Power Brick Controller User Manual
Connections and Software Setup
112
USB Connections
The Power Brick Controller board provides two USB ports on the front panel, one host port and one
device port. Both provide USB 2.0 protocol communications.
Caution
USB ports are not electrically isolated, so care must be taken in the
grounding scheme when any separately powered device is connected
to one of these ports. Poor-quality communications and even
permanent component damage is possible when ground loop issues or
significant differences in ground potential exist.
USB 1 Host Port
The USB “host” port is labeled “USB 1” on the front panel. It is a “Standard-A” format connector located
just below the Ethernet ports and has a horizontal orientation. With this port, the Power PMAC CPU acts
as the host computer and various peripheral devices can be connected through this port. This connector
should be used for Host PC to Power PMAC communication.
Probably the most common peripheral device used on this port is the “USB stick” flash drive. The Power
PMAC CPU board will automatically recognize standardly formatted flash drives connected to this port.
It is even possible to boot the CPU from this drive if the proper boot files are present on the drive. It is
also possible to use USB peripheral devices such as true disk drives and keyboards.
Its pinout is below:
USB 1: 4-Pin Receptacle
Front View
Pin #
Symbol
Function
Description
Notes
1
VCC
OUTPUT
SUPPLY VOLTAGE
2
D-
BIDIRECT.
DATA NEG.
3
D+
BIDIRECT.
DATA POS.
4
GND
COMMON
REF. VOLTAGE
This connector provides a USB “host” interface on a Standard A connector. It is suitable for standard
USB connectors to external devices.
