My FreeRunner’s USB port still works for power, but not data?

Brolin Empey brolin at brolin.be
Fri Mar 5 01:19:03 CET 2010


Al Johnson wrote:
> On Thursday 04 March 2010, Brolin Empey wrote:
>> Is it possible my USB port problem is caused by pin 4 (ID) of the mini
>> USB connector(s)?  See the “USB 1.x/2.0 Miniplug/Microplug” table on
>> <http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Universal_Serial_Bus&oldid=34747
>> 3693#Cables>.
>
> Pin 4 is not normally connected in usb cables, so that shouldn't be it. If you
> have a problem with pin 4 the most likely issue would be not recognising the
> mains charger as a high current device.

I disassembled my FreeRunner again and used a digital multimeter to 
verify the continuity between the ends of the pins in the USB socket and 
the USB socket’s leads connected to the PCB.  All pins are connected, 
but only if the contact in the plug on the USB cable contacts the pin in 
the socket.

I tried to take a clear photo of my FreeRunner’s USB socket without 
using a microscope or other magnifying device other than my camera’s 
lens, but I could not get a completely satisfactory (completely clear) 
photo.  Now I need to recharge my camera’s battery after I am home 
tonight, but I cannot add a task in QtMoko to remind me because my 
FreeRunner is still disassembled. :(  I moved my active SIM card to my 
crappy Nokia 6103b so I still have a phone until my FreeRunner is fixed.

Anyway, here is a cropped version of one of the best photos I managed to 
take:

<http://brolin.be/graphics/FreeRunner_Mini_USB_F_5-pin.jpg>

See the second pin from the left?  I assumed it was pin 4 (ID) because 
of the pinout images on Wikipedia, but I think it may actually be pin 2 
(D-).  This would explain why Windows claims my FreeRunner has 
malfunctioned:  because only one of the data lines is connected.  In any 
case, there are at least 2 strange things about that exceptional pin:

1. Why does it not have black plastic above it like the other 4 pins?
2. Why does it not go up to contact the contacts in the plug on the USB 
cable like the other pins?  Did I somehow end up bending it like that?

I need to have someone at work replace the entire USB socket (assuming 
we have a spare).



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