What is an Alternate Setting? Example of device that needs them?
The USB spec has a lot of talk about them, but never tells what one is and - most importantly - why I would use one. I never saw a USB device that uses alternate settings.
A USB interface with an alternate settings can be used in two mode. For example a USB interface endpoints may act as INTERRUPT pipes in normal settings, but might act as BULK pipe in alternate settings providing you the facility of two different mode on the same interface.
To change USB Class, press & hold the Source button while bringing the unit out of standby . One of the digital input source LEDs will illuminate to indicate the current USB setting: Digital 1 represents USB Audio Class 1.0, likewise Digital 2 is USB Audio Class 2.0.
The Device Descriptor (USB_DEVICE_DESCRIPTOR) is the root of the descriptor tree and contains basic device information. The unique numbers, idVendor and idProduct, identify the connected device. The Windows operating system uses these numbers to determine which device driver must be loaded.
Alternate setting
is used to provide the advantage of having two configurations on the fly even though the device has only one configuration.
The alternate setting of a USB
interface is define by the bAlternateSetting
attribute in the Standard Interface Descriptor. A USB
interface with an alternate settings can be used in two mode. For example a USB
interface endpoints may act as INTERRUPT
pipes in normal settings, but might act as BULK
pipe in alternate settings providing you the facility of two different mode on the same interface. You just have to send a SetInterface
request to activate a settings. I myself didn't have to use it much though. And I think normally device drivers don't tend to use it as I couldn't find out any example driver.
You can look at this link for more details.
If you love us? You can donate to us via Paypal or buy me a coffee so we can maintain and grow! Thank you!
Donate Us With