AVR-Chat

I'm designing a device that will use a 44 pin AVR chip like the 
Mega32, or up. It will use whatever has the code space needed.

This device stores data on a USB-key (flash drive) in FAT16/FAT32 
format. Speed of reading from and writing to the USB key is probably 
not an issue. I believe that the FAT software will not be an issue 
either. AFAIK, the USB-key interface requires a chip like the Cyprus 
SL811HS which can run in host mode. I'm sure there are other chips 
from Philips, Atmel, etc. (note: I'm not after a prebuilt module 
solution that does this - yes, they exist).

I also want the same device, not necessarily at the same time, to be 
able to act as a standard USB peripheral and look like a standard COM 
port to a USB host. Again, the SL811HS could do this too.

Basic question is, what other USB peripheral chips could do this too? 
A prime requirement is availability, relatively low cost, and ability 
to be integrated with an embedded AVR device. As noted, speed is not a 
serious consideration.

I could qualify further what I'm after, but I don't want that to 
restrict anyone's response. I recognise there will be a trade off 
between development time and module/component/etc. costs, but at the 
end of the day, the time I spend developing the software is an 
investment and the results can (must?) be re-used. I'm really looking 
at what silicon & software solution would be cheapest assuming I'm 
making at least 1,000 of these devices.

Thanks for any replies, Peter



















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