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USB On-The-Go and Embedded Host

Virtually every portable device now uses USB for PC connectivity. As these products increase in popularity, there is a growing need for them to communicate both with USB peripherals and directly with each other when a PC is not available.  There is also an increase in the number of other, non-PC hosts (Embedded Hosts) which support USB in order to connect to USB peripherals.

The newly published Revision 2.0 of the USB On-The-Go and Embedded Host Supplement addresses these scenarios by allowing portable devices and non-PC hosts to have the following enhancements:

  • Targeted host capability to communicate with selected other USB peripherals
  • Support for direct connections between OTG devices
  • A small USB connector to fit the mobile form factor
  • Power saving features to preserve battery life

Compliance testing for low-speed, full-speed and high-speed USB Embedded Hosts and On-The-Go products is available now.  An updated compliance program for Revision 2.0 of the USB On-The-Go and Embedded Host Supplement is being developed.

In addition to passing USB-IF compliance testing and inclusion of its USB On-The-Go products on the Integrators List, companies wishing to use the certified USB logos must have a current USB-IF Trademark License Agreement on file. Revision 2.0 of the USB On-The-Go and Embedded Host Supplement, the corresponding Adopters Agreement, and other information regarding USB On-The-Go and Embedded Hosts, is available here.

 
More Information
  On-The-Go
 

USB for Portable Devices (pdf, 544k)

Introduction to USB On-The-Go (pdf, 59.3k)

  Press Releases and Articles
  Hi-speed OTG Transceiver - Info on ULPI Rev 1.0, released Feb 2004.
  Events (Public)
  Events (Members Only)
  Contributing Companies
  USB On-The-Go Working Group Member Login
  Questions?
Please send your questions regarding USB On-The-Go to admin@usb.org.
 
  Downloads
 

OTG and Embedded Host Supplement (pdf, 968k) - Revision 2.0, 05-08-2009
Adopters Agreement (pdf, 16k)

OTG Compliance Plan (pdf, 417k) - Revision 1.2, 4-26-2006

OTG Compliance Checklist (pdf, 644k) - Revision 1.0, 8-02-2005

OTG Electrical Test Procedures (zip, 1.61 MB) - Revision 1.0, 9-7-2003

High-speed and Full-speed OTG Protocol Installation Tools (zip, 3.05 MB) - Revision 2.18, April 2006.  Please use this installation program for the Mentor OPT hardware.

Full-speed only OTG Protocol Installation Tools (zip, 2.23 MB) - Revision 1.24, December 2005.  Please use this installation program for the TransDimension OPT hardware.

Embedded High-speed Host Electrical Test Procedure (pdf, 185 KB) - Revision 1.01, May 2006.  High-speed hosts are required to support Test Modes as defined in Section 7,1.20 of the USB 2.0 Specification.  Test Modes provide the ability to validate high-speed electrical signal quality. The “Embedded High-speed Electrical Test” document describes a consistent and convenient means for initiating test modes on high-speed OTG and embedded hosts without the need for custom software.

A High-speed Embedded Host Electrical Test device (HSEHET) made specifically for initiating these test modes is available.  The HSEHET device may be used as an alternative to the OPT for initiating test modes on embedded hosts.  Please see the HSEHET webpage for ordering information.