This program can be used to force Linux to reset a connected USB device, it is written by Alan Stern: original post.
To build:
$ gcc -o usbreset usbreset.c
To run:
# lsusb 
Bus 001 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0002 Linux Foundation 2.0 root hub
Bus 002 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0002 Linux Foundation 2.0 root hub
Bus 001 Device 002: ID 8087:0020 Intel Corp. Integrated Rate Matching Hub
Bus 002 Device 002: ID 8087:0020 Intel Corp. Integrated Rate Matching Hub
Bus 001 Device 038: ID 046d:c05b Logitech, Inc. 
Bus 002 Device 003: ID 0402:9665 ALi Corp. 
Bus 002 Device 015: ID 1c9e:6061  
# ./usbreset /dev/bus/usb/001/038 
usbreset.c:
/* usbreset -- send a USB port reset to a USB device */
#include <stdio.h>
#include <unistd.h>
#include <fcntl.h>
#include <errno.h>
#include <sys/ioctl.h>
#include <linux/usbdevice_fs.h>
int main(int argc, char **argv)
{
    const char *filename;
    int fd;
    int rc;
    if (argc != 2) {
        fprintf(stderr, "Usage: usbreset device-filename\n");
        return 1;
    }
    filename = argv[1];
    fd = open(filename, O_WRONLY);
    if (fd < 0) {
        perror("Error opening output file");
        return 1;
    }
    printf("Resetting USB device %s\n", filename);
    rc = ioctl(fd, USBDEVFS_RESET, 0);
    if (rc < 0) {
        perror("Error in ioctl");
        return 1;
    }
    printf("Reset successful\n");
    close(fd);
    return 0;
}