Type c is different from micro USB. USB: types of connectors and cables for a smartphone

Recent changes and improvements in USB technology are expanding the choice of interfaces for users. Initially, the USB Implementers Forum renamed the USB 3.0 interface to USB 3.1 Gen 1. At the same time, technical specifications interface remained the same. Then the forum introduced USB 3.1 Gen 2 and a new type of physical connector, which was called USB Type C. We decided to shed light on the situation around these standards and connectors.

USB 3.1 technology

Currently, USB 3.1 Gen 1 (formerly USB 3.0) technology is supported as standard by the latest operating systems. MacOS systems, Linux and Windows. The interface provides maximum theoretical throughput 5 Gbps and current up to 3.4 Gbps and up to 900 mA current for devices. Unlike USB 2.0, version 3.1 operates in full duplex mode, in other words, simultaneous sending and receiving of data is possible.

USB 3.1 Gen 2 offers users twice the throughput of Gen 1: 10 Gbps. USB 3.1 Gen 2 is not a standard for Intel or AMD, but may be supported by third-party drivers and controllers. Although Gen 2 received minor protocol changes, it is backwards compatible with Gen 1.

Scope of application of USB 3.1

So, USB 3.1 technology provides the user with significantly increased performance compared to USB 2.0. When using removable drives, faster data transfer will be ensured: large video files and images. USB 3.1 will provide support high resolutions and frame rates for cameras used in machine vision systems on production lines. Accordingly, PTZ cameras used both in video surveillance systems and in video conferencing systems without using a hardware codec can support resolutions of 1080p60 and higher. This undoubtedly improves the quality and reduces the cost of video conferencing systems, and also allows users to connect their own devices to Skype and WebEx.

USB 3.1 pinout

Like USB 3.0, USB 3.1 received additional pins to support SuperSpeed. The D+ and D- pins remain the same, including (power) and (ground). To service the SuperSpeed ​​tire, two additional tires have been added twisted pairs, which provide bidirectional SuperSpeed ​​data transmission: StdA_SSRX+ and StdA_SSRX- (reception) and SSTX+ and StdA_SSTX (transmission).

USB Type C

The new type of physical connector brings significant qualitative changes that set it apart from USB 3.1 Gen 1 and Gen 2. Type C supports data transfer speeds of up to 40 Gbps (Thunderbolt 3 alternative mode) and current power of up to 100 Watts. Many have already appreciated the shape of the connector: it can be inserted from either side. Both the connector and connector turned out to be quite compact and much more durable than alternatives, for example, micro USB. The cables are marked with an electronic chip for correct use and preventing situations where it is not compatible or transfers too much power to a device that does not support it. Type C is backward compatible with USB 2.0, 3.1 Gen 1 and 3.1 Gen 2.

Type C can both consume and provide power. The same port can be used both to connect a flash drive and to charge a laptop. In addition, Type C charges devices such as smartphones and tablets faster.

Alternate Modes

USB Type C can operate in so-called alternative modes, which allow you to transfer not only USB data through the connector and cables. In this case, other physical protocols are used, and with each of them, current transmission with a power of up to 100 Watts is ensured.

• DisplayPort Alternate Mode– support for video transmission with resolutions up to 4Kp60 4:4:4 with DisplayPort version 1.3. Simultaneous transfer of USB 3.1 Gen 2 and USB 2.0.
• Mobil High-Definition Link (MHL) Alternate Mode— support for video transmission with resolutions up to 4Kp60 (1 line) or up to 8Kp60 (4 lines) using MHL 1.0, support for USB 2.0 and 3.1 depending on the configuration.
• Thunderbolt 3 Alternate Mode– Supports up to two displays with resolutions up to 4Kp60, PCIe 3.0, DisplayPort, USB 2.0 and 3.1 transmission, depending on configuration.
• HDMI Alternate Mode– support for HDMI 1.4b specification (4Kp30, 4Kp60 4:2:0), no support for USB 3.1 simultaneous transfer in any configuration.

Trends around USB-C

Features and benefits of USB Type C will certainly affect the increased presence of the connector in mobile devices and laptops. Among devices with this type of connector, flash drives, various docking stations, monitors and adapters for outdated interfaces are expected. By 2019, the supply of up to two billion most different devices.

The industry is on the verge of another change. In the coming years, prepare to throw away all your USB and HDMI cables. They will be replaced by the USB Type-C interface. The new format looks brilliant on paper, but... real life There are still a lot of questions for him. The main one is when to switch to it? Now let's figure it all out.

Why is USB Type-C the future?

The situation is obvious. The point is the versatility of the format, which is always a plus. What can regular USB do now? Only transfer data. To connect a monitor and charge a laptop, separate interfaces are required (HDMI, VGA, DVI), which is inconvenient.

Type-C allows you to do everything at once. In addition to transferring files at speeds of up to 10 GB/s, the interface can broadcast images in 5K quality (5120x2880 pixels), power devices with a consumption of up to 100 W and a voltage of up to 20 V. And all this at the same time. In addition, the connector itself is small (8.4 x 2.6 mm) and double-sided. Trying to blindly connect a flash drive or charge a smartphone in the dark when the microUSB doesn’t want to fit into the connector will become a thing of the past.

Where did it all start?

The trend was set by Apple, a company that many now criticize for its inability to surprise, or to do it in a very strange way: by introducing innovations that turn into headaches for customers.

In 2015, the Cupertino team introduced the new Macbook. The model was clearly planned for Macbook replacement Air, which are already quite boring and outdated. Their TFT matrix screens look especially bad, while other products sport Retina displays. So, in the new Macbook, in addition to the 3.5 mm headphone jack, there was only one output - USB Type-C. In the fall of 2016, Apple showed new generations of Macbook Pro, which already have four similar ports and no other interfaces (only the mini-jack was retained).

Other manufacturers are also catching up: laptops with USB Type-C are produced by HP, ASUS, Dell, MSI. But these companies took a safer method. Along with USB Type-C, their devices also have the usual USB 3.0, HDMI, and an SD card slot. Apple cuts without waiting for peritonitis.

Wait, but Apple introduced Lightning a couple of years ago...

Yes, but this interface is only used on iPhone and iPad. And we are almost sure that the company will completely switch to USB Type-C in smartphones and tablets in a couple of years.

Devices from other manufacturers (Google Nexus 5X and Pixel, ASUS Zenfone 3) have already received a new standard. So we have a chance to live until that bright day when any mobile phone, laptop or other gadget can be charged via one cable.

But Apple can't bury Lightning so quickly. When the company announced with the release of the iPhone 5 that the bulky 30-pin connector was a thing of the past, the forums were bursting with user indignation: what to do with the purchased docking stations and acoustic systems? Gradually everyone came to terms and switched to a compact interface. But if, five years later, people are again told about a change in format, Apple won’t seem to care enough. In addition, Lightning is their own standard, and it is especially difficult to abandon the native one. It will probably be unified with USB Type-C, as happened with Thunderbolt 3.

What exactly is the problem with USB Type-C?

The problem is not so much in the connector as in the periphery. There are only a few monitors with this interface, and they are not cheap. The same thing with flash drives, hard drives, batteries - they are there, but the choice is very limited.

It is unlikely that many people can completely upgrade their equipment at one time - this will amount to a very decent figure. This means that a Type-C adapter is required. And this is precisely the main problem.

Firstly, you need to buy Type-C adapters, and original adapters, especially from Apple, cost an indecent amount. Get out a calculator: USB-C/Lightning (for connecting to an iPhone/iPad) - 1,590 rubles; USB-C/HDMI, USB-C, USB 3.0 - 4090 rubles; adapter from USB Type-C to regular USB - 799 rubles. You won’t be able to insert a flash drive from a camera into your laptop either - again, get money for an adapter (Sandisk USB Type-C adapter costs, for example, about 1,800 rubles). The minimum required set of additional devices will cost 6-7 thousand rubles. True, you can find a real combine that will immediately have USB 3.0, a LAN output, HDMI, and a slot for a memory card.

So while USB Type-C does not make life easier, it only adds problems. For example, photographers cannot quickly transfer pictures from their camera to their laptop. If at work you are asked to write something onto a flash drive, then either carry an adapter with you at all times, or buy a drive with two interfaces (fortunately, there are such), or say apologetically, “I’m here at the peak of progress: only USB- C".

But USB Type-C will inevitably become widespread. It won’t be possible to stubbornly stick to USB 3.0: for another couple of years, manufacturers will definitely release solutions with familiar connectors, but gradually people will be forced to switch to the new standard. Fortunately, it will be cheaper to do this later than it is now.

So should we switch to USB Type-C or what?

The transition to USB Type-C depends on the specifics of how you work with devices. For example, if the laptop is used at maximum mobile gadget, data is transferred between devices via Wi-Fi, and the only wire you connect to it is the charging wire, then you will not have any problems with the new interface.

In extreme cases, you will need to buy one adapter, which has a connector for the usual USB and HDMI. An Apple smartphone, for example, can be connected via USB to this adapter rather than buying a Lighting/USB-C adapter.

But if you need to use many ports at the same time: HDMI, SD card slot, 2-3 USB, you will have to get rid of it. But it’s unlikely that a large number of users connect so much to their laptop at one time. In addition, the Macbook Pro, for example, has four connectors at once. By connecting the laptop to the TV, putting it on charge and connecting the flash drive to the triple adapter (for 4090 rubles), you will have three more free ports at your disposal.

Are there cheap adapters for USB Type-C?

Craftsmen from China tirelessly invent cheaper and more universal adapters. But you need to be careful when buying them. Budget options can burn the device when connected by supplying too much current. Adapters from well-known manufacturers are equipped with reliable protection that will prevent the destruction of your smartphone or laptop.

It is better to avoid suspiciously cheap options. Moshi, HyperDrive, Choetech, SanDisk - you can pay attention to the products of these companies. But 100% quality and reliability will be ensured only by branded adapters from manufacturers, and not from third-party brands. By the way, Griffin produces an interesting thing - a charging wire on a magnet, like in the now old Macbooks. If you touch it, the laptop will not crash to the floor - the cable will simply disconnect, and a small tail with USB Type-C will remain in the laptop.

We draw conclusions:

The future belongs to USB Type-C - that's for sure. I would like to believe that the interface will become widespread soon. But if you need to frequently connect different devices (flash drives, power banks, monitors, network cables), then don't rush. First, find adapters that suit you completely and estimate their cost, as well as how many adapters you will have to carry with you all the time.

We are on the verge of significant changes - the classic and familiar USB 2.0 and 3.0 ports are being replaced by a new, backwards compatible type of connector. Despite external convenience, symmetry and visual simplicity, list USB capabilities Type-C is not only impressive, but at the same time it is fraught with many unobvious difficulties for the user.

The first USB standard appeared in 1994 to solve the key problems of that time: the unification of connectors for PC equipment peripherals combined with high speed data transfer. Since 2001, the USB 2.0 connector (as well as its various variations) has become a universal connection standard for any peripheral. The key to USB's fifteen years of success is its simplicity, because there are only four pins inside that provide the connected device with power and communication.

What was an advantage in the 2000s has become a bottleneck for modern devices - USB ports can no longer cope with the volume of information growing almost exponentially, users appreciate the advantages of symmetrical (and fast!) mobile reversible connectors (such as Apple Lightning), cables in which you can insert on both sides, and the speed wireless transmission data is very close to the speed of a cable connection.

USB 3.0 only highlighted the existing problem by mechanically increasing the number of additional pins to five, which increased the maximum throughput from 480 MBit/s to 5 Gbit/s, and the maximum current increased from 500 mA to 900 mA. The new connector also received its own distinctive marking - socket blue. USB 3.0 connectors require 9 pins to operate.

Let's figure out how much the USB Type-C / USB-C / USB C connector differs from its predecessors, what prospects and difficulties are fraught with the transition to a new type of connector, and what types of cables it will be able to replace in the near future.

The confusion starts with the name: “USB Type-C”, “USB-C” and “USB C” are different names for the same connector, which can work with different protocols. Bye common name not settled, we'll stick with the USB Type-C name - although the general trend points to the growing popularity of the shorter USB-C variant.

The diagram of backward-compatible USB Type-C protocols allows you to understand what functions the new connector can take on - there were unexpectedly many of them, which is good news. The most important thing about this diagram is that each subsequent level is backward compatible with the levels below it.

The fastest protocol for the new connector is Thunderbolt 3. The Thunderbolt hardware interface was developed by Intel in collaboration with Apple. Herself trademark Thunderbolt was previously owned by Apple, but was later transferred Intel. USB Type-C connectors working with this protocol are installed in new

But the USB Type-C port in the previous one is “a step lower”, allowing you to connect peripherals compatible only with the USB 3.1 gen 1 standard, but not with Thunderbolt 3.

This good example, which clearly demonstrates in practice why, despite the same USB Type-C connector, Thunderbolt 3 peripherals cannot be connected to the Macbook 12, however, any accessories and peripherals for the Macbook 12 will work with the new Macbook Pro 2016.

Let's take a closer look at what other types of signals USB Type-C can transmit through itself.

First of all, these are classic USB 2.0 and USB 3.0 - this is relevant for mobile devices with a new connector (for example, the first tablet with USB Type-C Nokia N1), which supported signals and power only for USB 2.0. The most modern mobile devices (for example l) support a USB 3.0 connection.

What does this mean in practice? When purchasing a cable for a mobile device with USB Type-C, pay attention to the speed and compatibility of the connectors on both gadgets. A good choice for a modern Windows laptop with USB 3.0 would be a cable that will provide operation via USB Type-C using the USB 2.0 and 3.0 protocols.

If your mobile device, such as an Android smartphone, has Micro-USB port(or its modification Micro-USB B), operating using the USB 2.0 protocol, can be limited to a cable, or. The maximum data transfer speed will be limited to 480 Mbps.

The next standard is USB 3.1 gen 1 - allowing you to connect hard drives, network adapters and docking stations. It is backward compatible with SuperSpeed ​​USB 3.0, Hi-Speed ​​USB 2.0, and even the original USB 1.x.

USB 3.1 gen 2 protocol is similar to the previous one, but doubles the bandwidth of USB peripherals to 10 Gbps. Only the newest USB-C devices support it.

USB 3.1 and USB Type-C connections support both external drives, For example .

Examples of accessories that provide compatible high-speed network connections via USB Type-C:
And .

Audio Accessory Mode is a specification for use with analog audio, allowing the USB Type-C port to compete with the analog 3.5mm jack in the future.

Connection mode Alternate Mode - includes all other non-USB protocols: DisplayPort, MHL, HDMI and Thunderbolt (which was previously connected via the DP connector). The main problem here is that not every device supports the Alternate Mode protocol, which is very confusing for buyers.

For video devices, not only branded adapters with USB Type-C from Apple are available: and adapter, but also options from other manufacturers, for example.

But there are also advantages - transmitting a video stream via a USB Type-C port does not in any way affect its energy capabilities, because as many as four high-speed lines can be allocated for the needs of DisplayPort. In this case, it is possible to transmit images in resolutions up to 5120×2880.

The symmetry of the contact pads made it possible to make the port reversible, and depending on the connected device, a different number of connections is involved.

The first USB 1.0 port provided only 0.75 W (0.15 A, 5 V) of power. For USB 2.0, the current was increased to 0.5 A, which made it possible to receive 2.5 Watts from it for power supply, for example, external hard 2.5" discs Not surprisingly, connecting more power-intensive drives sometimes required several ports at once.

For USB 3.0, a current of 0.9 A is provided, which, with a supply voltage of 5 V, guarantees a power of 4.5 W. Compared to these numbers, the 100W transmission capability is truly impressive!

To ensure the transfer of such an amount of energy, the supply voltage can increase to 20 Volts. The Secondary Bus and USB Power Delivery Communication pins are for selecting desired mode work between connected gadgets - after all, if the device is not capable of accepting 100W of energy, it will simply burn out! Thanks to pre-communication, compatible devices enter an advanced operating mode with enhanced power capabilities.

There are five such profiles in total: “profile 1” guarantees the ability to transmit 10 W of energy, the second – 18 W, the third – 36 W, the fourth – 60 W, and the fifth – a whole hundred!

The PD (Power Delivery) function requires a separate cable, e.g.

The prospects for USB Type-C or USB-C are very bright. Apart from Apple USB ports Type-C is beginning to be equipped with both productive desktops (motherboards) and mobile devices. So far, the leading place is occupied by the USB 3.1 protocol in both of its variations (and mobile devices are just approaching USB 3.0 speeds).

It won’t be long before we can finally switch to a universal type of USB-C cables from USB-C (such cables are available now) to connect other peripherals. It's especially nice that accessories purchased today will continue to work thanks to backwards compatibility mode. Important note - USB Type-C is an open standard that does not require licensing fees from manufacturers.

The risks and difficulties lie only when connecting new peripherals (requiring the fastest protocols, such as Thunderbolt of various versions) to older versions of devices with USB Type-C operating at USB 3.1 speeds - at best, they will be able to continue working at a reduced speed.

When purchasing accessories and USB Type-C cables, be sure to consider what speeds your device should (and can) operate at - if USB 2.0-3.1 speeds are suitable for mobile devices and gadgets, then for transmitting video signals or data from hard drives high capacity, Thunderbolt 3 compatibility may be important.

For your convenience, we have collected them in a separate section of the catalog.

It rarely happens that one extra letter in the name of a standard threatens to revolutionize the world of data transfer interfaces and gadgets, but the emergence of the latest version of USB 3.1 Type-C This seems to be exactly the case. What does the next update of the good old USB interface promise to bring us?

• Data transfer rate up to 10 GBps
• Possibility of powering devices with power consumption from the port up to 100W
• Connector dimensions comparable to micro-USB
• The symmetry of the connector - it does not have a top or bottom, which means there is no key, which often leads to damage to both the connectors themselves and the gadgets connected through them
• By using of this interface You can power devices with voltage up to 20 volts
• There are no longer different types of connectors - A and B. There are exactly the same connectors at both ends of the cable. Both data and power supply can be transmitted through the same connector in both directions. Depending on the situation, each connector can act as a master or slave
• We are promised that the connector design can withstand up to 10,000 connections
• It is possible to use this interface for direct connection instead of some other widely used interfaces for quick exchange data.
• The standard is compatible from top to bottom as c regular USB 3 interface, the same as with its younger brothers. Of course not directly, but with the help of an adapter it is possible to connect, say, a USB 2.0 drive through it

Electronics - the science of contacts

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 (8.34×2.56 mm) allow it to be used without any particular difficulties for devices of any class, including smartphones and tablets.

The signal and power pins are placed on a plastic insert; perhaps this is its weakest point in the central part of the connector. The USB Type-C contact group contains 24 pins. Let me remind you that USB 1.0/2.0 had only 4 pins, and USB 3.0 connectors already required 9 pins.

If you look closely at the picture on the left, you can see that the contacts have different lengths. This ensures their closure in a certain sequence. In the picture in the center we see the presence of latches that should hold the plugged-in cable and provide a tactile click during the connection and disconnection process. The right graph shows the dependence of the force during the process of inserting and removing the connector.

The peaks that we see on it are the moments when the latch is triggered.

It can be stated that the developers of the standard have done, if not everything, then almost everything to make the connector as convenient and reliable as possible: it is inserted from either end and from either side with a noticeable click. According to them, he is able to survive this procedure more than 10 thousand times.

Many-faced symmetrical Janus

The earth terminals are located along the edges. The positive power contacts are also located symmetrically. In the center there are contacts responsible for compatibility with the USB2 interface and younger. They are the luckiest of all - they are duplicated and therefore turning 180 degrees when connecting is not terrible. Pins responsible for high-speed data exchange are marked in blue. As we see here everything is more cunning. If we rotate the connector, then, for example, the output of TX1 will change places with TX2, but at the same time the place of the input of RX1 will be taken by RX2.

The Secondary Bus and USB Power Delivery Communication pins are service pins and are intended for communication between two connected devices. After all, they need to tell each other a lot about a lot before starting the exchange, but more on that later.

In the meantime, about one more feature. 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 an image with a resolution of 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, resolutions up to 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 DisplayPort interface, the USB Type-C connector can still be connected from either side. The necessary signal coordination is provided initially.

Connecting devices using HDMI, DVI and even D-Sub (VGA) is also possible, but this will require separate adapters, but these must be active adapters, since DisplayPort Alt Mode does not support Dual-Mode Display Port(DP++).

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

And she gave to this, and she gave to that. In general... about nutrition.

Another important feature that USB Type-C brings is the ability to transmit energy through it with a power of up to 100 W. This is enough not only to power/charge mobile devices, but also to operate laptops, monitors, and if you get creative, even a small laboratory source nutrition.

When the USB bus appeared, power transmission was an important, but still secondary function. The USB 1.0 port provided only 0.75 W (0.15 A, 5 V). Enough for a mouse and keyboard to work, but nothing more. For USB 2.0, the rated current was increased to 0.5 A, which made it possible to receive 2.5 Watts from it 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, guarantees a power of 4.5 W. Special reinforced connectors on motherboards ahs or laptops were capable of delivering up to 1.5 A to speed up charging of connected mobile devices, but this is “only” 7.5 W. Against the background of these figures, the possibility of transmitting 100 W looks like something fantastic.

In order to fill the USB Type-C port with such energy, it supports the USB Power Delivery 2.0 (USB PD) specification. 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. For detailed description There is not enough space for this specification in this article, and anyway I will not do it better than the respected one in his wonderful article.

However, it will not be possible to completely bypass this extremely important topic.

In order to provide 100 watts of power at five volts, a current of 20 amperes is required! Considering the size of the USB Type-C cable, this is perhaps only possible if it is made from a superconductor! I'm afraid that today this will be quite expensive for users, so the developers of the standard took a different path. They increased the supply voltage to 20 Volts. “Excuse me, but it will completely burn out my favorite tablet,” you exclaim, and you will be absolutely right. In order not to fall victim to angry users, the engineers came up with a clever trick - they introduced a system of power profiles. Before connecting, any device is in standard mode. The voltage in it is limited to five volts and the current to two amperes. For connecting with old-type devices, this mode will end everything, but for more advanced cases, after exchanging data, the devices switch to another agreed mode of operation with advanced capabilities. To get acquainted with the main existing modes, let's look at the table.

Profile 1 guarantees the ability to transmit 10 W of energy, the second - 18 W, the third - 36 W, the fourth - 60 W, and the fifth - our cherished hundred! Port that matches the profile more high level, supports all states of the previous ones in descending order. 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.

A few words about cables!

To combine energy transfer high power and a signal with gigabit traffic, cable manufacturers will have to seriously strain.

Admire what a cross-section of a cable suitable for our task looks like.

By the way, about restrictions on cable lengths when using the USB 3.1 interface. To transfer data without significant losses 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 connections at speeds up to 5 Gb/s (Gen 1) – 2 meters.

Circuit designers from manufacturers of motherboards, docking stations and laptops will long puzzle over how to generate power of the order of hundreds of watts, and tracers will wonder how to connect it to the USB Type-C connector.

Chip manufacturers are at a low start.

At the same time, the dimensions of the HDC3SS460 chip are 3.5 by 5.5 mm and in idle mode it consumes a current of about 1 microampere. In active mode - less than a milliamp. There are also more advanced solutions, for example, chips produced by NXP support communication frequencies of up to 10 GHz.

Power managers combined with circuits for protecting signal lines from static began to appear, for example, this product from NXP

It is designed to correctly handle the moment of connecting the connector, as well as opening the power circuit in case of problems. This chip already supports voltage on VBUS up to 30 volts, but with the maximum switching current everything is much worse - it should not exceed 1 ampere, which is understandable, given the dimensions - 1.4 by 1.7 mm!

The undisputed leader in this area is Cypress, which has released a specialized microcontroller with an ARM Cortex M0 core that supports all five power profiles possible for the standard.

A typical connection diagram for use in a laptop gives some idea about it, and you can learn more about it by downloading the datasheet.

Unlike the NXP chip, it is focused on controlling external power switches and therefore can provide switching of the required currents and voltages, despite its small size.

Attention, an important feature for those who are in a hurry to order the first samples - the microcontroller does not have a USB interface and is not a complete and complete solution. It can only serve as a power manager. IN at the moment Pre-orders for the supply of samples and demo boards are open. The fate of this microcontroller will apparently largely depend on whether the manufacturing company supplies developers with reference libraries for its use in different modes.

The fact that several demokits have already been created for it greatly increases the likelihood of the latter.

Elevator to heaven or the Tower of Babel.

So today a revolutionary situation has completely emerged. The upper classes cannot, and the lower classes do not want to live in the old way. Everyone is tired of the confusion with a huge number of cables, chargers, power supplies and their low reliability.

The new standard has generated unprecedented activity. The flagships of the electronics industry - Apple, Nokia, Asus are preparing to release their first gadgets with USB support Type-C. The Chinese are already churning out cables and adapters. Supported docking stations and hubs are on the way high load by power. Chip manufacturers are developing new chips and are thinking about how to stuff a new port driver into a microcontroller. Marketers are deciding where to plug in a new connector, and engineers are scratching their heads trying to implement multi-functional devices from existing electronic components.

Only one thing is not clear yet. What will we get as a result? A convenient and reliable connector that will replace the lion's share of interfaces and will find everyday use, or Babylonian pandemonium, because the situation may begin to develop according to a not-so-favorable scenario:

Users can become completely confused by numerous specifications and cables that will look exactly the same, but will only be certified for certain profiles. Try to figure out all these markings right away.

But even if it works, this is unlikely to solve the problem - the Chinese, without a twinge of conscience, will easily put any icon on any cord. And if necessary, then there are tons of different cables on each side of the same cable; they won’t be confused even if they are mutually exclusive.

The market will be flooded with an incredible number of adapters of different calibers and dubious quality.

When trying to connect one device to another, you will never know what result this process will lead to and why the connection is either completely absent or everything is terribly glitchy. Either one of the gadgets does not support the required profile, or it does, but not very correctly, or instead of a high-quality cable, you got a rough one Chinese fake. What would you do if suddenly the only connector left on your laptop fails?

Until next time.

P.S. The new standard is already leading to the emergence of very exotic devices. Thus, a 100-meter-long cable was announced, which does not seem to fit into the standards. The whole point is that he is active. At both ends the cable has a USB3 interface to optical signal converter. The signal is transmitted via optics and converted back at the output. Naturally, it does not transmit energy, but only data. In this case, each of the converters at its ends is powered by the connector to which it is connected.
I think that soon self-respecting companies will begin to insert active tags into cables to confirm authenticity. The hub problem will generate unprecedented activity among developers and manufacturers of DC-DC converters. As a respected user rightly noted

Today I will tell you about various USB Type-C cables. And I will try to dispel doubts about their feasibility. The review contains cables from Orico, which are designed to connect your device with a new-fangled connector to a computer or other device with USB 2.0 and USB 3.0 ports.

USB connector Type-C is just gaining popularity and many people not only haven’t seen it, but also don’t understand what innovations are behind it. On what basis are opinions spread such as “everything will burn out” and “why do I need another connector?”

I will try to tell in my own words. Others can find the specification “USB Type-C Specification Release 1.1.pdf”. .

In the text I use the word “connector” as a general word for the concepts “connector”, “socket”, “connector”, “port”, etc.

Historical information

Properties of USB type-C

Basic new introductions:
- one connector for everything (for printers, smartphones, flash drives... monitors!)
- mirror connector (no need to guess which way to insert it)
- small dimensions (it is slightly larger than micro USB)
- the connector is very securely fixed in the socket (yay!)
- must withstand up to 10,000 connections
- the connector supports USB 1.0 – USB 3.1 standards
- it invites devices to independently decide who to be master/slave and power source/consumer
- the cable can be passive or active (with electronics inside)

Basic old introductions:
- the standard does not define the length of the wire; it is already defined in data transmission standards
- the connector can withstand up to 5A, but this is described in the BC1.2 and Power Delivery standards

Next, you can talk about DisplayPort integration, audio transmission, and more. And I will try to do this in the following reviews, but for now let's look at the implementation of three USB type-C cables with backwards compatibility.

Unboxing

Each of them is packed in a little bag, in a cardboard box and in another little bag. Two of the three boxes were wrinkled during transportation. All cables are exactly 1 meter long and 3 mm thick (except LCU-10-BK, it is 4 mm). The wires are a little stiff and happily return to their old position.

Pinout

Test stand

The table contains the results of cable measurements at different currents.

* Direct column shows voltages without any cable. The remaining columns need to be compared with Direct and with each other.
* gray column ECU10bk shows the result turning on USB type-C connector on the other side.
* the remaining gray columns contain data from some cables I have previously measured.

Resume

* The USB type-C connector showed itself in all its glory. It is easy to insert, holds tightly and is easily removed. And it has a mirror arrangement of contacts.

* the most popular cable ECU-10-BK (USB type-C to USB type-A) showed good results. It can safely pass about 2A through itself. But yes, it does not live up to its meter-long relatives.

* a slightly specific cable LCU-10-BK (USB type-C to micro USB 3.0) suddenly showed completely identical results with different cable thicknesses and different connectors. It’s even somehow strange.

* I can’t say what happened to the MCU-10-BK cable (USB type-C to micro USB 2.0). Perhaps it's just a marriage.

P.S. There will be a test of speed characteristics, but in another review.

The product was provided for writing a review by the store. The review was published in accordance with clause 18 of the Site Rules.