Here are the connector pins for USB Data, 3.3V permanent source and 5V charging source… Copyright www.scheisser.net
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Lenovo Miix 2-8 USB Hub @ internal USB port working with limitations
Lenovo Miix 2 – 8 internal USB port available and working
Lenovo Miix internal USB port for 3G
We did it. Today i was testing around with my friend Ronny where we can get a source to power usb devices on my Lenovo Miix 2. There are various sources around for 3.3VDC. The hurdle was to find a 5VDC source for the USB port. There is no available so far, but the 3.3 Volts are enough to power the most devices made for usb. We tried to connect a 3G USB stick and it was recognized by the lenovo. The pain was it was disconnecting several times when we want to start the connection. There are 2 explanations for this:
1. The source voltage is too low
2. The stick is bad supported
After we treid around different usb devices and we figured out that they seem to work properly. Usb memory, usb wifi stick, usb dvb tv stick and so on.
Tomorrow i will do a video of the stuff to proof the concept. Stay tuned for it.
Further i installed 2 wires for inductive charging the Lenovo. You can see it on the left side the red and black wires. Tomorrow i will order the parts to get this done.
Miix and wireless charging
While testing around to find a 5VDC source inside the Lenovo Miix i stumbled above wireless charging. So i will order a Qi-Universal receiver for charging available at amazon LINK. I am sure it will fit in the back of the Miix. The only thing which makes me thoughtful is the aluminium backcase. I hope that it will work even there is only a 500mA source then. For overnight charging i think this will be enough. Additionally i will try to solder the Qi receiver inside the Miix so the USB port will be free for mobile charging.
—Edit—
There are different sources for 3.3V around. Maybe there are USB 3G sticks available which are working with this voltage. This would be the last hurdle to take for a full mobile internet experience with a non 3G version of our Miix
Internal USB @ Lenovo Miix 2-8
Ok guys,
i am on a good way to get a solution for an internal USB-Port. I am quite sure that i found the USB D+ and USB D- pins which will lead to the final goal.
Right now i try to figure out to find a 5VDC source on the mainboard to power the port maybe i have to get this from the micro USB port on the side of the frame.
Stay tuned and press thumbs that I will not melt my beloved device.
Lenovo Miix 2 – Internal USB
While doing more research on the Miix i found out that there are adapter modules around which offer an internal USB port within the mpcie port.
on the schematic drawing there are the pins described which should be Pin 36 and 38 and lead to a full USB2.0 support. I will investigate soon, if there are options at NGFF or M.2 availablebecause the mpcie port is missing in our miix.
so it could be possible that there is a way to get a signal transfern between an USB-Stick ( even if it is for storage or a functional device like 3G modem) and the mainboard. Lenovo hides technical informations about the used mainboards. It would help if there are datasheets around but for now it is not possible to find anything in the web.
Kris (one of our commenters) gave me a hint about the dell venue pro 8 where the tabletpcreview community get it managed to find out pins on the mainboard where it is possible to connect different usb devices to it LINK.
Due to the less different versions at the Dell their community is there much bigger. The mainboards in both devices the Dell Venue 8 and the Lenovo Miix 2 8 are totally different so it is not possible to sense out where the pins are at our devices.
—edit—
So like i thought, the NGFF or M.2 Standard provides USB2.0 support.
Now the things getting interesting…
Thoughts on the Lenovo Miix 2
I get much feedback within the posts over the Lenovo Miix. I can imagine that other people have the same thoughts on the Lenovo like me. One thing i miss in the device is a 3G Modem. So i did again a little research over the connectors on my Lenovo.
There is on the lower side of the mainboard a M.2 or formerly NGFF port. There is no connector soldered at these pins in the non 3G versions of the tablet. The last samples which Lenovo gave to some authorities around the world for passing quality tests and regulations where shipped with an Huawei MU736 CF Module which is M.2 compatible.
Even if there is someone who get the M.2 port working for us there is still the problem that the simcard slot is without a frame for the card. Maybe there is something more missing on the mainboard.
I tried to figure out if there are pins on the mainboard where it is possible to connect a 3G usb stick but for more infos and a result I have to do little bit more research on this. For sure there is a USB port for charging and external connections. If there is a possibility to get a solution I am sure it will locate around the chipset of the USB connector on the mainboard.
