Q1:
When MUST I apply for my own USB VID & PID?
A: The only time
you MUST register a Vendor ID (VID) and Product ID (PID) with the USB-IF
is when your company wants to use the trademarked "USB Certified" Logo
on your product or its packaging. To get a look at the logo and read
more information on using the logo click on
http://www.usb.org/developers/logo_license.html.
Q2: If I use
FTDI's VID and PID will the product display FTDI as the manufacturer at
install time?
A: Users of USB
chips from FTDI can customize the Manufacturer and Product Description
Strings to say anything they want in the driver install window. FTDI
doesn't have to be mentioned at all. The only requirement here is that
an EEPROM memory device must be connected to the FTDI chip to store the
strings.
Q3: I wish to
use the new USB Certified Logo and add my product to the USB I/F
integrators List so that I can. What is involved?
A: If using the
trademarked logo, you need to have your device certified and added to
the USB Integrators List. To do this you either attend a compliance
workshop ( Plugfest ) OR send your peripheral to an USB approved
compliance testing lab to have your peripheral tested for a fee. To do
the first you must be a USB-IF member ($2,500/year, which doesn't
include the expenses involved in traveling to and attending the
workshop) and to do the second you must either be a USB-IF member OR
purchase a USB VID from the USB-IF ($1,500 renewable every two years).
In order to ensure a reasonable chance of passing the
compliance test it is advisable to pre-test at your own location using
the same setup and equipment used at a Plugfest. If you add up the costs
of purchasing the recommended hardware and test equipment, prepare to
budget upwards of $30k. Details on USB compliance testing can be found
on the USB.ORG test site at
httP://www.usb.org/developers/compliance/
Q4: If I want
to use FTDI's VID what are the restrictions ?
A: FTDI's
policy on using their VID and PID with their chips is as follows:
1. FTDI discourages people from using the DEFAULT VID,
PID and serial number (no EEPROM connected to the FTDI chip) unless it
is a non-mass market device and does not require multiple USB devices of
the same kind to be plugged into the same PC.
2. The customer can use FTDI's default VID (0403) and
PID (6001) and have a unique serial number for each USB device. This
requires an EEPROM to be connected to the FTDI chip.
3. The customer can use FTDI's VID and request a
unique PID block from FTDI for their products. FTDI maintains a list of
unique PIDs which can be allocated on request. This is the best appoach,
the only downside is that the customer has to add the new PID reference
into the standard (text) INF driver files.
Updated 6-27-01
DLP Design
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