This is a mini Wi-Fi USB dongle with VNT9271 module from VIA. It is recognized as AR9271 by the kernel and works with the free ath9k_htc firmware.

                      description: Generic USB device
                      product: VIA USB2.0 WLAN
                      vendor: VIA TECH
                      physical id: 2
                      bus info: usb@1:1.2
                      version: 1.08
                      serial: 12345
                      capabilities: usb-2.00
                      configuration: driver=ath9k_htc maxpower=500mA speed=480Mbit/s

  Hardware Class: unknown
  Model: "VIA USB2.0 WLAN"
  Hotplug: USB
  Vendor: usb 0x040d "VIA Technologies, Inc."
  Device: usb 0x3801 "VIA USB2.0 WLAN"
  Revision: "1.08"
  Serial ID: "12345"
  Driver: "ath9k_htc"
  Driver Modules: "ath9k_htc"
  Device File: wlan0
  Speed: 480 Mbps
...
  Link detected: yes
...
  Driver Info #0:
    Driver Status: ath9k_htc is active
    Driver Activation Cmd: "modprobe ath9k_htc"
  Config Status: cfg=new, avail=yes, need=no, active=unknown

Bus 001 Device 018: ID 040d:3801 VIA Technologies, Inc. VIA USB2.0 WLAN
Device Descriptor:
  bLength                18
  bDescriptorType         1
  bcdUSB               2.00
  bDeviceClass          255 Vendor Specific Class
  bDeviceSubClass       255 Vendor Specific Subclass
  bDeviceProtocol       255 Vendor Specific Protocol
  bMaxPacketSize0        64
  idVendor           0x040d VIA Technologies, Inc.
  idProduct          0x3801 
  bcdDevice            1.08
  iManufacturer          16 VIA TECH
  iProduct               32 VIA USB2.0 WLAN
  iSerial                48 12345
  bNumConfigurations      1
  Configuration Descriptor:
    bLength                 9
    bDescriptorType         2
    wTotalLength       0x003c
    bNumInterfaces          1
    bConfigurationValue     1
    iConfiguration          0 
    bmAttributes         0x80
      (Bus Powered)
    MaxPower              500mA
    Interface Descriptor:
      bLength                 9
      bDescriptorType         4
      bInterfaceNumber        0
      bAlternateSetting       0
      bNumEndpoints           6
      bInterfaceClass       255 Vendor Specific Class
      bInterfaceSubClass      0 
      bInterfaceProtocol      0 
      iInterface              0 
      Endpoint Descriptor:
        bLength                 7
        bDescriptorType         5
        bEndpointAddress     0x01  EP 1 OUT
        bmAttributes            2
          Transfer Type            Bulk
          Synch Type               None
          Usage Type               Data
        wMaxPacketSize     0x0200  1x 512 bytes
        bInterval               0
      Endpoint Descriptor:
        bLength                 7
        bDescriptorType         5
        bEndpointAddress     0x82  EP 2 IN
        bmAttributes            2
          Transfer Type            Bulk
          Synch Type               None
          Usage Type               Data
        wMaxPacketSize     0x0200  1x 512 bytes
        bInterval               0
      Endpoint Descriptor:
        bLength                 7
        bDescriptorType         5
        bEndpointAddress     0x83  EP 3 IN
        bmAttributes            3
          Transfer Type            Interrupt
          Synch Type               None
          Usage Type               Data
        wMaxPacketSize     0x0040  1x 64 bytes
        bInterval               1
      Endpoint Descriptor:
        bLength                 7
        bDescriptorType         5
        bEndpointAddress     0x04  EP 4 OUT
        bmAttributes            3
          Transfer Type            Interrupt
          Synch Type               None
          Usage Type               Data
        wMaxPacketSize     0x0040  1x 64 bytes
        bInterval               1
      Endpoint Descriptor:
        bLength                 7
        bDescriptorType         5
        bEndpointAddress     0x05  EP 5 OUT
        bmAttributes            2
          Transfer Type            Bulk
          Synch Type               None
          Usage Type               Data
        wMaxPacketSize     0x0200  1x 512 bytes
        bInterval               0
      Endpoint Descriptor:
        bLength                 7
        bDescriptorType         5
        bEndpointAddress     0x06  EP 6 OUT
        bmAttributes            2
          Transfer Type            Bulk
          Synch Type               None
          Usage Type               Data
        wMaxPacketSize     0x0200  1x 512 bytes
        bInterval               0
Device Qualifier (for other device speed):
  bLength                10
  bDescriptorType         6
  bcdUSB               2.00
  bDeviceClass          255 Vendor Specific Class
  bDeviceSubClass       255 Vendor Specific Subclass
  bDeviceProtocol       255 Vendor Specific Protocol
  bMaxPacketSize0        64
  bNumConfigurations      1
Device Status:     0x0000
  (Bus Powered)

[ 5577.680088] usb 1-1.2: new high-speed USB device number 82 using xhci_hcd
[ 5577.796953] usb 1-1.2: New USB device found, idVendor=040d, idProduct=3801, b
cdDevice= 1.08
[ 5577.796969] usb 1-1.2: New USB device strings: Mfr=16, Product=32, SerialNumb
er=48
[ 5577.796977] usb 1-1.2: Product: VIA USB2.0 WLAN
[ 5577.796983] usb 1-1.2: Manufacturer: VIA TECH
[ 5577.796988] usb 1-1.2: SerialNumber: 12345
[ 5577.801293] usb 1-1.2: ath9k_htc: Firmware ath9k_htc/htc_9271-1.dev.0.fw requ
ested
[ 5578.089582] usb 1-1.2: ath9k_htc: Transferred FW: ath9k_htc/htc_9271-1.dev.0.
fw, size: 51008
[ 5578.341291] ath9k_htc 1-1.2:1.0: ath9k_htc: HTC initialized with 33 credits
[ 5578.658562] ath9k_htc 1-1.2:1.0: ath9k_htc: FW Version: 1.4
[ 5578.658589] ath9k_htc 1-1.2:1.0: FW RMW support: On
[ 5578.658603] ath: EEPROM regdomain: 0x60
[ 5578.658614] ath: EEPROM indicates we should expect a direct regpair map
[ 5578.658628] ath: Country alpha2 being used: 00
[ 5578.658637] ath: Regpair used: 0x60
[ 5578.687777] ieee80211 phy17: Atheros AR9271 Rev:1