6 May
2012
6 May
'12
12:39 p.m.
There are far
worse abuses of USB connectors than that. I've got a
pulse oximeter with a mini USB B connector, but it isn't a USB
device. It has 3.3V CMOS async serial (not RS-232) on the
connector, and may be damaged if it is plugged directly into USB.
The cable they provided, USB A male to USB mini B male, has a USB to
serial chip molded in.
WTF? So why not put the USB to serial part into the _device_ so you can
use a normal USB cable and ports? The only explanation that comes to
my mind is:
- certified medical device
- they got away with changing the connector (from something very custom)
- but changing the internal circuitry would trigger a re-certification
Of course that might be wrong and it is simply a case of some hardware
designer smoking something strongly brain-damaging.