What does usb mean? How to determine which USB port is on a laptop or computer? Mini-USB connector pinout - type A

What is USB? According to official data of the technical parameters of IT technologies, it is defined as a universal serial bus. USB drivers are required for...

USB - what is it? Types and photos

From Masterweb

What is USB? Today, probably only the lazy do not know or have heard about this. USB has firmly entered the life of modern people, and many areas of activity cannot be imagined without it. USB has surpassed all other similar interfaces in popularity that interact with computer peripherals. Almost all electronic gadgets and systems are equipped with USB connectors: computers, phones, tablets, TVs, car radios and many other devices.

USB concept

A technical definition will help you understand what USB is. The official documentation states: USB, Universal Serial Bus - universal serial bus. In essence this is software tool, making a connection for transmitting data between electronic gadgets.

USB has its own symbolic icon in the form of geometric shapes: two circles (small and large), a triangle and a square. Three branched lines emerge from the large circle, at the ends of which are the remaining figures.

You can define what USB is in a simpler concept. This is the connector to which a device with a plug of the same standard is connected. For example, when USB help A keyboard, mouse, and printers are connected to a personal computer. Phones, smartphones, tablets, e-readers, portable hard drives and many other gadgets are connected to exchange information, install various updates, and settings.

Features and Benefits

This interface was developed and introduced at the end of 1994. Companies such as Microsoft, Intel, Philips and US Robotics had a hand in the emergence of USB.

Previously, external third-party devices communicated with the PC through such switching means as PS/2, serial and parallel input ports, a separate connector for connecting game controllers, and no one had even heard of what USB was. When developing new gadgets, there was an urgent need to unify switching capabilities. The presentation of the new standard led to increased functionality of the computer and stimulated the development of third-party products with the USB bus.

Today, all PCs and laptops are required to have USB connectors. Up to 12 USB connectors can be mounted on a desktop computer; a laptop has 3-4 inputs. Any modern “self-respecting” gadget has a USB port.

Simplicity and ease of use have become synonymous with USB technology. It allowed interaction with the “Plug and Play” specification, which assumed reliable, fast and user-friendly switching of external sources.

USB standardization

Trial specification standards were presented at the end of 1994. Several more versions were released throughout the year, and on January 15, 1996, the USB 1.0 standard was presented. It was characterized by two types of data exchange: a high throughput channel of up to 12 Mbit/s and a low throughput channel of 1.5 Mbit/s. With high throughput, the length of the USB cable was 3 m, and with low throughput - 5 m. The voltage for connected devices was determined to be 5 V with a maximum current of 500 mA. Up to 127 gadgets could be connected. Moreover, they could all function with different access standards.

In September 1998, work was carried out on the detected errors, the speed was increased to 15 Mbit/s, and USB version 1.1 was launched.

The beginning of 2000 was marked by the release of the USB generation 2.0 interface. A high-speed data processing and transmission mode was introduced. USB 2.0 received three types of bandwidth:

from 10 to 1500 Kbps was used to operate keyboards, mice and gaming gadgets; from 0.5 to 12 Mbit/s reserved various video and audio media; from 25 to 480 Mbit/s worked with hard drives(HDD) and video stream processing.

Additional Specifications

In 2005, USB Wireless technology was developed. A characteristic feature was stated to be wireless switching with high data transfer rates. Within a radius of 3 meters the speed was about 480 Mbit/s, 10 m – 110 Mbit/s.

Through the joint efforts of Microsoft, Intel, Hewlett-Packard and some others, the USB 3.0 specification standard appeared. This version fully compatible with 2.0. The latest specification connectors have a characteristic blue plastic color as opposed to white previous version. Specification 3.0 has an additional four switching lines, making the cable slightly thicker and the throughput increased to a stratospheric 5 Gbps. With these parameters, for example, information with a volume of 1 TB can be transferred in approximately 50 minutes. Whereas with standard 2.0 the same volume is transmitted in about 9 hours.

The latest version of USB has a higher current of 900 mA. This parameter made it possible to connect a larger number of devices to the connector compared to 2.0.

There is also a USB OTG specification that allows connected devices to unilaterally determine when to be a host and when to be a peripheral.

USB connectors

The USB specification has two types of connectors/plugs: type A and type B.

Type A connects a third-party USB device and a computer. It is on the controller side. When connecting any gadget USB drivers instantly finds it herself operating system. If there are none, the device is always equipped with a software disk, which includes the necessary installation element.

Type B is present on the USB peripheral side. These are mainly scanners, printers or multifunction devices. Both types include several plug/connector configuration options: mini USB and micro USB.

The mini USB connector/plug is more compact in size and is found on early versions of smartphones, cameras, camcorders, e-books etc.

The micro USB connector/plug is even smaller in size than the previous version. It is often found in modern smartphones.

Disadvantages of the USB interface

Mini USB and micro USB connectors due to design features often fail before their service life. This is due to the fact that such connectors are usually found in gadgets that very often have to be connected to a computer or charged (phones, smartphones, PDAs, MP3 players). It is worth noting that USB technology not only allows you to exchange data, but also makes it possible to charge devices through its connection.

The stated throughput of the 2.0 specification of 480 Mbps is not true. This happens because data is transmitted in both directions over a single twisted pair cable. To achieve maximum speed, 2 clock cycles are required when exchanging information, which, by the way, is implemented in USB 3.0.

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They are large and small, wide and narrow, rectangular, oval, with cut corners, colored and black and white. They are everywhere: on the phone, on the computer, TV, near the outlet on the wall, and sometimes even on the chandelier.

They are USB connectors. There are many of them and they are different. Today we’ll talk about what types of USB connectors there are and how they differ from each other.

USB Key Features

USB (Universal Serial Bus) stands for universal serial bus transferring data between devices. For example, between a computer and its peripherals - keyboard, mouse, flash drive, printer, scanner, webcam, etc.

Through USB, connected devices receive energy for operation and charging, so power banks and chargers are equipped with sockets of this type. A pair or two pairs of contacts are responsible for power supply, which in the diagrams are conventionally designated VCC or +5 V and GND (ground). If you look closely at the connector, you can see that these pins are longer than the others. This is done so that the connection/disconnection of power and information lines occurs with a time difference, otherwise the data may be transmitted with errors.

2 or more contacts are responsible for data, depending on the USB version. Half of them transmit the signal from the main device (host) to the periphery, and the second half - back.

The USB interface supports Plug and Play technology (“connect and use”). When connecting to a host, such as a computer, the peripheral device tells it what it is, and the host selects the appropriate driver. “Communication” occurs over data lines.

Devices released in the last decade are equipped with USB interfaces versions 2.0, 3.0, 3.1, 3.2. It's rare, but there are still old devices with USB 1.1. Interfaces different generations transmit information at different speeds.

Theoretically achievable data transfer rates via USB bus current versions are presented in the table:

In order not to confuse the reader, only the maximum speeds are given here, according to the USB specifications of various versions, without taking into account their operating modes. This means that the actual speed of data exchange between devices connected by this bus can be several times lower.

USB connectors of different generations are compatible with each other, but the speed of data transfer between them is always limited by the potential of the slower side.

The latest, third generation USB can withstand more current than its predecessors, which affects the charging speed and maintenance of connected devices, especially those that consume a lot of energy, such as external hard drives.

The maximum output current of the USB charger or host port is:

• For versions 1.1-0 – 0.5 A.
• For version 3.0 – 0.9-1.5 A.
• For versions 3.1-3.2 – 1.5-3 A with the possibility of increasing to 5A.

The standard voltage of the USB output port is 5 V. Certain specifications of versions 3.1-3.2, aimed at connecting energy-intensive devices, can withstand up to 20 V.

Externally, USB connectors of different generations differ in color. The third is the youngest, has a blue or blue tint, this is its typical feature. The first and second can be painted black, white, gray and other colors; their coloring has nothing to do with their characteristics.

Types of USB connectors

By purpose

According to its purpose, any USB port can be classified into one of three types:

• Standard or regular, which provides power and information exchange between devices. Computers, laptops, smartphones, TVs, etc. are equipped with such ports.
• Charger. They meet on chargers ah, power banks and some system units, are intended only for powering peripherals.
• Dedicated charger. These sockets are used to charge USB gadgets from a household electrical outlet. They are built into electrical outlets. An example of such a solution is shown in the photo below.

The first type can be of any version, the second and third most often refer to versions 2.0 or 3.0. The latter differ in color.

By configuration

The configuration of the connectors is also “tied” to the generation of the interface. USB plugs and sockets versions 1.1 and 2.0 come in the following sizes and shapes:

• Type A (standard). Such ports are installed on host and charger devices. They come in three sizes: regular (the most common is 12x4 mm, 4 pins), medium (miniUSB 7x3 mm, 5 pins) and small (microUSB 7x2 mm, 5 pins).

• Type B (narrow). Peripheral equipment is equipped with sockets of this type. They can also be regular (7x8mm, 4 pins), mini (3x7mm, 5 pins) and micro (2x7mm, 5 pins).

Micro connectors of both types are visually very similar. The only difference is that A has the shape of a rectangle, and B has beveled upper corners.

It is rare, but there are USB cables that are equipped with combined connectors: mini-AB and micro-AB. They can be connected to sockets of either type.

USB 3rd generation connectors come in the following sizes:

• A – standard. It differs from its predecessor in color and number of contacts; here there are 9 of them. The micro-A connector has 10 contacts and is divided into 2 parts. Half are identical to microUSB 2.0 (for compatibility), the remaining 5 pins are located in another part. This was done because the compact size did not allow all the pins to fit in one place. There are no mini-A 3.0 connectors.
• B - its standard and mini connectors are identical in configuration to USB-B version 2.0, but also have 9 pins each. Micro-B differs from micro-A in the shape of the combined half. It, like microUSB-B 2.0, has cut corners.

Third generation microUSB interfaces are not very common because they are extremely inconvenient to use. In addition, sockets of this type often cannot withstand repeated tugging back and forth and break off from the carrier. Their predecessors also suffer from the same drawback, but here the problem arises more often.

However, this does not mean that miniature USB-3 connectors will have to be abandoned. A replacement for the unsuccessful solution has already been found - a new and radically different USB Type C interface.

Features of USB Type C

is a compact third generation USB connector (8.4 x 2.6 mm, 24 pins) that is designed for the same tasks as its predecessors. Unlike all other interfaces of this type, it is symmetrical or double-sided, that is, it supports cable connections on both the top and bottom sides, like the Lightning connectors on Apple devices.

Eliminating the need to orient the cable in the desired position reduces the risk of breakage of the socket, extends its service life and makes life easier for people with impaired vision and poor coordination of movements, who for these reasons cannot use devices with microUSB-B connectors.

The Type-C specification complies with USB 3.1 and ensures full compatibility with earlier versions this interface, as required by the standard. Therefore, mobile gadgets equipped with such sockets do not always support third-generation speeds: the newfangled connector is quite capable of coexisting with a USB controller version 2.0.

Other USB feature-C is support for alternative operating modes as HDMI interfaces and MHL (hybrid HDMI and microUSB), DisplayPort, VGA and Thunderbolt. Thanks to this feature, a smartphone with Type-C can be connected, for example, to the HDMI port of a TV or the DisplayPort input of a computer monitor. Of course, the ability to communicate via such a channel must be implemented in a device with USB-C, which is currently only found on top-end smartphones. However, the technology has prospects.

A little about USB cables

The differences between USB cables are not only in the configuration of the connectors, but also in the number of cores. The most common type of cable is four-wire USB 2.0, designed for data transfer and power supply to peripheral equipment. In it, each of the lines is connected to a pair of identical contacts on opposite plugs. Data over such a cable is transmitted in turn - either in one direction or the other.

There are USB cables for charging only. They have only 2 cores - plus and ground, and the contacts of the information lines are simply connected to each other. They are usually thinner than 4-core ones. As a rule, they are not sold in stores, but are included in the delivery kits of various devices that support 5 V power supply (for example, electric toothbrushes).

Generation 3 USB cables are usually blue (though not always) and thicker. Indeed, in addition to the standard four cores, they include the same number of additional ones. Extension lines support simultaneous data transfer in both directions.

To connect peripheral equipment (keyboards, flash drives, mice, etc.) to smartphones and tablets, another type of cable has been developed - OTG. The OTG-2.0 cable has only 4 cores and 5 contacts. On the host side, an additional fifth pin (ID) is connected to ground - this is how the devices determine which of them acts as a host. In OTG-3, accordingly, there are 4 more data lines.

Cables USB Type-C on the opposite side they often have a different type of plug, for example, USB-A, HDMI, DP, etc. The configuration of the second connector, the number of cores and connection with certain pins, support for different current levels determine their purpose and functionality.

The choice of cable affects the speed of charging and information exchange between devices. Poor quality or incorrectly selected, it can be a connection bottleneck. So, if you connect your phone and computer via USB-3.0 to USB-C ports with a USB-2.0 cable, the connection will be many times slower than if a version 3 connector was used.

USB power supply

Initially, the USB standard was “tailored” for powering and charging low-power devices with a current consumption of up to 0.5 A at a voltage of 5 V. However, with the advent of smartphones and tablets with high-capacity batteries, this limit would become an insurmountable barrier to their mass release on the market. After all, you can charge such devices with low currents all day long, and who will like it?

This led to several more specifications, including Quick Charge (fast charging) is a technology for transferring energy that exceeds the standard capabilities of USB via a USB interface.

The following versions of this standard are relevant today:

• Quick Charge 2.0. It provides a stepwise increase in the output voltage from 5 V to 9 V, 12 V and 20 V.
• Quick Charge 3.0. It also supports increasing the voltage up to 20 V, but with an interval of 0.2 V.
• Quick Charge 4.0 and 4+. Based on another power supply technology - Power Delivery, and provides fast charging batteries via USB-C connectors.

The ability to replenish energy reserves from chargers with Quick Charge support is available only to those gadgets where it is implemented at the hardware level. QC technology, like USB, is fully backward compatible.

Power Delivery– standard for powering energy-intensive devices with power support up to 100 W using a regular cable and USB connectors version 2.0 or 3.0-3.2. The source of energy in such a system can be not only a charger or power bank, but also a device acting as a host. And any gadget with a battery can be designated as a host, for example, a smartphone connected to another smartphone.

Current transfer in Power Delivery systems goes in both directions, so the host and peripherals can change places during the charging process. In addition, the standard provides the ability to change current and voltage levels according to five profiles:

• less than 5 V and 2 A;
• 5-12 V and 1.5 A;
• 5-12 V and 3 A;
• 12-20 V and 3 A;
• 12-20 V and 4.75-5 A.

Power Delivery already allows you to power such powerful devices as laptops and all-in-one PCs via USB connectors. Further development of the technology, we must expect, will cross the 100-watt threshold and find application in smart TVs, household appliances, lighting fixtures and wherever possible. In short, USB has a great future, and we have to coexist with it for many, many years.

Got it? Are you surprised that there are so many different types of USB? 😉

The first version of the Universal Serial Bus (USB) was introduced in 1995. It was USB that became the most successful interface in the history of computing systems. Tens of billions of devices communicate with each other via USB, so the importance of this data transfer channel is difficult to overestimate. It seems that with the advent of the connector USB Type-C, our understanding of the capabilities and role of a universal bus may change dramatically. Before talking about the prospects, let's look at what the new universal connector offers.

The advantages and disadvantages of the new format interface connector have been discussed on the Internet for some time. The USB Type-C specification was finally approved at the end of last summer, but the topic of a universal connector aroused active interest after the recent announcement of the laptop, as well as new version, equipped with USB Type-C.

The USB Type-C connector is slightly larger than the usual USB 2.0 Micro-B, but noticeably more compact than the dual USB 3.0 Micro-B, not to mention the classic USB Type-A.

The dimensions of the connector (8.34x2.56 mm) allow it to be used without any particular difficulties for devices of any class, including smartphones/tablets with a minimum reasonable case thickness.

Structurally, the connector has an oval shape. Signal and power terminals are located on a plastic stand in the central part. The USB Type-C contact group includes 24 pins. This is much more than the previous generation of USB connectors. Only 4 pins were allocated for the needs of USB 1.0/2.0, while USB 3.0 connectors have 9 pins.

The first obvious benefit of USB Type-C is the symmetrical connector, which allows you not to think about which side to connect the plug to the socket. The age-old problem of devices with USB connectors of any format has now finally been resolved. At the same time, the solution to the problem is achieved not by the banal duplication of all contact groups. A certain automatic negotiation and switching logic is used here.

Another nice thing is that there are identical connectors on both sides of the interface cable. Therefore, when using USB Type-C, you do not need to choose which side of the conductor to connect the master and slave devices.

The outer shell of the connector does not have any holes or cutouts. To secure it in the connector, internal side latches are used. The plug must be held securely enough in the connector. There should not be any backlashes similar to those that could be observed with USB 3.0 Micro-B.

Many people are probably concerned about the physical reliability of the new connector. According to the stated characteristics, the mechanical life of the USB Type-C connector is about 10,000 connections. Exactly the same indicator is typical for the USB 2.0 Micro-B port.

Separately, we note that USB Type-C is not a data transfer interface. This is a type of connector that allows you to tie together various signal and power lines. As you can see, the connector is elegant from an engineering point of view, and most importantly, it should be easy to use.

Data transfer rate. 10 Gb/s is not for everyone?

One of the advantages of USB Type-C is the ability to use the USB 3.1 interface for data transfer, which promises an increase in throughput up to 10 Gb/s. However, USB Type-C and USB 3.1 are not equivalent terms and are definitely not synonyms. IN USB format Type-C can implement the capabilities of both USB 3.1 and USB 3.0 and even USB 2.0. Support for a particular specification is determined by the integrated controller. Of course, USB Type-C ports are more likely to appear on devices that support high data transfer rates, but this is not a dogma.

Let us recall that even with the implementation USB capabilities 3.1 there may be differences in the maximum data transfer rate. For USB 3.1 Gen 1 it is 5 Gb/s, USB 3.1 Gen 2 is 10 Gb/s. By the way, the presented Apple Macbook and Chromebook Pixel have USB Type-C ports with a bandwidth of 5 Gb/s. Well, a clear example of the fact that the new interface connector is very variable is the Nokia N1 tablet. It is also equipped with a USB Type-C connector, but its capabilities are limited to USB 2.0 with a bandwidth of 480 Mb/s.

The designation “USB 3.1 Gen 1” can be called a kind of marketing ploy. Nominally, such a port has capabilities identical to those of USB 3.0. Moreover, for this version of “USB 3.1” the same controllers can be used as for the implementation of the previous generation bus. At the initial stage, this technique will probably be actively used by manufacturers, releasing new devices with USB Type-C that do not require maximum bandwidth. When offering a device with a new type of connector, many will want to present it in a favorable light, declaring the presence of not only a new connector, but also support for USB 3.1, even if only conditional.

It is important to understand that the USB Type-C port can nominally be used for maximum performance connections at speeds of up to 10 Gb/s, but in order to obtain such bandwidth, the connected devices must provide it. The presence of USB Type-C does not indicate the real speed capabilities of the port. They should be clarified in advance in the specifications of specific products.

Some restrictions also have cables for connecting devices. When using the USB 3.1 interface, for lossless data transfer at speeds up to 10 Gb/s (Gen 2), the length of the cable with USB Type-C connectors should not exceed 1 meter, for connection at speeds up to 5 Gb/s (Gen 1) – 2 meters.

Energy transfer. 100 W unit

Another important feature that USB Type-C brings is the ability to transmit power up to 100 W. This is enough not only for power supply/charging mobile devices, but also for trouble-free operation of laptops, monitors or, for example, “large” external drives of 3.5” format.

When the USB bus was originally developed, power transfer was a secondary function. The USB 1.0 port provided only 0.75 W (0.15 A, 5 V). Enough for a mouse/keyboard to work, but nothing more. For USB 2.0, the nominal current was increased to 0.5 A, which made it possible to obtain 2.5 W. This was often enough to power, for example, external 2.5” hard drives. For USB 3.0, a nominal current of 0.9 A is provided, which, with a constant supply voltage of 5V, already guarantees a power of 4.5 W. Special reinforced connectors on motherboards ah or laptops were capable of delivering up to 1.5 A to speed up charging of connected mobile devices, but this is still 7.5 W. Against the background of these figures, the possibility of transmitting 100 W looks like something fantastic. However, in order for the USB Type-C port to be filled with the necessary power, support for the specification is needed USB Power Delivery 2.0 (USB PD). If there is none, the USB Type-C port will normally be able to output 7.5 W (1.5 A, 5 V) or 15 W (3 A, 5 V) depending on the configuration.

To streamline the energy capabilities of USB PD ports, a system of power profiles was developed that provides possible combinations of voltages and currents. Compliance with Profile 1 guarantees the ability to transmit 10 W of energy, Profile 2 – 18 W, Profile 3 – 36 W, Profile 4 – 60 W, Profile 5 – 100 W. A port corresponding to a higher-level profile maintains all states of the previous ones downstream. 5V, 12V and 20V were selected as reference voltages. The use of 5V is necessary for compatibility with the huge fleet of available USB peripherals. 12V is the standard supply voltage for various system components. 20V was proposed taking into account the fact that external 19–20V power supplies are used to charge the batteries of most laptops.

Of course, it’s good when the device is equipped with USB Type-C, which supports the maximum USB PD energy profile. It is this connector that allows you to transmit up to 100 W of energy. Obviously, ports with similar potential may appear on some powerful laptops, special docking stations or motherboards, where separate phases will be allocated for the needs of USB Type-C indoor unit nutrition. The point is that the required power must be somehow generated and supplied to the USB Type-C contacts. And to transmit energy of such power, active cables will be required.

It is important to understand here that not every port of the new format will be able to provide the declared power of 100 W. There is a potential opportunity for this, but this issue must be resolved by the manufacturer at the circuit design level. Also, don’t be under any illusions that the above 100 W can be obtained from, say, a power supply the size of a matchbox, and now you can charge your gaming laptop and a 27-inch monitor connected to it using a smartphone charger. Still, the law of conservation of energy continues to work, and therefore a 100 W external power supply with a USB Type-C port will still be the same weighty block as before. In general, the very possibility of transmitting energy of such power using a universal compact connector is, of course, a plus. At a minimum, this is a great opportunity to get rid of the inconsistency of original power connectors, which laptop manufacturers especially often sin with.

Another useful feature of USB Type-C is the ability to change the direction of energy transfer. If the circuit design of the devices allows, the consumer can, for example, temporarily become a charge source. Moreover, for reverse energy exchange, you don’t even need to reconnect the connectors.

Alternative mode. Not USB alone

The USB Type-C port was originally designed as a universal solution. In addition to direct data transfer via USB, it can also be used in Alternate Mode to implement third-party interfaces. The VESA Association took advantage of this flexibility of USB Type-C by introducing the ability to transmit video streams via DisplayPort Alt Mode.

USB Type-C has four high-speed lines (pairs) of Super Speed ​​USB. If two of them are dedicated to DisplayPort needs, this is enough to get a picture with a resolution of 4 K (3840x2160). At the same time, the data transfer speed via USB does not suffer. At its peak it is still the same 10 Gb/s (for USB 3.1 Gen2). Also, the transmission of the video stream does not in any way affect the energy capacity of the port. Even 4 high-speed lines can be allocated for DisplayPort needs. In this case, modes up to 5K (5120×2880) will be available. In this mode, USB 2.0 lines remain unused, so USB Type-C will still be able to transfer data in parallel, although at a limited speed.

In alternative mode, the SBU1/SBU2 pins are used to transmit the audio stream, which are converted into AUX+/AUX- channels. For the USB protocol they are not used, so there are no additional functional losses here either.

When using the DisplayPort interface, the USB Type-C connector can still be connected to either side. The necessary signal coordination is provided initially.

Connecting devices with using HDMI, DVI and even D-Sub (VGA) are also possible, but for this you will need separate adapters, however these must be active adapters, since for DisplayPort Alt Mode, Dual-Mode Display Port (DP++) is not supported.

Alternative USB Type-C mode can be used not only for the DisplayPort protocol. Perhaps we will soon learn that this port has learned, for example, to transmit data using PCI Express or Ethernet.

Compatibility. Difficulties of the “transition” period

If we talk about the compatibility of USB Type-C with devices equipped with USB ports of the previous generation, then it is not possible to connect them directly due to fundamental differences in the design of the connectors. To do this you will need to use adapters. Their range promises to be very wide. Of course, we are not just talking about converting USB Type-C to other USB types. Adapters for displaying images on screens with traditional DisplayPort, HDMI, DVI and VGA ports will also be available.

Along with the announcement of the new MacBook, Apple offered several adapter options. Single USB Type-C to USB Type-A is priced at $19.

Considering the presence of only one USB Type-C, MacBook owner You probably can’t do without a universal, more functional converter. Apple presented two such adapters. One output has USB Type-C, VGA and USB Type-A pass-through, the second option is equipped with HDMI instead of VGA. The cost of these boxes is $79. A 29 W power supply with native USB Type-C is priced at $49.

Google for new system The Chromebook Pixel offers single USB Type-C to Type-A (male/female) adapters for $13, while a DisplayPort to HDMI converter costs $40. A 60 W power supply is priced at $60.

Traditionally, one should not expect humane price tags from equipment manufacturers. additional accessories. Adapter manufacturers are anticipating demand for their new products. Belkin is already ready to ship kilometers of conductors, but their cost also cannot be called low ($20–30). The company also announced, but has not yet introduced, an adapter from USB Type-C to Gigabit Ethernet port. The price has not yet been announced; there is only information that it will be available in early summer. It's funny, but it seems that until this moment, in order to connect to a wired network, you will need to use two adapters at once. It is quite possible that someone will be more prompt than Belkin, offering an appropriate adapter earlier.

It will be possible to talk about a noticeable price reduction only after much lesser-known companies from the Middle Kingdom begin to work closely on accessories with USB Type-C. Considering the prospects that are opening up, we believe that this will not be the case.

Devices with USB Type-C. Someone has to be first

Nominally, the first device equipped with a USB Type-C port was a tablet. At least, it was this device that became the harbinger of the fact that ports of the new format left the developer’s laboratories and “went to the people.”

An interesting device, but, unfortunately, it is currently offered in a fairly limited edition. The tablet has a native USB Type-C port, although the USB 2.0 protocol is used for data transfer.

Perhaps the most significant product that will help increase the popularity of USB Type-C is the recently introduced . The 12-inch laptop is equipped with a single interface connector, so its owners will one way or another become pioneers who will adapt to life with USB Type-C.

On the one hand, Apple obviously supported the development of the new standard; moreover, the company’s engineers were directly involved in USB development Type-C. On the other hand, updated versions Macbook Air And MacBook Pro We did not receive this connector. Does this mean that the manufacturer’s USB Type-C will not be included in the “heavier” category of devices in the coming year? Debatable. After all, Apple probably won’t be able to resist updating its line of laptops after the autumn announcement of a new mobile phone. Intel platforms with Skylake processors. Perhaps this is when the Cupertino team will allocate space on the interface panel for USB Type-C.

The situation with tablets and smartphones is even more ambiguous. Will Apple use USB Type-C instead of Lightning for them? In terms of capabilities, the proprietary connector is noticeably inferior to the new universal port, but what about the original peripherals that users of Apple mobile products have accumulated since 2012? We will find out the answers to these questions with the update or expansion of the iPhone/iPad lines.

Google has introduced the second generation of stylish Chromebook Pixel laptops. Systems running Chrome OS are still fairly niche solutions, but the quality of Google’s systems is captivating, and this time they are at the forefront of devices offering USB Type-C connectivity. Laptops are equipped with a pair of corresponding connectors. However, to be on the safe side, Chromebook Pixels also have two classic USB 3.0 connectors.

In general, Google representatives are very encouraged by the capabilities of the new connector, counting on the appearance of Android mobile devices with a USB Type-C connector in the near future. Uncompromising support from the largest platform holder is a powerful argument for other market players.

Motherboard manufacturers are not yet in a particular hurry to add a USB Type-C port for their devices. MSI recently introduced the MSI Z97A GAMING 6, which is equipped with such a connector with data transfer speeds of up to 10 Gb/s.

ASUS offers an external USB controller 3.1 with a USB Type-C port, which can be installed on any board with free PCI slot Express (x4).

Peripherals with native USB Type-C are still frankly not enough. Surely many manufacturers were in no hurry with the announcement, waiting for the appearance of systems with which it would be possible to use products with USB Type-C. In general, this is a typical situation when introducing another industry standard.

Immediately after the announcement of the Apple MacBook, LaCie introduced a series of portable external hard drives with USB Type-C.

SanDisk is already offering a flash drive with two connectors for testing – USB 3.0 Type-A and USB Type-C. The lesser known Microdia offers a similar product.

Surely we will soon see a significant expansion of the range of devices with USB Type-C. The flywheel of change will slowly but surely spin up. The support of “big” companies can influence the situation and speed up this process.

Results

The need for a universal compact connector that could be used to transmit data, video-audio streams and electricity has been brewing for quite some time. Considering the mutual interest on the part of both users and equipment manufacturers, there are all the prerequisites for USB Type-C to take off.

Compact dimensions, simplicity and ease of connection, along with ample capabilities, promise the connector the prospect of repeating the success of its predecessor. The usual USB port has been modernized several times, but the time has come for drastic changes. 10 Gb/s with the possibility of further scaling, power transmission up to 100 W and a picture with a resolution of up to 5K. Not a bad start? Another argument in favor of USB Type-C is that it is an open standard that does not require licensing fees from manufacturers. There is still a lot of work ahead, but there is a result ahead that is worth going through this path for.

Currently, there are several types of USB connectors (Universal Serial Bus), which come in three versions - USB v1.1, USB v2.0 and USB v3.0. Version v1.1 is practically not used due to the too low data transfer speed (12 Mbit/s), so it is used only for compatibility.

The second version of USB 2.0 now dominates the market. Most modern devices support this version, which provides an information exchange speed of 480 Mbit/s, which is equivalent to a copy speed of 48 MB/s. However, due to non-ideal implementation and design features, in practice the actual speed rarely exceeds 30-33 MB/sec. Many hard drives are capable of reading information at 3-4 times faster speeds.

USB v2.0 connector is bottleneck, which slows down the operation of modern drives. At the same time, for mice, keyboards and some other devices this does not matter much. The third version of USB v3.0 is marked in blue, which indicates that it belongs to the latest generation. Bandwidth The third version of USB provides a speed of 5 Gbit/s, which is equivalent to 500 MB/s. Taking into account the fact that modern hard drives have a speed of 150-170 MB/sec, the third version of USB has a large reserve of data transfer speed.

Structurally, USB 1.1 and 2.0 versions are fully compatible with each other. If one of the connected parties supports version v1.1, then data exchange will occur at a reduced speed, and the operating system will display the message: “The device can work faster,” which will mean that the computer is using a fast USB 2.0 port, and the connected device version 1.1 is slow. Compatibility between USB 2.0 and 3.0 looks a little different. Any USB v2.0 device can be connected to the third version port, indicated in blue. But the reverse connection (with the exception of type A) is impossible. Modern USB v3.0 cables and devices have additional pins that allow you to increase the speed of the interface.

USB power

Any USB connector is powered by a voltage of 5 V and a current of up to 0.5 A, and for USB version 3.0 - 0.9 A. In practice, this means that maximum power of the connected device does not exceed 2.5 W or 4.5 W for USB 3.0. For this reason, connecting low-power and portable devices(phones, players, flash drives, memory cards) will not cause problems, and large and massive equipment is powered from an external network.

USB v2.0 and USB v3.0 connectors are also classified by type (Type A and Type B) and size (MiniUSB and MicroUSB).

The USB Type A connector is the most widespread and is the most recognizable among the existing ones. Most devices (mice, keyboards, flash drives, cameras and many others) are equipped with USB type A, which was developed back in the 90s. The main advantage of this port is its reliability, which allows it to withstand a large number of connections without losing integrity. Although the cross-section of the connector is rectangular, it is protected against incorrect connection, so it cannot be plugged in reverse side. However, it is quite large in size, so it is not suitable for portable devices, which has resulted in the creation of smaller modifications.

The USB type B connector is less popular. All modifications of type B, including Mini and Micro, have a square or trapezoidal shape. The traditional full-length Type B is the only type that has a square cross-section. Due to its rather large size, it is used in various peripheral and large-sized stationary devices (scanners, printers, sometimes ADSL modems). Typically, manufacturers of printers or multifunctional devices rarely include such a cable in their products, so the buyer has to purchase it separately.

The reason for the appearance of tiny Mini USB Type B connectors was the abundance of miniature devices on the market. And the appearance of portable hard drives ensured their real mass popularity. Unlike large connectors with 4 pins, Mini USB Type B has five pins, however, one of them is not used. Unfortunately, miniaturization has had a negative impact on reliability. During operation, after some time the Mini USB connector begins to loosen, although it does not fall out of the port. At this time, it is still actively used in portable hard drives, players, card readers and other compact equipment. The second modification of Mini USB type A is almost never used. Mini USB is gradually being replaced by a more advanced modification of Micro USB.

The Micro USB type B connector is a modified version of the previous type Mini USB type B and has very miniature dimensions, which allows manufacturers to use it in modern technology with a small thickness. Thanks to the improved fastening, the plug sits very tightly in the socket and does not fall out of it. In 2011 this type connector has been approved as a unified standard for charging smartphones, phones, tablets, players and other portable equipment. This solution allows you to charge your entire fleet of electronics using one cable. The standard is showing growth trends and it can be assumed that in a few years almost all new devices will be equipped with it. Type A is used extremely rarely.

The USB 3.0 standard provides significantly higher data transfer speeds. Additional contacts, which made it possible to increase speed, led to a change in the appearance of almost all USB connectors of the third version. However, type A has not changed in appearance, except for the blue color of the core. This means that backward compatibility is maintained. In other words, a USB 3.0 type A device can be connected to a USB 2 port and vice versa. This is the main difference between the connector and other version 3.0 connectors. Such ports are commonly found in modern laptops and computers.

USB 3.0 Type B is used in medium and large high-end peripheral devices ah - NAS, as well as in stationary hard drives. The connector has undergone major changes, so it cannot be connected to USB 2.0, in particular to USB 2.0 type B. Cables with such connectors are also not often sold.

Micro USB 3.0 is the successor to the “classic” Micro USB connector and has the same characteristics - compactness, reliability, high-quality connection, but at the same time provides higher data transfer speeds. Mainly used in modern external ultra-fast hard drives and SSDs. It is becoming increasingly popular. The connector largely duplicates Micro USB version 2.

Users sometimes confuse Mini USB connectors with Micro USB connectors, which are really similar. The main difference is that the first one is slightly larger in size, and the second one has special latches on the back side, which make it easier to distinguish these two types of connectors. In other respects they are identical. Today there are many devices with these types of connectors, so it is preferable to have two different cables.

USB is serial interface data transmission for peripheral devices in computing

The widely adopted USB 1.0 standard was introduced in November 1996. Version v1.1 is practically not used due to the too low data transfer speed (12 Mbit/s), so it is used only for compatibility.

USB 2.0

The widely adopted USB 2.0 standard was introduced in November 1996.

As with the USB 1.0 and USB 1.1 specifications, the USB 2.0 specification uses a cable consisting of two pairs of wires to connect peripheral devices: one twisted pair of wires for receiving and transmitting data, and the other for powering the peripheral device.

The supply voltage via the USB bus is 5 V at a current of up to 500 mA. This, of course, is not enough for high-power peripherals such as printers. Therefore, they are equipped with their own power supplies, which are connected directly to an electrical outlet. USB cables are oriented, that is, they have physically different ends “to the device” (Type B) and “to the host” (Type A). It is possible to implement a USB device without a cable, with a “to-host” tip built into the housing.

Computers and laptops manufactured after 2003 typically have USB 2.0 ports.

USB 2.0 devices support three operating modes:

• Low-speed, 10-1500 Kbps (keyboards, mice, joysticks, gamepads)
• Full-speed, 0.5-12 Mbit/s (audio, video devices)
• High-speed, 25-480 Mbit/s (video devices, storage devices)

USB 3.0 interface – SuperSpeed ​​USB standard

The USB 3.0 specification appeared in 2008.

In the USB 3.0 specification, connectors and cables are compatible with USB 2.0, and for unambiguous identification USB connectors 3.0 are made of blue or (for some manufacturers) red plastic.

The USB 3.0 specification increases the maximum data transfer rate to 5 Gbps - which is higher than the data transfer speed of USB 2.0 devices. (maximum 480 Mbit/s)

On July 31, 2013, the USB 3.0 Promoter Group announced the adoption of the next interface specification, USB 3.1, whose transfer speed can reach 10 Gbps. The USB 3.1 Type-C connector is symmetrical.

Types of possible connectors and cables

The number of possible USB 3.0 connectors has increased. The most popular connector that everyone used was USB Type-A of classic size: it is located on flash drives, USB modems, at the ends of the wires of mice and keyboards. Full-size USB Type-B is a little less common: printers and scanners are usually connected with this cable. A mini version of USB Type-B is still often used in card readers, digital cameras, USB hubs. The micro version of Type-B has become the most popular connector in the world: all current mobile phones, smartphones and tablets (except for the products of one fruit company) are produced with a USB Type-B Micro connector.