutions.</em></p>
]]></description><link>https://forum.pycom.io/topic/2979/first-look-usb-host-expansion-board-by-semireg</link><generator>RSS for Node</generator><lastBuildDate>Tue, 14 Apr 2026 15:04:14 GMT</lastBuildDate><atom:link href="https://forum.pycom.io/topic/2979.rss" rel="self" type="application/rss+xml"/><pubDate>Thu, 05 Apr 2018 17:36:20 GMT</pubDate><ttl>60</ttl><item><title><![CDATA[Reply to First look: USB Host Expansion Board by Semireg on Thu, 05 Apr 2018 19:33:04 GMT]]></title><description><![CDATA[<p dir="auto">Want to hook up a USB keyboard to your PyCom WiPy? No problem. Need to interface a PyCom FiPy with an industrial machine with a DB-9 serial port? Plug in a standard USB-to-serial cable and get to work.</p>
<p dir="auto">Semireg Industries is pleased to announce the <strong>USB Host Expansion Board</strong> for PyCom dev modules. This board brings any USB device to the IOT. Our custom-designed boards arrived from <a href="https://macrofab.com" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">MacroFab</a> and they are performing as expected. We want to share a first look with the MicroPython community.</p>
<p dir="auto"><img src="/assets/uploads/files/1522948276175-2018-04-05-at-12.10-pm-resized.jpg" alt="0_1522948270467_2018-04-05 at 12.10 PM.jpg" class="img-responsive img-markdown" /></p>
<p dir="auto">Based on the <a href="https://www.maximintegrated.com/en/products/interface/controllers-expanders/MAX3421E.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">MAX3421E</a>, the <strong>USB Host Expansion Board</strong> acts as the &quot;computer end&quot; (host) of any USB device. Since USB is not native to WiPy/FiPy/etc, you are in full control of the USB communication. That means it's up to you to write USB drivers in MicroPython. Semireg is here to support your efforts.</p>
<p dir="auto">As of today Semireg has working MicroPython USB drivers for the following:</p>
<p dir="auto">• <a href="http://www.gearmo.com/product-category/usb-to-serial/usb-to-serial-adapters/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">FTDI USB to Serial</a> (common usb-to-serial w/ DB-9)<br />
• USB HID - Keyboard<br />
• USB CDC ACM (common on <a href="http://www.ti.com/tool/MSP430USBDEVPACK" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">MSP430</a> and other non-FTDI serial adapters)</p>
<p dir="auto">Our company has experience interfacing with USB devices. We have published two MacOS apps with direct support for USB label printers from Brother, DYMO, Zebra (<a href="http://semireg.com/labelscope/printers/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">LabelScope</a>) and USB weight scales (<a href="http://semireg.com/mass/scales/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">MASS</a>). If there is demand we can port these over to MicroPython so people can build <strong>connected</strong> weight scales and label printers.</p>
<p dir="auto">The board is not yet for sale. We need community feedback before a larger production run.</p>
<ul>
<li>What do people want included on the board?</li>
<li>What makes this approach more attractive than a Raspberry Pi?</li>
<li>What kind of licensing do your projects demand?</li>
</ul>
<p dir="auto"><em>Semireg Industries is a company based near Minneapolis, USA. We design, build and integrate hardware and software solutions.</em></p>
]]></description><link>https://forum.pycom.io/post/18096</link><guid isPermaLink="true">https://forum.pycom.io/post/18096</guid><dc:creator><![CDATA[semireg]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Thu, 05 Apr 2018 19:33:04 GMT</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[Reply to First look: USB Host Expansion Board by Semireg on Tue, 12 May 2020 17:11:15 GMT]]></title><description><![CDATA[<p dir="auto"><a class="plugin-mentions-user plugin-mentions-a" href="https://forum.pycom.io/uid/2175">@semireg</a> Is there any update to this product?</p>
]]></description><link>https://forum.pycom.io/post/32694</link><guid isPermaLink="true">https://forum.pycom.io/post/32694</guid><dc:creator><![CDATA[VST Admin]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Tue, 12 May 2020 17:11:15 GMT</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[Reply to First look: USB Host Expansion Board by Semireg on Tue, 12 May 2020 17:13:00 GMT]]></title><description><![CDATA[<p dir="auto"><a class="plugin-mentions-user plugin-mentions-a" href="https://forum.pycom.io/uid/6156">@VST-Admin</a></p>
<p dir="auto">Hi, no update other than it worked as intended our our proof-of-concept.</p>
]]></description><link>https://forum.pycom.io/post/32695</link><guid isPermaLink="true">https://forum.pycom.io/post/32695</guid><dc:creator><![CDATA[semireg]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Tue, 12 May 2020 17:13:00 GMT</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[Reply to First look: USB Host Expansion Board by Semireg on Tue, 12 May 2020 17:21:20 GMT]]></title><description><![CDATA[<p dir="auto"><a class="plugin-mentions-user plugin-mentions-a" href="https://forum.pycom.io/uid/2175">@semireg</a> Can we buy one?</p>
]]></description><link>https://forum.pycom.io/post/32696</link><guid isPermaLink="true">https://forum.pycom.io/post/32696</guid><dc:creator><![CDATA[VST Admin]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Tue, 12 May 2020 17:21:20 GMT</pubDate></item></channel></rss>