~/usb-emulation/02-searching-for-architecture.md · 2026-09-12

In search of the architecture

Several contendants, one winner.

Introduction

Stumbling in the dark, searching for meaning and an architecture that could fulfill the ever changing requirements and optimizations.

Cleware USB Multiplexer 1x8: an aluminium box with eight USB-A ports, each with a red button and a status LED, and one USB input
Cleware USB Multiplexer 1x8. Photo: Cleware.
The 8086.net Bi-Directional USB3 MUX from above: a blue board with three USB 3.0 Type-A ports and a three-pin header
USB 3.0 digital multiplexer
The same board from another angle, showing its silkscreen: 5V tolerant, the A to B and A to C switch table, and the 8086.net logo
USB 3.0 digital multiplexer
The underside of the board: the switching chip, small transistors and resistors, and the product link 8086.net/p/80860051
USB 3.0 digital multiplexer
SEE ALSO

prev What motivated this long and arduous journey

usb, architecture