Evolution of the USB Connector

Author：danny / time：2018-04-10 / The number of clicks：1398

In the mid-1990s, prominent players in the computer industry formed a rare alliance to address the need for a universal interface to connect peripheral devices to computers. Think tanks from Microsoft, Intel, Hewlett-Packard, and Compaq, to name a few, came up with a data transfer system that would prove to be revolutionary for decades to come—the USB connector , or Universal Serial Bus.

 

USB 1.0

In January 1996, the USB 1.0 was released. There were, however, several issues related to the release, which prevented it from gaining widespread support.

 

USB 1.1

In the third quarter of 1998, the USB 1.1, also called Full-Bandwidth USB, came out. In an era of confusing ports with different data transfer speeds and compatibilities, the USB 1.1 provided flexible port expansion and ease of use. Because of this, it was widely adopted by the market.

 

The USB 1.1 supported low speed capability at 1.5 mbps, and full speed capability at 12 mbps. This feature allowed flexibility of use depending on the peripheral device being connected. Low-speed devices include keyboards, game controllers, and mice. Full-speed devices, on the other hand, include cameras and printers.

 

USB 2.0

In April 2000, the USB 2.0, also called the High-Speed USB, was released. It featured a data transmission speed of 480 mbps. It was also capable of running at two 12 mbps and 1.5 mbps for low-speed devices.

 

While retaining the features of the USB 1.1, it also offered additional features. Its mini- and micro-connectors have been formally defined. To provide better support when using USB ports, a battery charging specification was added. In addition to this, an “on-the-go” feature was added, which allows USB devices to communicate directly to each other even without the host.

 

Retaining the backwards compatibility of the USB 1.1, the USB 2.0 controller cards can support USB 1.1 devices.

 

A plug-and-play feature for multimedia devices was also highlighted. This means that you can plug and unplug your USB device from the host computer without the need to install drivers or shutting down your computer.

 

Flash drives

It was in the same year that USB flash drives came out. Initially sold by IBM and Trek Technology, a flash drive is a plug-and-play storage device that could, at the time, accommodate up to 8 mb worth of data. Other names for a USB flash drive include memory stick, thumb drive, jump drive, and pen drive.

 

USB 3.0

The USB 3.0, also referred to as the Super-Speed USB, was a further improvement from the USB 2.0. It featured an increased bandwidth of a maximum of 4.8 gbps, while retaining compatibility with USB-enabled devices that flood the market.

 

Unique to the Super-Speed USB is the Sync-N-Go technology. This feature allows the user to gain access to sync applications and personal data when the USB is plugged into any Windows computer. No installations are required for this feature.

 

Other features of the USB 3.0 are decreased power consumption, increased power output, and backwards compatibility with the USB 2.0.

 

The USB 3.0 is ideal for use in devices that require higher bandwidths, such as data transfer cables and video adapters. It has additional bandwidth, full duplex communication, and power availability to support these.

 

USB-C

Technically referred to as the USB Type-C, the USB-C is a connector system with 24 pins. But unlike the USB 1.0, 1.1, 2.0, and 3.0, it is not a new standard. Rather, it is a new connector shape designed to replace older USB standards.

 

The tiny physical connector is almost the size of a micro-USB connector, about a third of a Type-A plug. Despite its tiny size, it is powerful enough to connect a host of peripheral devices on your computer. It is reversible, which means that both ends of the cable are equipped with the USB Type-C, making it easier and less confusing to use.