SparkFun
SparkFun USB-C Host Shield
The SparkFun USB-C Host Shield provides all the digital logic and analogue circuitry needed to add USB peripheral/host control to your Arduino. Interface wit...
The SparkFun USB-C Host Shield provides all the digital logic and analogue circuitry needed to add USB peripheral/host control to your Arduino. Interface with and control any USB 2.0 compatible device — thumb drives, digital cameras, Bluetooth dongles, game controllers, and more.
This version updates the connector to USB-C and lets you choose between 5 V or VIN power input via an onboard switch. The MAX3421E communicates over SPI (pins D10–D13), with all signals level-shifted to 3.3 V through a hex converter.
Key Features
- MAX3421E USB Controller – USB host and peripheral functionality, USB 2.0 at 12 Mbps (full-speed)
- USB-C Female Connector – Configured for host applications, supplies 5 V with CC1/CC2 56 kΩ pull-ups
- Arduino R3 Footprint – Standard shield form factor, stackable headers
- Power Selection Switch – Choose between VIN or 5 V input
- On/Off Switch – Dedicated power control for the shield
- Reset Button – Resets the connected Arduino board
Specifications
- USB Controller: MAX3421E
- Operating Voltage: 3.0–3.6 V (controller); 5 V or VIN (shield power)
- Supply Current: 45 mA max / 8.7 mA idle / 30–60 µA suspend
- SPI Clock Speed: 0–26 MHz
- Operating Temperature: −40 to +85 °C
- SPI Pins: SCK (D13), POCI (D12), PICO (D11), CS (D10)
- Control Pins: INT (D9), GPX (D8), RST (D7)
Resources
Jargon buster
Plain-language definitions for the technical terms used above.
- CS
- CS stands for chip select, a control pin used by SPI devices to tell which connected device should listen. It matters when you connect more than one SPI module to the same microcontroller, because each device usually needs its own CS pin.
- Headers
- Rows of metal pins used to plug a module into a breadboard or connect it with jumper wires. Pre-soldered headers make the module easier to use straight away without needing to solder the pins yourself.
- MAX3421E
- The MAX3421E is a chip that adds USB host controller hardware to a microcontroller project. It matters because it handles much of the low-level USB communication, but it also limits the board to the speeds and device support that this controller and its software libraries can provide.
- RST
- Short for reset, a control pin used to restart or initialise a device from a microcontroller. It matters because this sensor requires the RST pin to be connected for some communication setups.
- Shield
- An add-on board that plugs into a main controller board to give it extra features such as sensing, motor control or communication. Knowing a product supports shields helps you judge whether it can connect neatly into an existing maker-board setup.
- SPI
- A fast serial communication bus often used for displays, memory cards, and sensors. It matters because SPI devices need specific pins for clock and data, plus a separate chip-select line for each device.
- UPS
- An uninterruptible power supply is a battery-backed power system that keeps a device running when external power is unplugged or fails. For an embedded computer, it helps prevent sudden shutdowns that can corrupt files or interrupt a project.
- USB host
- A USB host is the side of a USB connection that controls attached devices, like a computer talking to a keyboard or flash drive. This matters because most microcontroller boards are normally USB devices, so adding USB host support lets them use common USB peripherals.
- USB-C
- A modern reversible USB connector used for power and data connections. On this product it matters because it can connect directly to a computer as well as to a microcontroller project.
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Brands
Prototyping & Wiring
SparkFun USB-C Host Shield Schematic
Schematic · 154.5 KB · Click any page to view full size
MAX3421E Datasheet
Datasheet · 254.6 KB · Click any page to view full size
SparkFun USB-C Host Shield Board Dimensions
Mechanical Drawings · 208.3 KB · Click any page to view full size
MAX3421E Errata
Product Change Note · 353.0 KB · Click any page to view full size
MAX3421E Programming Guide
User Guide · 703.4 KB · Click any page to view full size
Supplier page — sparkfun.com
Supplier Description · 729.3 KB · Click any page to view full size
Resources & Downloads
Guides, code examples, and more
Related Tutorials
Free guides on learn.littlebird.com.au
