In this article I want to cram in as much information as possible related to USB (types, connectors and adapters that are on at the moment exist).

USB (Universal Serial Bus - “universal serial bus”) - serial data transfer interface for peripheral devices in computer technology with built-in power lines. There are two types of connectors/sockets for USB:

• Type A
• Type B

Each type is divided into three groups:

• Standard
• Micro

All USB devices have their own version.

USB 1.x and 2.0

Specification 1.0 regulated two types of connectors:

• A – on the controller or USB hub side
• B – on the peripheral device side

Subsequently, miniature connectors were developed for USB applications in portable and mobile devices, called Mini-USB. New version miniature connectors called Micro-USB, was presented USB Implementers Forum January 4, 2007. The appearance is shown in the table (Table 1).

Table 1. Appearance of USB 1.x and 2.0 devices of different types

	Standard	Mini	Micro
Type A
Type B

For USB 1.x, two operating modes are regulated:

• low bandwidth mode ( Low-Speed) - 1.5 Mbit/s
• high throughput mode ( Full-Speed) - 12 Mbit/s

For USB 2.x, three operating modes are regulated:

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

USB 3.x

In the USB 3.0 specification, connectors and cables of the updated standard are physically and functionally compatible with USB 2.0, and for unambiguous identification, USB 3.0 connectors are usually made of blue plastic . The USB 3.0 specification increases the maximum information transfer speed to 5 Gbps - which is an order of magnitude higher than the 480 Mbps that USB 2.0 can provide. Thus, the transfer speed increases from 60 MB/s to 600 MB/s and allows you to transfer 1 TB not in 8-10 hours, but in 40-60 minutes.

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 appearance is shown in the table (Table 2).

Table 2. Appearance of USB 3.x devices of different types

	Standard	Mini	Micro
Type A
Type B

Examples of adapters and ports (Figure 1-3).

Figure 1 – Types of adapters.

The USB interface began to be widely used about 20 years ago, to be precise, since the spring of 1997. It was then that the universal serial bus was implemented in hardware in many motherboards personal computers. Currently, this type of connecting peripherals to a PC is a standard, versions have been released that have significantly increased the data exchange speed, and new types of connectors have appeared. Let's try to understand the specifications, pinouts and other features of USB.

What are the advantages of Universal Serial Bus?

Implementation this method connections made it possible:

• Quickly connect various peripheral devices to your PC, from the keyboard to external disk drives.
• Make full use of Plug&Play technology, which simplifies the connection and configuration of peripherals.
• Rejection of a number of outdated interfaces, which had a positive impact on functionality computing systems.
• The bus allows not only to transfer data, but also to supply power to connected devices, with a load current limit of 0.5 and 0.9 A for the old and new generations. This made it possible to use USB to charge phones, as well as connect various gadgets (mini fans, lights, etc.).
• It has become possible to manufacture mobile controllers, for example, USB network card RJ-45, electronic keys to log in and log out

Types of USB connectors - main differences and features

There are three specifications (versions) of this type of connection that are partially compatible with each other:

1. The very first option that has become widespread is v 1. It is an improved modification previous version(1.0), which practically did not leave the prototype phase due to serious mistakes in the data transfer protocol. This specification has the following characteristics:

• Dual-mode data transfer at high and low speed (12.0 and 1.50 Mbps, respectively).
• Possibility of connecting more than a hundred various devices(including hubs).
• The maximum cord length is 3.0 and 5.0 m for high and low transfer speeds, respectively.
• The rated bus voltage is 5.0 V, the permissible load current of the connected equipment is 0.5 A.

Today this standard is practically not used due to its low throughput.

1. The dominant second specification today... This standard is fully compatible with the previous modification. Distinctive feature– availability of a high-speed data exchange protocol (up to 480.0 Mbit per second).

Thanks to full hardware compatibility with the younger version, peripheral devices this standard can be connected to the previous modification. True, the throughput will decrease by up to 35-40 times, and in some cases more.

Since these versions are fully compatible, their cables and connectors are identical.

Please note that, despite the bandwidth specified in the specification, the actual data exchange speed in the second generation is somewhat lower (about 30-35 MB per second). This is due to the implementation of the protocol, which leads to delays between data packets. Since modern drives have a read speed four times higher than the throughput of the second modification, that is, it does not meet current requirements.

1. The 3rd generation universal bus was developed specifically to solve problems of insufficient bandwidth. According to the specification, this modification is capable of exchanging information at a speed of 5.0 Gbit per second, which is almost three times the reading speed of modern drives. Plugs and sockets of the latest modification are usually marked blue to facilitate identification of belonging to this specification.

Another feature of the third generation is an increase in the rated current to 0.9 A, which allows you to power a number of devices and eliminate the need for separate power supplies for them.

As for compatibility with the previous version, it is partially implemented; this will be discussed in detail below.

Classification and pinout

Connectors are usually classified by type, there are only two of them:

Note that such convectors are compatible only between earlier modifications.

In addition, there are extension cables for the ports of this interface. At one end there is a type A plug, and at the other there is a socket for it, that is, in fact, a “female” - “male” connection. Such cords can be very useful, for example, to connect a flash drive without crawling under the table to the system unit.

Now let's look at how contacts are wired for each of the types listed above.

USB 2.0 connector pinout (types A and B)

Since the physical plugs and sockets of early versions 1.1 and 2.0 do not differ from each other, we will present the wiring of the latter.

Designation:

• A – nest.
• B – plug.
• 1 – power supply +5.0 V.
• 2 and 3 signal wires.
• 4 – mass.

In the figure, the coloring of the contacts is shown according to the colors of the wire, and corresponds to the accepted specification.

Now let's look at the wiring of the classic socket B.

Designation:

• A – plug connected to the socket on peripheral devices.
• B – socket on a peripheral device.
• 1 – power contact (+5 V).
• 2 and 3 – signal contacts.
• 4 – ground wire contact.

The colors of the contacts correspond to the accepted colors of the wires in the cord.

USB 3.0 pinout (types A and B)

In the third generation, peripheral devices are connected via 10 (9 if there is no shielding braid) wires; accordingly, the number of contacts is also increased. But they are located in such a way that it is possible to connect devices of earlier generations. That is, the +5.0 V contacts, GND, D+ and D-, are located in the same way as in the previous version. The wiring for Type A socket is shown in the figure below.

Designation:

• A – plug.
• B – nest.
• 1, 2, 3, 4 – connectors completely correspond to the pinout of the plug for version 2.0 (see B in Fig. 6), the colors of the wires also match.
• 5 (SS_TX-) and 6 (SS_TX+) connectors for data transmission wires via the SUPER_SPEED protocol.
• 7 – ground (GND) for signal wires.
• 8 (SS_RX-) and 9 (SS_RX+) connectors for data receiving wires using the SUPER_SPEED protocol.

The colors in the figure correspond to those generally accepted for this standard.

As mentioned above, a plug from an earlier model can be inserted into the socket of this port; accordingly, the throughput will decrease. As for the plug of the third generation of the universal bus, it is impossible to insert it into the sockets of the early release.

Now let's look at the pinout for the type B socket. Unlike the previous type, such a socket is incompatible with any plug of earlier versions.

Designations:

A and B are plug and socket, respectively.

Digital signatures for contacts correspond to the description in Figure 8.

The color is as close as possible to the color markings of the wires in the cord.

Micro USB connector pinout

To begin with, we present the wiring for this specification.

As can be seen from the figure, this is a 5 pin connection; both the plug (A) and socket (B) have four contacts. Their purpose and digital and color designation correspond to the accepted standard, which was given above.

Description of the micro USB connector for version 3.0.

For of this connection A characteristically shaped 10 pin connector is used. In fact, it consists of two parts of 5 pins each, and one of them fully corresponds to the previous version of the interface. This implementation is somewhat confusing, especially considering the incompatibility of these types. Probably, the developers planned to make it possible to work with connectors of earlier modifications, but subsequently abandoned this idea or have not yet implemented it.

The figure shows the pinout of the plug (A) and appearance sockets (B) micro USB.

Contacts 1 to 5 fully correspond to the second generation micro connector, the purpose of the other contacts is as follows:

• 6 and 7 – data transmission via high-speed protocol (SS_TX- and SS_TX+, respectively).
• 8 – mass for high-speed information channels.
• 9 and 10 – data reception via high-speed protocol (SS_RX- and SS_RX+, respectively).

Mini USB pinout

This connection option is used only in early versions of the interface; in the third generation this type is not used.

As you can see, the wiring of the plug and socket is almost identical to the micro USB, respectively, the color scheme of the wires and the contact numbers are also the same. Actually, the differences are only in shape and size.

In this article we have presented only standard types of connections; many manufacturers of digital equipment practice introducing their own standards; there you can find connectors for 7 pin, 8 pin, etc. This introduces certain difficulties, especially when the question arises of finding a charger for mobile phone. It should also be noted that manufacturers of such “exclusive” products are in no hurry to tell how they are made USB pinout in such contactors. But, as a rule, this information is easy to find on thematic forums.

02.06.2016

In this article we will look at what types of USB connectors exist and what they are most often used for.

On the left is the connector (male), on the right is the connection connector (female)

1) USB 2.0 Type A

The most common connector for computer connections: keyboards, mice, flash drives and other similar devices.

The connector takes its roots from the 90s, then versions 1.0 or 1.1 had speeds of up to 12 Mbit/s, and USB 2.0, already released in 2000, had speeds of up to 480 Mbit/s, which is still popular today.

2) USB 2.0 Type B

A less common connector, mainly found in large peripheral devices: printers, scanners, MFPs, external sound cards and other devices requiring higher current.

3) USB 2.0 Type Mini-B 4 pin

It was widespread in the mid-2000s, used to transfer data from digital cameras and cameras, but was discontinued due to insufficient power, replaced by a full-length Mini USB

4) USB 2.0 Mini USB

One of the most popular, but already becoming a thing of the past connectors. Often found in phones, MP3 players, digital cameras, portable hard drives and other mobile equipment.

5) USB 3.0 Type A

The new USB type A standard differs in appearance only in color. IN modern computers and on laptops it is indicated in blue or red. The new format is 10 times faster than its predecessor and has a data transfer rate of up to 5 Gbit/s. One of the main features is its versatility; the connector can be connected to an old USB 2.0, and vice versa.

6) USB 3.0 Type B

The new format is found in few devices that only require high power, such as large format portable drives, routers, NAS storage, MFPs and other peripheral devices.

7) USB 2.0 Micro USB

The main format for connecting all portable devices: phones, tablets, e-readers and other portable devices.

It was approved as a single charging format for all phones.

8) USB 3.0 Micro USB

The connector differs from its predecessor by an additional 5 contacts and has all the best quality, only with even greater speed. Currently found in portable hard drives and smartphones. The cable has an adaptation with the old connector, that is, a cable from USB 2.0 Micro USB can be connected to a new device.

9) USB Type C

The new format, also known as USB 3.1, is a continuation of the Micro USB standard. The new connector is capable of delivering a throughput of up to 10 Gbps, with the smallest dimensions. Was first used in the new Apple MacBook 12", where this port is universal for all connected devices, including charging. Now this connector is found in all new smartphones and most likely this is not the end.

In our store you can purchase an adapter for your smartphone from a USB 2.0 Micro USB connector to USB Type C so that you can always be connected at first.

The USB interface began to be widely used about 20 years ago, to be precise, since the spring of 1997. It was then that the universal serial bus was implemented in hardware in many personal computer motherboards. Currently, this type of connecting peripherals to a PC is a standard, versions have been released that have significantly increased the data exchange speed, and new types of connectors have appeared. Let's try to understand the specifications, pinouts and other features of USB.

What are the advantages of Universal Serial Bus?

The introduction of this connection method made it possible:

• Quickly connect various peripheral devices to your PC, from the keyboard to external disk drives.
• Make full use of Plug&Play technology, which simplifies the connection and configuration of peripherals.
• Rejection of a number of outdated interfaces, which had a positive impact on the functionality of computing systems.
• The bus allows not only to transfer data, but also to supply power to connected devices, with a load current limit of 0.5 and 0.9 A for the old and new generations. This made it possible to use USB to charge phones, as well as connect various gadgets (mini fans, lights, etc.).
• It has become possible to manufacture mobile controllers, for example, a USB RJ-45 network card, electronic keys for entering and exiting the system

Types of USB connectors - main differences and features

There are three specifications (versions) of this type of connection that are partially compatible with each other:

1. The very first version that has become widespread is v 1. It is an improved modification of the previous version (1.0), which practically did not leave the prototype phase due to serious errors in the data transfer protocol. This specification has the following characteristics:

• Dual-mode data transfer at high and low speed (12.0 and 1.50 Mbps, respectively).
• Possibility of connecting more than a hundred different devices (including hubs).
• The maximum cord length is 3.0 and 5.0 m for high and low transfer speeds, respectively.
• The rated bus voltage is 5.0 V, the permissible load current of the connected equipment is 0.5 A.

Today this standard is practically not used due to its low throughput.

1. The dominant second specification today... This standard is fully compatible with the previous modification. A distinctive feature is the presence of a high-speed data exchange protocol (up to 480.0 Mbit per second).

Due to full hardware compatibility with the younger version, peripheral devices of this standard can be connected to the previous modification. True, the throughput will decrease by up to 35-40 times, and in some cases more.

Since these versions are fully compatible, their cables and connectors are identical.

Please note that, despite the bandwidth specified in the specification, the actual data exchange speed in the second generation is somewhat lower (about 30-35 MB per second). This is due to the implementation of the protocol, which leads to delays between data packets. Since modern drives have a read speed four times higher than the throughput of the second modification, that is, it does not meet current requirements.

1. The 3rd generation universal bus was developed specifically to solve problems of insufficient bandwidth. According to the specification, this modification is capable of exchanging information at a speed of 5.0 Gbit per second, which is almost three times the reading speed of modern drives. Plugs and sockets of the latest modification are usually marked blue to facilitate identification of belonging to this specification.

Another feature of the third generation is an increase in the rated current to 0.9 A, which allows you to power a number of devices and eliminate the need for separate power supplies for them.

As for compatibility with the previous version, it is partially implemented; this will be discussed in detail below.

Classification and pinout

Connectors are usually classified by type, there are only two of them:

Note that such convectors are compatible only between earlier modifications.

In addition, there are extension cables for the ports of this interface. At one end there is a type A plug, and at the other there is a socket for it, that is, in fact, a “female” - “male” connection. Such cords can be very useful, for example, to connect a flash drive without crawling under the table to the system unit.

Now let's look at how contacts are wired for each of the types listed above.

USB 2.0 connector pinout (types A and B)

Since the physical plugs and sockets of early versions 1.1 and 2.0 do not differ from each other, we will present the wiring of the latter.

Designation:

• A – nest.
• B – plug.
• 1 – power supply +5.0 V.
• 2 and 3 signal wires.
• 4 – mass.

In the figure, the coloring of the contacts is shown according to the colors of the wire, and corresponds to the accepted specification.

Now let's look at the wiring of the classic socket B.

Designation:

• A – plug connected to the socket on peripheral devices.
• B – socket on a peripheral device.
• 1 – power contact (+5 V).
• 2 and 3 – signal contacts.
• 4 – ground wire contact.

The colors of the contacts correspond to the accepted colors of the wires in the cord.

USB 3.0 pinout (types A and B)

In the third generation, peripheral devices are connected via 10 (9 if there is no shielding braid) wires; accordingly, the number of contacts is also increased. But they are located in such a way that it is possible to connect devices of earlier generations. That is, the +5.0 V contacts, GND, D+ and D-, are located in the same way as in the previous version. The wiring for Type A socket is shown in the figure below.

Designation:

• A – plug.
• B – nest.
• 1, 2, 3, 4 – connectors completely correspond to the pinout of the plug for version 2.0 (see B in Fig. 6), the colors of the wires also match.
• 5 (SS_TX-) and 6 (SS_TX+) connectors for data transmission wires via the SUPER_SPEED protocol.
• 7 – ground (GND) for signal wires.
• 8 (SS_RX-) and 9 (SS_RX+) connectors for data receiving wires using the SUPER_SPEED protocol.

The colors in the figure correspond to those generally accepted for this standard.

As mentioned above, a plug from an earlier model can be inserted into the socket of this port; accordingly, the throughput will decrease. As for the plug of the third generation of the universal bus, it is impossible to insert it into the sockets of the early release.

Now let's look at the pinout for the type B socket. Unlike the previous type, such a socket is incompatible with any plug of earlier versions.

Designations:

A and B are plug and socket, respectively.

Digital signatures for contacts correspond to the description in Figure 8.

The color is as close as possible to the color markings of the wires in the cord.

Micro USB connector pinout

To begin with, we present the wiring for this specification.

As can be seen from the figure, this is a 5 pin connection; both the plug (A) and socket (B) have four contacts. Their purpose and digital and color designation correspond to the accepted standard, which was given above.

Description of the micro USB connector for version 3.0.

For this connection, a characteristically shaped 10 pin connector is used. In fact, it consists of two parts of 5 pins each, and one of them fully corresponds to the previous version of the interface. This implementation is somewhat confusing, especially considering the incompatibility of these types. Probably, the developers planned to make it possible to work with connectors of earlier modifications, but subsequently abandoned this idea or have not yet implemented it.

The figure shows the pinout of the plug (A) and the appearance of the micro USB socket (B).

Contacts 1 to 5 fully correspond to the second generation micro connector, the purpose of the other contacts is as follows:

• 6 and 7 – data transmission via high-speed protocol (SS_TX- and SS_TX+, respectively).
• 8 – mass for high-speed information channels.
• 9 and 10 – data reception via high-speed protocol (SS_RX- and SS_RX+, respectively).

Mini USB pinout

This connection option is used only in early versions of the interface; in the third generation this type is not used.

As you can see, the wiring of the plug and socket is almost identical to the micro USB, respectively, the color scheme of the wires and the contact numbers are also the same. Actually, the differences are only in shape and size.

In this article we have presented only standard types of connections; many manufacturers of digital equipment practice introducing their own standards; there you can find connectors for 7 pin, 8 pin, etc. This introduces certain difficulties, especially when the question arises of finding a charger for a mobile phone. It should also be noted that manufacturers of such “exclusive” products are in no hurry to tell how the USB pinout is done in such contactors. But, as a rule, this information is easy to find on thematic forums.

What is USB? According to official data technical parameters IT technology 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 that interact with computer peripheral devices in popularity. 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, which makes 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 To personal computer connects keyboard, mouse, printers. 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. IN desktop computer Up to 12 USB connectors can be mounted, the 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 for operation with 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 is fully compatible with 2.0. The connectors of the latest specification have a characteristic blue plastic color, unlike the white of the 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 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 differs more compact 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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