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Since I'm worried about the future of AVR, I've been looking into software USB for ARM cortex-M0/M0+ that is similar to V-USB. All I've found is a port of LUFA, which is for MCUs with internal USB hardware.

Now I know there are Cortex-M0/M0+ controllers that do have USB hardware, although I'm looking at using the smallest lowest pin-count I possibly can which usually don't have USB hardware. I know some of these tiny controllers will have USB hardware but they are typically in a WLCSP package which have small spacing between the pads which I cannot work with. This is why I'm looking for a software implementation.

Is there a software only implementation of USB for ARM-M0/M0+?

note: by software, I mean firmware but it seems code-only implementations of hardware peripherals are usually referred to by software.

note 2: Please don't suggest any specific products. The question isn't about an inability to find small controllers with USB, its about the lack of a software implementation of USB for ARM much like V-USB.

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    \$\begingroup\$ Please stop commenting with links recommending specific products. This question isn't about that and it is off topic for this stack exchange \$\endgroup\$
    – Funkyguy
    Jul 3, 2016 at 21:12
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    \$\begingroup\$ @pipe they aren't ARM. Read the question \$\endgroup\$
    – Funkyguy
    Jul 3, 2016 at 21:21
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    \$\begingroup\$ @Funkyguy I did read your question. All of it, in fact. Not just the title. You have a problem which you're trying to solve in a way that's not the most rational. Expect comments and answers trying to solve the root issue. \$\endgroup\$
    – pipe
    Jul 3, 2016 at 21:25
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    \$\begingroup\$ You are looking for something like LemcUSB. GNU GPL 3.0 is ok? I can expect next question about porting Micronucleus to ARM :) \$\endgroup\$
    – kimstik
    Dec 2, 2016 at 17:44
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    \$\begingroup\$ there's quite a few libraries that have popped up: embedds.com/bit-banging-usb-on-msp430 hackaday.com/2014/03/22/bitbanging-usb-on-low-power-arms \$\endgroup\$
    – lkcl
    Oct 13, 2017 at 9:42

2 Answers 2

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Here's a new M0+ implementation comparable to V-USB https://github.com/xobs/grainuum

Interesting 33c3 video explaining as well: https://youtu.be/GFY_A3jcI28

Still pretty fresh and prob not as stable as V-USB but sounds promising. Curious how vital the 2 stage pipeline of the M0+ really is as would be nice to implement this on M0.

Doesn't sound like he's so tight that he can't afford one more cycle with the 3 stage pipeline. I think the biggest issue will be M0's lack of single cycle I/O ports which is an optional feature of the M0+. But he makes it sound like the pipeline is the real benefit of M0+.

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It is not really too feasible. Because today many microcontrollers are fabricated for 2.5V down to 1.8V operating ranges. The software implementation through simple I/O toggling will not handle the high speed differential operation without a dedicated PHY on silicon (with special tranceivers). V-USB was working on AVR because it used on microcontrollers operating on 5V. There are no many of them on modern designs.

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    \$\begingroup\$ V-USB required the MCU to be running at 3.3V, or a crude zener diode based level shifter to be used if it was running at 5V. \$\endgroup\$
    – Tom Carpenter
    Jul 4, 2016 at 0:34
  • \$\begingroup\$ Yes, you are right, and I have confirmed Cortex M0 operating at 3.3V. So for that models it still totally feasible. Someone can port V-USB to ARM. \$\endgroup\$
    – Jairo Andres Velasco Romero
    Jul 4, 2016 at 17:55

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