diff --git a/sw/in_progress/ir_usb_i2c/Makefile b/sw/in_progress/ir_usb_i2c/Makefile
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..ea917551d1
--- /dev/null
+++ b/sw/in_progress/ir_usb_i2c/Makefile
@@ -0,0 +1,16 @@
+#
+# Makefile
+#
+
+APP = i2c_usb
+
+all: $(APP)
+
+clean:
+	rm -f $(APP)
+
+$(APP): $(APP).c
+	$(CC) -Wall -o $@ $(APP).c -lusb
+
+install:
+	install $(APP) $(DESTDIR)/usr/bin
diff --git a/sw/in_progress/ir_usb_i2c/i2c_usb.c b/sw/in_progress/ir_usb_i2c/i2c_usb.c
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..fa6a3d08a0
--- /dev/null
+++ b/sw/in_progress/ir_usb_i2c/i2c_usb.c
@@ -0,0 +1,509 @@
+/*
+ * i2c_usb.c - test application for the i2c-tiby-usb interface
+ *             http://www.harbaum.org/till/i2c_tiny_usb
+ *
+ *             adapted to Melexis MLX 90614 adapter
+ *
+ *
+ * $Id$
+ */
+
+#include <stdio.h>
+#include <stdlib.h>
+#include <string.h>
+#include <usb.h>
+
+/* mlx90614 chip address (default address) */
+#define MLX90614_ADDR    0x00
+#define MLX90614_ADDR_1  0x02
+#define MLX90614_ADDR_2  0x05
+
+#define LOOPS 100
+
+#define USB_CTRL_IN    (USB_TYPE_CLASS | USB_ENDPOINT_IN)
+#define USB_CTRL_OUT   (USB_TYPE_CLASS)
+
+/* the vendor and product id was donated by ftdi ... many thanks!*/
+#define I2C_TINY_USB_VID  0x0403
+#define I2C_TINY_USB_PID  0xc631
+
+#ifdef WIN
+#include <windows.h>
+#include <winbase.h>
+#define usleep(t) Sleep((t) / 1000)
+#endif
+
+#define I2C_M_RD		0x01
+
+/* commands via USB, must e.g. match command ids firmware */
+#define CMD_ECHO       0
+#define CMD_GET_FUNC   1
+#define CMD_SET_DELAY  2
+#define CMD_GET_STATUS 3
+#define CMD_I2C_IO     4
+#define CMD_I2C_BEGIN  1  // flag to I2C_IO
+#define CMD_I2C_END    2  // flag to I2C_IO
+
+#define STATUS_IDLE          0
+#define STATUS_ADDRESS_ACK   1
+#define STATUS_ADDRESS_NAK   2
+
+usb_dev_handle      *handle = NULL;
+
+unsigned crc8(unsigned char* dat, int len)
+{
+  unsigned bits = 0;
+  int i;
+  
+  /* x^8 + x^2 + x^1 + x^0 */
+  while (len-- > 0) {
+    for (i = 7; i >= 0; i--) {
+	  bits = (bits << 1) | (((*dat) & (1 << i)) >> i);
+      if (bits > 0xFF)
+        bits ^= 0x107;
+    }
+    dat++;
+  }
+
+  for (i = 7; i >= 0; i--) {
+    bits <<= 1;
+    if (bits > 0xFF)
+      bits ^= 0x107;
+  }
+  
+  return bits;
+}
+
+/* write a set of bytes to the i2c_tiny_usb device */
+int i2c_tiny_usb_write(int request, int value, int index) {
+  if(usb_control_msg(handle, USB_CTRL_OUT, request, 
+		      value, index, NULL, 0, 1000) < 0) {
+    fprintf(stderr, "USB error: %s\n", usb_strerror());
+    return -1;
+  }
+  return 1;
+}
+
+/* read a set of bytes from the i2c_tiny_usb device */
+int i2c_tiny_usb_read(unsigned char cmd, void *data, int len) {
+  int                 nBytes;
+
+  /* send control request and accept return value */
+  nBytes = usb_control_msg(handle, 
+	   USB_CTRL_IN, 
+	   cmd, 0, 0, data, len, 1000);
+
+  if(nBytes < 0) {
+    fprintf(stderr, "USB error: %s\n", usb_strerror());
+    return nBytes;
+  }
+
+  return 0;
+}
+
+/* get i2c usb interface firmware version */
+void i2c_tiny_usb_get_func(void) {
+  unsigned long func;
+  
+  if(i2c_tiny_usb_read(CMD_GET_FUNC, &func, sizeof(func)) == 0)
+    printf("Functionality = %lx\n", func);
+}
+
+/* set a value in the I2C_USB interface */
+void i2c_tiny_usb_set(unsigned char cmd, int value) {
+  if(usb_control_msg(handle, 
+	     USB_TYPE_VENDOR, cmd, value, 0, 
+	     NULL, 0, 1000) < 0) {
+    fprintf(stderr, "USB error: %s\n", usb_strerror());
+  }
+}
+
+/* get the current transaction status from the i2c_tiny_usb interface */
+int i2c_tiny_usb_get_status(void) {
+  int i;
+  unsigned char status;
+  
+  if((i=i2c_tiny_usb_read(CMD_GET_STATUS, &status, sizeof(status))) < 0) {
+    fprintf(stderr, "Error reading status\n");
+    return i;
+  }
+
+  return status;
+}
+
+/* write command and read an 8 or 16 bit value from the given chip */
+int i2c_read_with_cmd(unsigned char addr, char cmd, int length) {
+  unsigned char result[2];
+
+  if((length < 0) || (length > sizeof(result))) {
+    fprintf(stderr, "request exceeds %d bytes\n", sizeof(result));
+    return -1;
+  } 
+
+  /* write one byte register address to chip */
+  if(usb_control_msg(handle, USB_CTRL_OUT, 
+		     CMD_I2C_IO + CMD_I2C_BEGIN
+		     + ((!length)?CMD_I2C_END:0),
+		     0, addr, &cmd, 1, 
+		     1000) < 1) {
+    fprintf(stderr, "USB error: %s\n", usb_strerror());
+    return -1;
+  } 
+
+  if(i2c_tiny_usb_get_status() != STATUS_ADDRESS_ACK) {
+    fprintf(stderr, "write command status failed\n");
+    return -1;
+  }
+
+  // just a test? return ok
+  if(!length) return 0;
+
+  if(usb_control_msg(handle, 
+		     USB_CTRL_IN, 
+		     CMD_I2C_IO + CMD_I2C_END,
+		     I2C_M_RD, addr, (char*)result, length, 
+		     1000) < 1) {
+    fprintf(stderr, "USB error: %s\n", usb_strerror());
+    return -1;
+  } 
+
+  if(i2c_tiny_usb_get_status() != STATUS_ADDRESS_ACK) {
+    fprintf(stderr, "read data status failed\n");
+    return -1;
+  }
+
+  // return 16 bit result
+  if(length == 2)
+    return 256*result[0] + result[1];
+
+  // return 8 bit result
+  return result[0];  
+}
+
+/* write command and read an 16 bit value from mlx */
+int i2c_mlx_read_word_with_cmd(unsigned char addr, char cmd) {
+  unsigned char result[3];
+  unsigned char pec[6];
+
+  /* write one byte register address to chip */
+  if(usb_control_msg(handle, USB_CTRL_OUT, 
+		     CMD_I2C_IO + CMD_I2C_BEGIN,
+		     0, addr, &cmd, 1, 
+		     1000) < 1) {
+    fprintf(stderr, "USB error: %s\n", usb_strerror());
+    return -1;
+  } 
+
+  if(i2c_tiny_usb_get_status() != STATUS_ADDRESS_ACK) {
+    fprintf(stderr, "write command status failed\n");
+    return -1;
+  }
+
+  if(usb_control_msg(handle, 
+		     USB_CTRL_IN, 
+		     CMD_I2C_IO + CMD_I2C_END,
+		     I2C_M_RD, addr, (char*)result, 4, 
+		     1000) < 1) {
+    fprintf(stderr, "USB error: %s\n", usb_strerror());
+    return -1;
+  } 
+
+  if(i2c_tiny_usb_get_status() != STATUS_ADDRESS_ACK) {
+    fprintf(stderr, "read data status failed\n");
+    return -1;
+  }
+
+  pec[0]=addr<<1;
+  pec[1]=cmd;
+  pec[2]=(addr<<1)|1;
+  pec[3]=result[0];
+  pec[4]=result[1];
+
+  if (result[2] != crc8(pec, 5))
+    return -2;
+
+  /* LSB first */
+  return 256*result[1] + result[0];
+}
+
+/* write a single byte to the i2c client */
+int i2c_write_byte(unsigned char addr, char data) {
+
+  /* write one byte register address to chip */
+  if(usb_control_msg(handle, USB_CTRL_OUT, 
+		     CMD_I2C_IO + CMD_I2C_BEGIN + CMD_I2C_END,
+		     0, addr, &data, 1, 
+		     1000) < 1) {
+    fprintf(stderr, "USB error: %s\n", usb_strerror());
+    return -1;
+  } 
+
+  if(i2c_tiny_usb_get_status() != STATUS_ADDRESS_ACK) {
+    fprintf(stderr, "write command status failed\n");
+    return -1;
+  }
+
+  return 0;  
+}
+
+/* write a command byte and a single byte to the i2c client */
+int i2c_write_cmd_and_byte(unsigned char addr, char cmd, char data) {
+  char msg[2];
+
+  msg[0] = cmd;
+  msg[1] = data;
+
+  /* write one byte register address to chip */
+  if(usb_control_msg(handle, USB_CTRL_OUT, 
+		     CMD_I2C_IO + CMD_I2C_BEGIN + CMD_I2C_END,
+		     0, addr, msg, 2, 
+		     1000) < 1) {
+    fprintf(stderr, "USB error: %s\n", usb_strerror());
+    return -1;
+  } 
+
+  if(i2c_tiny_usb_get_status() != STATUS_ADDRESS_ACK) {
+    fprintf(stderr, "write command status failed\n");
+    return -1;
+  }
+
+  return 0;  
+}
+
+/* write a command byte and a 16 bit value to the mlx */
+int i2c_mlx_write_cmd_and_word(unsigned char addr, char cmd, int data) {
+  char msg[4];
+  unsigned char pec[5];
+    
+  pec[0]=addr<<1;
+  pec[1]=cmd;
+  pec[2]=data & 0xff;
+  pec[3]=data >> 8;
+
+  msg[0] = cmd;
+  msg[1] = data & 0xff;
+  msg[2] = data >> 8;
+  msg[3] = crc8(pec, 4);
+
+  /* write one byte register address to chip */
+  if(usb_control_msg(handle, USB_CTRL_OUT, 
+		     CMD_I2C_IO + CMD_I2C_BEGIN + CMD_I2C_END,
+		     0, addr, msg, 4, 
+		     1000) < 1) {
+    fprintf(stderr, "USB error: %s\n", usb_strerror());
+    return -1;
+  } 
+
+  if(i2c_tiny_usb_get_status() != STATUS_ADDRESS_ACK) {
+    fprintf(stderr, "write command status failed\n");
+    return -1;
+  }
+
+  return 0;  
+}
+
+/* write a command byte and a 16 bit value to the mlx i2c client */
+int i2c_write_cmd_and_word(unsigned char addr, char cmd, int data) {
+  char msg[4];
+
+  msg[0] = cmd;
+  msg[1] = data >> 8;
+  msg[2] = data & 0xff;
+
+  /* write one byte register address to chip */
+  if(usb_control_msg(handle, USB_CTRL_OUT, 
+		     CMD_I2C_IO + CMD_I2C_BEGIN + CMD_I2C_END,
+		     0, addr, msg, 3, 
+		     1000) < 1) {
+    fprintf(stderr, "USB error: %s\n", usb_strerror());
+    return -1;
+  } 
+
+  if(i2c_tiny_usb_get_status() != STATUS_ADDRESS_ACK) {
+    fprintf(stderr, "write command status failed\n");
+    return -1;
+  }
+
+  return 0;  
+}
+
+int main(int argc, char *argv[]) {
+  struct usb_bus      *bus;
+  struct usb_device   *dev;
+  int i;
+#ifndef WIN
+  int ret;
+#endif
+  
+  printf("--      i2c-tiny-usb test application       --\n");
+  printf("--         (c) 2006 by Till Harbaum         --\n");
+  printf("-- http://www.harbaum.org/till/i2c_tiny_usb --\n");
+
+  usb_init();
+  
+  usb_find_busses();
+  usb_find_devices();
+  
+  for(bus = usb_get_busses(); bus; bus = bus->next) {
+    for(dev = bus->devices; dev; dev = dev->next) {
+      if((dev->descriptor.idVendor == I2C_TINY_USB_VID) && 
+	 (dev->descriptor.idProduct == I2C_TINY_USB_PID)) {
+	
+	printf("Found i2c_tiny_usb device on bus %s device %s.\n", 
+	       bus->dirname, dev->filename);
+	
+	/* open device */
+	if(!(handle = usb_open(dev))) 
+	  fprintf(stderr, "Error: Cannot open the device: %s\n", 
+		  usb_strerror());
+
+	break;
+      }
+    }
+  }
+  
+  if(!handle) {
+    fprintf(stderr, "Error: Could not find i2c_tiny_usb device\n");
+
+#ifdef WIN
+    printf("Press return to quit\n");
+    getchar();
+#endif
+
+    exit(-1);
+  }
+
+#ifndef WIN
+  /* Get exclusive access to interface 0. Does not work under windows. */
+  ret = usb_claim_interface(handle, 0);
+  if (ret != 0) {
+    fprintf(stderr, "USB error: %s\n", usb_strerror());
+
+    exit(1);
+  }
+#endif
+  
+  /* do some testing */
+  i2c_tiny_usb_get_func();
+
+  /* try to set i2c clock to 100kHz (10us), will actually result in ~50kHz */
+  /* since the software generated i2c clock isn't too exact. in fact setting */
+  /* it to 10us doesn't do anything at all since this already is the default */
+  i2c_tiny_usb_set(CMD_SET_DELAY, 10);
+
+  i=i;
+
+#if 0
+  /* -------- begin of mlx90614 client processing --------- */
+  printf("Probing for MLX90614 ... ");
+
+  /* try to access mlx90614 at address MLX90614_ADDR */
+  if(usb_control_msg(handle, USB_CTRL_IN, 
+		     CMD_I2C_IO + CMD_I2C_BEGIN + CMD_I2C_END,
+		     0, MLX90614_ADDR, NULL, 0, 
+		     1000) < 0) {
+    fprintf(stderr, "USB error: %s\n", usb_strerror());
+    goto quit;
+  } 
+  
+  if(i2c_tiny_usb_get_status() == STATUS_ADDRESS_ACK) {
+    int tp;
+    
+    printf("success at address 0x%02x\n", MLX90614_ADDR);
+    usleep(10000);
+
+    tp = i2c_mlx_read_word_with_cmd(MLX90614_ADDR, 0x3C);
+    printf("ID = 0x%04X", tp);
+    tp = i2c_mlx_read_word_with_cmd(MLX90614_ADDR, 0x3D);
+    printf("%04X", tp);
+    tp = i2c_mlx_read_word_with_cmd(MLX90614_ADDR, 0x3E);
+    printf("%04X", tp);
+    tp = i2c_mlx_read_word_with_cmd(MLX90614_ADDR, 0x3F);
+    printf("%04X\n", tp);
+
+    tp = i2c_mlx_read_word_with_cmd(MLX90614_ADDR, 0x2E);
+    printf("i2c addr = 0x%04X\n", tp);
+
+    /* write new i2c address, always set bit0 ! */
+//    i2c_mlx_write_cmd_and_word(MLX90614_ADDR, 0x2E, 1);
+//    usleep(1000000);
+    
+    tp = i2c_mlx_read_word_with_cmd(MLX90614_ADDR, 0x2E);
+    printf("i2c addr = 0x%04X\n", tp);
+
+    tp = i2c_mlx_read_word_with_cmd(MLX90614_ADDR, 0x06);
+    printf("Ta    = %2.2f°C (0x%04X)\n", (tp*0.02)-273.15, tp);
+    
+    tp = i2c_mlx_read_word_with_cmd(MLX90614_ADDR, 0x07);
+    printf("Tobj1 = %2.2f°C (0x%04X)\n", (tp*0.02)-273.15, tp);
+
+    usleep(100000);
+  } else
+    printf("failed\n");
+  /* -------- end of mlx90614 client processing --------- */
+#endif
+
+  /* -------- begin of mlx90614 multi client processing --------- */
+
+  /* try to access mlx90614 at address MLX90614_ADDR_1 */
+  if(usb_control_msg(handle, USB_CTRL_IN, 
+		     CMD_I2C_IO + CMD_I2C_BEGIN + CMD_I2C_END,
+		     0, MLX90614_ADDR_1, NULL, 0, 
+		     1000) < 0) {
+    fprintf(stderr, "USB error: %s\n", usb_strerror());
+    goto quit;
+  } 
+  
+  if(i2c_tiny_usb_get_status() != STATUS_ADDRESS_ACK) {
+    printf("no device at address 0x%02x\n", MLX90614_ADDR_1);
+    goto quit;
+  }  
+  /* try to access mlx90614 at address MLX90614_ADDR_2 */
+  if(usb_control_msg(handle, USB_CTRL_IN, 
+		     CMD_I2C_IO + CMD_I2C_BEGIN + CMD_I2C_END,
+		     0, MLX90614_ADDR_1, NULL, 0, 
+		     1000) < 0) {
+    fprintf(stderr, "USB error: %s\n", usb_strerror());
+    goto quit;
+  } 
+  
+  if(i2c_tiny_usb_get_status() != STATUS_ADDRESS_ACK) {
+    printf("no device at address 0x%02x\n", MLX90614_ADDR_2);
+    goto quit;
+  }  
+  
+  {  
+    int tp1, tp2;
+    
+    usleep(100000);
+
+    while(1) {
+      tp1 = i2c_mlx_read_word_with_cmd(MLX90614_ADDR_1, 0x07);
+      if (tp1 == -1) goto quit;
+      tp2 = i2c_mlx_read_word_with_cmd(MLX90614_ADDR_2, 0x07);
+      if (tp2 == -1) goto quit;
+      if ((tp2 == -2) || (tp2 == -2))
+        printf("##########\n");
+      else
+        printf("%2.2f°C\n", ((tp1*0.02)-273.15) - ((tp2*0.02)-273.15));
+//      usleep(20000);
+    }
+  }
+  /* -------- end of mlx90614 client processing --------- */
+
+ quit:
+#ifndef WIN
+  ret = usb_release_interface(handle, 0);
+  if (ret)
+    fprintf(stderr, "USB error: %s\n", usb_strerror());
+#endif
+
+  usb_close(handle);
+
+#ifdef WIN
+  printf("Press return to quit\n");
+  getchar();
+#endif
+
+  return 0;
+}
diff --git a/sw/in_progress/ir_usb_i2c/readme.txt b/sw/in_progress/ir_usb_i2c/readme.txt
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..148e647712
--- /dev/null
+++ b/sw/in_progress/ir_usb_i2c/readme.txt
@@ -0,0 +1,52 @@
+i2c-tiny-usb test application - http://www.harbaum.org/till/i2c_tiny_usb
+------------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+Adapted to Melexis 90614 IR sensors.
+
+This simple test application is meant to demonstrate libusb
+interfacing to the i2c-tiny-usb interface.
+
+This is no useful application, if you are only interesting in 
+using the i2c-tiny-usb interface in your linux box please
+use the kernel driver. 
+
+Linux
+-----
+
+This demo application has been developed under and for linux. Just
+make sure you have libusb installed. To use this program just
+compile by typing "make" and run the resulting i2c_usb.
+
+Be sure that the i2c-tiny-usb kernel driver is not loaded while
+running the test application. Otherwise the test application will
+fail with the follwing error message:
+
+USB error: could not claim interface 0: Device or resource busy
+
+This is due to the fact that no two drivers may access the interface
+at the same time.
+
+Windows
+-------
+
+This program can be compiled for windows. This has been tested 
+under Linux using xmingw and the windows port of libusb 
+(see http://libusb-win32.sourceforge.net). To install the 
+driver plug the device in and install the driver from
+the win directory. Then run testapp/i2c_usb.exe
+
+This program may also be compiled under windows using cygwin or
+mingw (which is part of cygwin). In order to use cygwin simply 
+copy usb.h win32-linusb to /cygwin/usr/include and libusb.a to
+/cygwin/lib and do a "make -f Makefile.cygwin". Don't forget to 
+distribute /cygwin/bin/cygwin1.dll with your file to allow it to 
+run in non-cygwin environments as well. No dll is required when using 
+mingw. In that case copy usb.h to /cygwin/usr/include/mingw and 
+libusb.a to /cygwin/lib/mingw. Finally do a "make -f Makefile.mingw".
+
+MacOS X
+-------
+
+The program can be compiled under MacOS as well. The fink version
+of linusb has to be installed and a simple "make -f Makefile.macos"
+will build the native MacOS X version.