Product

USB hardware

A USB box at each end.

One Yoke box connects to your USB device. A second connects by USB to your computer. Ethernet connects the boxes.

USB device, USB cable, device-side Yoke box, Ethernet switch, computer-side Yoke box, USB cable, computer. USB requests and responses travel in both directions.
The USB prototype uses two Radxa ZERO 3E boards. The computer is separate from both boxes.

Connect the hardware

  1. Plug the USB device into the device-side box.
  2. Connect both boxes to your Ethernet switch.
  3. Connect the computer-side box to your computer with a USB cable.
  4. Pair the boxes with a command or your chosen management tool.

The computer uses its USB connection to the box. Yoke runs inside the boxes. The first version targets USB 2; USB 3 is later work.

Keep or change the pairing

The boxes store the pairing. It survives a restart, a lost network connection, or closing the management tool. Use a new pair or unpair command to change it.

Thermite is optional. You can use the command line or another manager that speaks the documented protocol.

The prototype

We selected Radxa ZERO 3E, with one board in each box. The case is being revised after two failed prints. The new case must be rectangular, slot together, and use recessed M3 screws with heat-set inserts.

The hardware is in development. The USB bridge firmware and end-to-end hardware tests are unfinished. Supported USB devices and computer compatibility still need testing.

USB design and firmware work · Development status · Case redesign