Ask Hackaday: Is USB Robust Enough?
Earlier this month a single person pleaded guilty to taking down a few laptop labs at a college in New York. This turned into now not performed by using hacking into them remotely, however via plugging a USB Killer in a single system at a time. This malicious act caused round $58,000 in harm to 66 machines, the usage of a tool designed to overload the statistics pins at the USB ports with excessive-voltage. Similar damage could have been executed with a ball-peen hammer (albeit plenty much less discreetly), and we’re no longer here to discuss the deserves of the USB Killer gadgets. If you wreck property you don’t personal you ought to be held responsible.
But the occasion did convey an interesting question to mind. How robust are USB ports? The USB Killer — which we’ve protected on and off through the years — is billed as a “surge checking out” device and operates by way of injecting -2 hundred volts DC on the records lines of the USB connection. Many USB ports are not protected in opposition to this and the end result is permanent damage to the laptop hardware. Is protection for these levels of abuse vital or wouldn't it needlessly add price to our machines?
A chip just like the TPD4S014 has ESD protection on the information strains that is rated as much as 1500 volts, clamping to ground to expend the power. It’s an answer that ought to shield in opposition to repeated spikes at the data lines, in addition to quick circuits on the electricity lines and over/undervoltage conditions.
ADUM4160 Functional Diagra
The ADuM4160 is an thrilling step up from this. It’s designed to provide isolation among a USB host and the tool related to it. Rather than relying on clamping, this chip implements isolation through air core transformers. Certainly this would be overkill to install in each product, but for the ones of use building and checking out USB gadgets this would prevent from “Oops, wrong USB cable” moments on the work bench.
Speaking of injuries at the bench, there is simply a call for for USB isolation outside of what’s constructed into our computers. Earlier this year we saw a superb tackle a nicely-designed USB power strip. Among the dreams were present day restricting, undervoltage safety, and a right energy disconnect transfer for each port. The very want to layout your very own reminds us that purchaser manufacturers are frequently lazy in their USB layout. “Use a USB hub” is terrible advice for protection at the workbench when you consider that excellent of design varies so wildly.
We might be inquisitive about listening to from all people who has perception on standards making use of to system continuing to survive over current or over voltage occasions and stay functional. There are requirements like UL-60950 that have to follow to USB. But that popular consists of language approximately failing secure for the operator, now not necessarily remaining practical:
After atypical operation or a unmarried fault (see 1.Four.14), the equipment shall stay safe for an OPERATOR in the which means of this preferred, but it is not required that the device have to still be in complete operating order. It is allowed to use fusible links, THERMAL CUT-OUTS, overcurrent safety devices and so on to offer adequate safety.
So, we’re here to invite you, the readers of Hackaday. Are our USB gadgets sturdy sufficient? Do you've got a cross-to USB protection chip, component, or other circuit you like to use? Have you ever accidentally killed a USB host device (in that case, how)? Do you have got special gadget which you rely on while growing tasks concerning USB? Let us recognize what you think inside the feedback underneath.
But the occasion did convey an interesting question to mind. How robust are USB ports? The USB Killer — which we’ve protected on and off through the years — is billed as a “surge checking out” device and operates by way of injecting -2 hundred volts DC on the records lines of the USB connection. Many USB ports are not protected in opposition to this and the end result is permanent damage to the laptop hardware. Is protection for these levels of abuse vital or wouldn't it needlessly add price to our machines?
A chip just like the TPD4S014 has ESD protection on the information strains that is rated as much as 1500 volts, clamping to ground to expend the power. It’s an answer that ought to shield in opposition to repeated spikes at the data lines, in addition to quick circuits on the electricity lines and over/undervoltage conditions.
ADUM4160 Functional DiagraThe ADuM4160 is an thrilling step up from this. It’s designed to provide isolation among a USB host and the tool related to it. Rather than relying on clamping, this chip implements isolation through air core transformers. Certainly this would be overkill to install in each product, but for the ones of use building and checking out USB gadgets this would prevent from “Oops, wrong USB cable” moments on the work bench.
Speaking of injuries at the bench, there is simply a call for for USB isolation outside of what’s constructed into our computers. Earlier this year we saw a superb tackle a nicely-designed USB power strip. Among the dreams were present day restricting, undervoltage safety, and a right energy disconnect transfer for each port. The very want to layout your very own reminds us that purchaser manufacturers are frequently lazy in their USB layout. “Use a USB hub” is terrible advice for protection at the workbench when you consider that excellent of design varies so wildly.
We might be inquisitive about listening to from all people who has perception on standards making use of to system continuing to survive over current or over voltage occasions and stay functional. There are requirements like UL-60950 that have to follow to USB. But that popular consists of language approximately failing secure for the operator, now not necessarily remaining practical:
After atypical operation or a unmarried fault (see 1.Four.14), the equipment shall stay safe for an OPERATOR in the which means of this preferred, but it is not required that the device have to still be in complete operating order. It is allowed to use fusible links, THERMAL CUT-OUTS, overcurrent safety devices and so on to offer adequate safety.
So, we’re here to invite you, the readers of Hackaday. Are our USB gadgets sturdy sufficient? Do you've got a cross-to USB protection chip, component, or other circuit you like to use? Have you ever accidentally killed a USB host device (in that case, how)? Do you have got special gadget which you rely on while growing tasks concerning USB? Let us recognize what you think inside the feedback underneath.
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