USB Type-C Connector is on the news today as they have introduced another new type of USB connector that is not directly compatible with any existing connectors. USB Type-C Connector Specifications Finalized article tells that today the USB-IF (USB Implementers Forum) announced that the latest USB connector which we first caught a glimpse of in April has been finalized. This Type-C specification tries to correct many of the issues with previous USB as a connector models. There are a lot of changes coming, with some excellent enhancements. Check USB Type-C Connector Specifications Finalized and Reversible USB Type-C connector finalized: Devices, cables, and adapters coming soon articles for details. The new connector is for example has reversible plug orientation, similar size to micro-USB, ertified for USB 3.1 data rates (10 Gbps) and support higher power charging.
With this new design, existing devices won’t be able to mate using the new cables, so there are specifications for adapter cables. There will be some time until this new connector becomes widely used. One issue on mobile devices might be the the fact that China, the EU, and the GSMA have all agreed that new mobile devices use Micro-USB for charging (solution could maybe be including a Micro-USB-to-Type-C adapter with every new smartphone).
231 Comments
Tomi Engdahl says:
Everything Wrong With USB-C Cables
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QmgpcG_1cuI
USB-C has caused a lot of confusion. As Apple and other companies push to include only USB-C ports consumers are left with a lot of headaches. Two USB-C cables that look the same can transfer data and power at different speeds. And not all USB-C to headphone jack adapters are compatible. It’s time to clear up the confusion and find the right cable for your device.
Comment:
video is more confusing than the technology itself
This is the same for other USB mobile/tablet charging cables.
USB type c is better than micro USB cable
Conclusion: Don’t use cheap cables.
Stop saying this is a problem with USB C. This is a problem with USB itself and the lack of standardization around manufacturers and the lack of proper product labeling. Type C is simply the shape of the plug and has nothing to do with any of the problems you mentioned. These were problems with USB Type A, Mini USB, Micro USB and all the other USB connector interfaces as well.
Tomi Engdahl says:
Designing with Waterproof USB Type-C Connectors
Waterproof USB Type-C connectors are emerging as the go-to solution for today’s consumer products.
https://www.electronicdesign.com/industrial-automation/designing-waterproof-usb-type-c-connectors?NL=ED-005&Issue=ED-005_20181205_ED-005_129&sfvc4enews=42&cl=article_2_b&utm_rid=CPG05000002750211&utm_campaign=21898&utm_medium=email&elq2=dbe1f43a4108430690f880af8d8f67c0
While legacy USB and Micro USB connectors have been the standard for connectivity, USB Type-C is becoming the preferred connector solution for consumer products because it offers higher performance, combined power and data connectivity, and a form factor that fits today’s products. True IPX8-rated waterproof versions of USB Type-C connectors are increasingly needed to meet customer requirements.
The iPhone, Samsung Galaxy, Huawei’s high-end phones, and other mobile phones tout their water resistance as one of the attributes that consumers want. This attribute also applies to other products like electric shavers, electric toothbrushes, POS terminals, and wearables, as well as automotive, medical, and industrial products. The last thing users need to worry about is environmental sensitivity in an electrical product.
Another trend is faster operation—users want products to transfer data and charge up more quickly. The market is transitioning from Micro USB to USB Type-C because USB Type-C delivers far higher power and data rates. For example, a product with Micro USB might have used 0.9 A (with USB 3.0), but with USB Type-C it can use 5 A, so it can charge much faster. And while Micro USB data-transfer rates were in the 5-Gb range, USB Type-C data transfers can deliver up to 10 Gb/s.
USB Type-C connectors are easier to use than Micro USB because they offer flip insertion (no specific connector orientation is required when inserting them).
USB Type-C connectors with IPX8 waterproofing performance are becoming the new standard for a wide range of products because they deliver go-anywhere reliability, faster charging, and faster data transfers.
Tomi Engdahl says:
New Protocol Authenticates USB Type-C Chargers, Devices
https://www.securityweek.com/new-protocol-authenticates-usb-type-c-chargers-devices
The USB Implementers Forum (USB-IF) on Wednesday announced the launch of the USB Type-C Authentication Program, which aims to protect host systems against non-compliant chargers and potentially malicious devices.
The USB Type-C Authentication specification, unveiled by the USB-IF and the USB 3.0 Promoter Group in 2016, provides the cryptographic mechanisms needed for authenticating various types of USB Type-C devices, including chargers, cables, storage drives and power sources.
https://usb.org/sites/default/files/article_files/USB_Type-C_Authentication_PR_FINAL.pdf
Tomi Engdahl says:
USB-C Just Got a Huge Upgrade – What You Need to Know
https://www.tomsguide.com/us/usb-c-authentication-program,news-28949.html
The association of manufacturers responsible for managing the USB standards have announced plans for a new authentication standard in order to make USB Type-C ports safer for the devices that use them.
The USB Implementers Forum, which consists of representatives from manufacturers including Apple, HP, Intel and Microsoft, has introduced an authentication system in order to make the increasingly popular cables and ports more secure and safer for users.
Tomi Engdahl says:
USB Type-C Controller Targets Fast Charging of Portables in Vehicles
https://www.electronicdesign.com/automotive/usb-type-c-controller-targets-fast-charging-portables-vehicles?sfvc4enews=42&cl=article_1_b&utm_rid=CPG05000002750211&utm_campaign=22704&utm_medium=email&elq2=7a33c50f4fd14fa690285cbb5f7af353
This automotive-qualified part simplifies the design of in-vehicle charging ports by minimizing the need for external components.
Cypress Semiconductor’s EZ-PD CCG3PA is a USB Type-C and Power Delivery (PD) controller targeting fast charging of portable electronics in vehicles. The controller is designed to deliver a plug-and-play user experience to automotive charging ports by providing support for the USB PD 3.0 standard with a programmable power supply (PPS), Qualcomm’s Quick Charge (QC) 4.0+ protocol, and legacy charging standards.
By way of review, the USB PD standard enables the power delivery of USB power up to 100 W, sufficient to drive large devices such as laptops.
Qualcomm’s Quick Charge 4+ chargers enable devices to be charged without Quick Charge technology or the Snapdragon architecture inside them. This is possible because Quick Charge 4+ supports USB PD as its primary communication protocol.
As standards continue to evolve, compliance and interoperability pose an ongoing challenge, but the EZ-PD CCG3PA overcomes these issues with firmware upgradeability.
Tomi Engdahl says:
https://hackaday.com/2018/08/17/the-wonderful-world-of-usb-type-c/
Tomi Engdahl says:
Why USB3 Type-C Isn’t on More Cases | How Cables Are Made Factory Tour
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y1Tmtd51clI
This factory tour shows how cables are made, especially USB 3.1 Type-C cables, in SanDian’s factory in China. Cooler Master uses this factory for its cables.
Part of this factory’s testing is to establish that its USB 3 and Type-C cables actually reach rated speeds (some factories make fake USB 3 cables that don’t reach speeds advertised), but it also looks at how long USB cables actually last by doing endurance connection cycle testing.
Tomi Engdahl says:
Add USB-C To Your Laptop (Almost)
https://hackaday.com/2019/05/07/add-usb-c-to-your-laptop-almost/
[BogdanTheGeek] has done, in adding a USB-C port to his Acer.
Of course, the port in question isn’t a fully functioning USB-C one, it’s a power supply jack, and it replaces the extremely unreliable barrel jack the machine was shipped with.
Add USB-C PD to your $#!7 laptop
https://hackaday.io/project/165326-add-usb-c-pd-to-your-7-laptop
The aim of this project was to replace my horrible barrel jack charging port on my Acer Spin 1 with a type-c port
Tomi Engdahl says:
USB 3.1 Hub Offers 10x Faster Data Rates for Auto Infotainment
https://www.electronicdesign.com/automotive/usb-31-hub-offers-10x-faster-data-rates-auto-infotainment?sfvc4enews=42&cl=article_2_b&utm_rid=CPG05000002750211&utm_campaign=25454&utm_medium=email&elq2=8d0add7f150f400493601b428dc18888
Microchip’s Type-C connectivity “SmartHub,” replete with four downstream ports, integrates mobile devices with the head unit.
Tomi Engdahl says:
Everything Wrong With USB-C Cables | Untangled
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QmgpcG_1cuI
USB-C has caused a lot of confusion. As Apple and other companies push to include only USB-C ports consumers are left with a lot of headaches. Two USB-C cables that look the same can transfer data and power at different speeds. And not all USB-C to headphone jack adapters are compatible. It’s time to clear up the confusion and find the right cable for your device.
Tomi Engdahl says:
USB Technology: Why, What, Which?
https://www.sealevel.com/2019/03/29/usb-technology-why-what-which/
Tomi Engdahl says:
The big problem with fast charging using USB Type-C cables
https://www.electronicproducts.com/Passive_Components/Circuit_Protection/The_big_problem_with_fast_charging_using_USB_Type_C_cables.aspx?utm_content=buffer2e2e8&utm_medium=social&utm_source=facebook.com&utm_campaign=buffer
Cable-to-device connections can accumulate contaminants, causing them to heat up quickly, which can easily damage or destroy the cable and the mobile device. The fix: better circuit design with temperature monitoring.
Fast chargers and cables compliant with USB-PD and USB Type-C specifications can support charging power levels up to 100 W.
From a safety standpoint, USB‑C cables must be capable of carrying appropriate voltages and currents.
The sources of USB‑C charging damage
The pin pitch of USB‑C connectors is 0.5 mm ― much tighter than the 2.5-mm pin pitch in USB Type-A connectors. This tighter pitch significantly increases the risk of a fault that could cause a thermal event.
resistive faults can cause a dangerous temperature rise while increasing current only minimally. Damage to both cables and devices, even fire, has been reported
: a setP digital temperature indicator is placed on the connector’s CC line, and when it senses temperatures higher than 100°C, it switches from a low-resistance state to a high-resistance state.
The charging system assumes that the cable has become detached because the voltage is higher than the value set forth in the specification, so the charging system turns off the power through the VBUS line.
This prevents the connector, cable, and device being charged from overheating.
Tomi Engdahl says:
http://nakedsecurity.sophos.com/2019/01/14/usb-c-authentication-sounds-great-so-why-are-people-worried/
Tomi Engdahl says:
Extracting Power From USB Type C
https://hackaday.com/2019/06/30/extracting-power-from-usb-type-c/
Tomi Engdahl says:
https://hackaday.com/2019/07/29/usb-c-one-plug-to-connect-them-all-and-in-confusion-bind-them/
Tomi Engdahl says:
https://hackaday.com/2019/10/18/usb-power-delivery-for-all-the-things/
Tomi Engdahl says:
Adapt USB-C’s voltage output with this breakout board, which features an STMicroelectronics NV STUSB4500 chip that handles the USB-PD protocol without a microcontroller: http://bit.ly/2Nhcsu1
Tomi Engdahl says:
https://hackaday.com/2019/11/01/adding-usb-c-to-the-ts100/
Tomi Engdahl says:
A USB-C Bench Power Supply
https://hackaday.com/2019/11/04/a-usb-c-bench-power-supply/
A bench power supply is one of those things that every hacker needs, and as the name implies, it’s intended to occupy a place of honor on your workbench. But with the addition of USB-C support to his DPH5005 bench supply, [Dennis Schneider] is ready to take his on the road should the need ever arise.
Ruideng DPH-5005 with USB-C
https://hohlerde.org/rauch/en/blog/2019-10-27-DPH5005-USB-C/
My model, DPH5005, offers 50V/5V on input and output and is a combined buck/boost regulator. Sounds good, doesn’t it? I ordered it with a case and just had to find a way to equip it with USB-C and USB-PD to source it from my 45 Watts power bank.
Tomi Engdahl says:
Adding USB-C To The TS100, But Not How You Think
https://hackaday.com/2019/12/26/adding-usb-c-to-the-ts100-but-not-how-you-think/
Tomi Engdahl says:
… Apple software engineer Forrest Heller broke down the specs for three consumer USB-C chargers, including the Google Pixel 18-Watt Charger, Huawei 40-Watt SuperCharge, and the Anker PowerPort Atom PD 2.
Heller compares the Random Access Memory (RAM) between an 18-watt Google Pixel USB-C charger and the Apollo Guidance Computer, for instance. He found that the Anker charger has eight kilobytes of RAM compared to the Apollo computer, meanwhile, has four kilobytes of RAM.
After looking at RAM, clock speed, program storage space, and a few other components, Heller concluded that today’s USB-C chargers are more or less 563 times faster than the Apollo computer.
Your USB-C Charger Is More Powerful Than Apollo 11′s Computer
But your power adapter won’t take you to the moon.
https://www.popularmechanics.com/technology/a30916315/usb-c-charger-apollo-11-computer/
Tomi Engdahl says:
USB-C-liitäntä sovellukseen helposti
https://etn.fi/index.php/tekniset-artikkelit/10538-usb-c-liitanta-sovellukseen-helposti
USB-liitännällä on aina ollut kyky tarjota laitteille syöttötehoa, kunhan 5 voltin jännite ja alle 1,5 ampeerin virta riittävät käyttökohteen tarpeisiin. Tämä on rajoittanut liitännän aiemmat A- ja B-versiot vain pienten elektroniikkalaitteiden tehonsyöttöön: USB-muistit, näppäimistöt, ladattavat pienlaitteet, matkapuhelimet. USB-C toi sitten mukanaan uuden PD-standardin (Power Delivery), joka antaa syöttävälle laitteelle mahdollisuuden siirtää liitettyihin laitteisiin jopa 100 watin tehoja 5 – 20 voltin jännitteellä.
Alun perin USB-C- ja Power Delivery -toteutukset olivat hyvin monimutkaisia sisältäen paljon ulkoisia komponentteja ja vaatien ohjelmistojen konfigurointivälineitä. Nykyään puolijohdeteollisuudessa on kehitetty uusia piirejä, jotka poistavat kaiken epävarmuuden USB-C-liitännän suunnittelusta. Mitä nykyään sitten vaaditaan, jos suunnittelija haluaa lisätä USB-C-liitännän omaan tuotteeseensa?
USB-C-toteutuksista yksinkertaisimpia on pelkkä latausliitäntä. Tässä tapauksessa järjestelmä on suunniteltu vain syöttämään ja/tai lataamaan tehoa siihen kytkettyyn laitteeseen. Esimerkkejä tämän tyyppisestä järjestelmästä ovat auton takapenkin latausliitäntä, sähkötyökalun akkulaturi tai kotikäyttöön tarkoitettu seinälaturi.
Tässä tapauksessa järjestelmän toteuttamiseen vaadittavien komponenttien BOM-lista (Bill of Materials) on suhteellisen lyhyt:
USB-C-porttiohjain: Ohjaa kytkentää ja jaettavaa tehoa.
DC/DC-muunnin: Muuttaa tulojännitteen PD:n määrittämäksi Vbus-väyläjännitteeksi.
Kuormakytkin: Syöttää 5 voltin jännitteen pistokkeen Vbus-väylään ja yhdistää oikean Vbus-jännitteen heti, kun PD on määrittänyt sen. On joskus yhdistetty DC/DC-muuntimeen.
LDO: reguloi porttiohjaimelle menevän jännitteen, koska DC/DC-muunninta voidaan tarvita 5 – 20 V jännitteen syöttämiseen.
USB-C-liitin.
Niin kauan kuin ohjain on PD 3.0 -yhteensopiva, käyttäjällä on pääsy kaikkiin tehonjakelun standardiprofiileihin: 15W/27W/45W/60W/100W.
DC/DC-muuntimen tyypin valinta riippuu lähinnä tulojännitteestä. Teholähteen on aina kyettävä antamaan lähtöjännitteeksi 5 – 20 VDC, jotta se olisi täysin PD-yhteensopiva. Järjestelmille, joissa tulojännite on 24 VDC, tai yleensäkin yli 20 VDC, alaspäin muuntava buck-topologia voi tarjota kustannustehokkaan ratkaisun. Alemmilla tasajännitteillä toimiville tai offline-tilassa toimiville AC-järjestelmille vaaditaan muita topologioita.
Tomi Engdahl says:
Even though it’s been around for a few years, there’s still a lot of confusion surrounding USB-C.
USB-C was supposed to be a universal connector — but it still has a lot of problems
https://www.businessinsider.com/everything-wrong-usb-c-cables-explained-which-cable-2018-11?utm_campaign=sf-bi-main&utm_source=facebook.com&utm_medium=social&r=US&IR=T
USB-C has caused a lot of confusion for phone and laptop users alike — two cables that look the same can transfer data and power at different speeds.
Not all USB-C to headphone jack adapters are compatible and good USB-C headphones are still tough to find.
Even though it’s been around for a few years, there’s still a lot of confusion surrounding USB-C. It was supposed to be a universal connector, bridging together phones, computers, power supplies, and accessories. But there’s one big issue holding it back. The USB-C name refers to the physical shape of the connector, not the protocol. Even though two cables can have the same physical connector, what’s happening on the inside can be very different. The protocol, or specification, determines what the cable can transfer and how fast it can send it. A USB-C cable can be limited to either USB 3.1, 3.0, or 2.0 speeds. Some USB-C cables are USB 3.1 Gen 2 cables.
To make things more confusing, some USB-C cables can be used with a second monitor, while others aren’t capable of sending a video signal at all. You could easily end up stranded if you mix up two different cables. And things can get even more complicated when you’re using adapters to change from USB-C to another connector
Okay, so your data might transfer slower, or you might mix up two different cables, but what’s the harm? Well, USB-C cables are also responsible for transferring power. The stakes are much higher when you’re relying on a cable to send the correct amount of electricity to your device. Many smartphones and laptops can charge over USB-C, but the amount of power that these cables can deliver isn’t necessarily the same. In some cases, a laptop can require almost twice as much power as a smartphone. The consequences of using the wrong cable can be worse than a slower charge. If
Tomi Engdahl says:
USB-C Makes Compelling Case as EU Moves Toward Single Charging Standard
https://www.electronicdesign.com/power-management/whitepaper/21131272/usbc-makes-compelling-case-as-eu-moves-toward-single-charging-standard?utm_source=EG+ED+Analog+%26+Power+Source&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=CPS200508052&o_eid=7211D2691390C9R&rdx.ident%5Bpull%5D=omeda%7C7211D2691390C9R&oly_enc_id=7211D2691390C9R
The European Parliament recently voted to recommend a single, universal charger for all mobile phones and portable devices sold in Europe. USB-C could become that single-cable standard.
In January, members of the European Parliament voted to recommend a single, universal charger for all mobile phones and portable devices sold in Europe. By a 550 to 12 vote, they argued that standardization on a single charger would not only reduce e-waste, but also be more cost-effective for consumers. What’s more, a group that champions environmental interests across the EU, named the European Environmental Citizens’ Organization for Standardization, is recommending that USB-C become that single-cable standard.
USB-C is the “Holy Grail” of wired connectivity. It offers bidirectional data and power, and a tiny, orientation-agnostic connector that’s the same on both ends of the cord. And, because it carries up to 100 W of power, USB-C can truly become the one connector for any type of electronic device with a power adapter.
Tomi Engdahl says:
Matt Perks Creates First USB Type-C Logitech Unifying Receiver Dongle in History — and Shows You How
https://www.hackster.io/news/matt-perks-creates-first-usb-type-c-logitech-unifying-receiver-dongle-in-history-and-shows-you-how-1b5c5f053075
Using a small breakout board, some careful soldering, and a simple resistor, Perks shows how to convert almost any USB device to Type-C.
Tomi Engdahl says:
https://etn.fi/index.php/13-news/10865-cypress-toimittanut-jo-miljardi-usbc-piiria
Tomi Engdahl says:
https://www.electronicdesign.com/power-management/whitepaper/21134032/add-usb-typec-pd-to-lithiumion-battery-packs?utm_source=EG+ED+Analog+%26+Power+Source&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=CPS200611049&o_eid=7211D2691390C9R&rdx.ident%5Bpull%5D=omeda%7C7211D2691390C9R&oly_enc_id=7211D2691390C9R
Tomi Engdahl says:
Neat And Tidy USB-C Conversions For Legacy Devices
https://hackaday.com/2020/05/12/neat-and-tidy-usb-c-conversions-for-legacy-devices/
Tomi Engdahl says:
STMicro Launches USB-IF-Certified 100W USB Power Delivery STM32 Development Platform
https://www.hackster.io/news/stmicro-launches-usb-if-certified-100w-usb-power-delivery-stm32-development-platform-72ca5f8f05e3
A two-board solution, the certified platform offers full compatibility with the STM32 ecosystem and the ability to sink 100W of power.
Tomi Engdahl says:
https://www.popularmechanics.com/technology/a30916315/usb-c-charger-apollo-11-computer/
Tomi Engdahl says:
https://hackaday.com/2020/07/24/usb-c-where-it-was-never-intended-to-be/
Tomi Engdahl says:
Implementing USB-C PD Doesn’t Have to be Scary!
Ketan Desai shows us that USB-C PD should be as easy as 1, 2, 3!
https://www.hackster.io/news/implementing-usb-c-pd-doesn-t-have-to-be-scary-4369eaa4955d
USB-C PD, it’s as easy as 1, 2, 3…?
The long and short of it is that a USB-C PD enabled power supply will be able to kick out a range of voltages on its output — the standard set are 5, 9, 15 and 20V, at up to 5A in some cases, allowing for a total of 100W of power to be delivered to the device (sink / UFP) that requesting it.
The thing is, the power supply (source / DFP) needs a way of being told just what voltage output to set itself to, and indeed, the device that is hoping to be powered needs a way to make sure that the power supply supports the voltage rail that it needs.
This exchange of information takes a little bit of back and forth communication over some of the additional pins that are packed into the USB-C connector set — the CC pins. From a design perspective, this is a worked problem, with USB-C PD PHYs available, that can serve as a man-in-the-middle, often allowing a host MCU to set and configure the USB-C PD interface settings over I2C or similar.
Tomi Engdahl says:
USB-C PD chip set halves solution size
https://www.edn.com/usb-c-pd-chip-set-halves-solution-size/?utm_content=buffer6d8be&utm_medium=social&utm_source=edn_facebook&utm_campaign=buffer
Maxim’s MAX77958 USB-C Power Delivery (PD) controller teams with the MAX77962 28-W buck-boost charger to cut development time and reduce solution size by 50%. According to the manufacturer, the controller offers out-of-the-box USB-C PD compliance and eliminates three months of firmware development with a GUI-driven customization script, BC1.2 detection, fast role swap, dual role port mode, and an integrated D+/D- switch for legacy USB port support. It also features a 28-V VBUS rating, as well as integrated protection against shorting the CC pins, moisture detection, and corrosion prevention.
The MAX77962 charger integrates high-voltage FETs (30V absolute maximum voltage) capable of delivering 28 W of charging power in half the size of other 28-W solutions and enabling rapid charging of 2S Li+ batteries. This buck-boost charger accepts an input voltage range from 3.5V to 23V, supporting USB-C PD, as well as legacy USB sources.
Tomi Engdahl says:
Converting devices to USB Type-C
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V-vFtiDYiIw
USB Type C is great! …unless you have to use dongles anyway. Let’s fix that!
Tomi Engdahl says:
USB-C Was Supposed To Simplify Our Lives. Instead, It’s a Total Mess.
https://it.slashdot.org/story/20/09/16/1826236/usb-c-was-supposed-to-simplify-our-lives-instead-its-a-total-mess?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+Slashdot%2Fslashdot%2Fto+%28%28Title%29Slashdot+%28rdf%29%29
USB-C is near-ubiquitous: Almost every modern laptop and smartphone has at least one USB-C port, with the exception of the iPhone, which still uses Apple’s proprietary Lightning port. For all its improvements, USB-C has become a mess of tangled standards — a nightmare for consumers to navigate despite the initial promise of simplicity. From a report:
Anyone going all-in on USB-C will run into problems with an optional standard called Power Delivery. The standard allows devices to charge at a much higher wattage relative to older connectors, therefore allowing them to charge faster. But it requires the right combination of charger, cables, and device to actually achieve this. If you buy a USB-C charger that doesn’t support Power Delivery and try to use it with a Microsoft Surface, for example, the laptop will complain that it’s “not charging” despite receiving some power. Fixing this requires figuring out whether or not it’s the cable or wall charger that doesn’t support Power Delivery, and replacing it with something that does support it. There would be no way for a layperson to hold two USB-C chargers and know the difference between one that supports Power Delivery and one that doesn’t.
USB-C Was Supposed to Simplify Our Lives. Instead, It’s a Total Mess.
A mix of hidden standards make the ubiquitous cable a pain to deal with
https://onezero.medium.com/usb-c-was-supposed-to-simplify-our-lives-instead-its-a-total-mess-626bb2ea3688
Techies hailed USB-C as the future of cables when it hit the mainstream market with Apple’s single-port MacBook in 2015. It was a huge improvement over the previous generation of USB, allowing for many different types of functionality — charging, connecting to an external display, etc. — in one simple cord, all without having a “right side up” like its predecessor.
Five years later, USB-C is near-ubiquitous: Almost every modern laptop and smartphone has at least one USB-C port, with the exception of the iPhone, which still uses Apple’s proprietary Lightning port. For all its improvements, USB-C has become a mess of tangled standards — a nightmare for consumers to navigate despite the initial promise of simplicity.
Anyone going all-in on USB-C will run into problems with an optional standard called Power Delivery. The standard allows devices to charge at a much higher wattage relative to older connectors, therefore allowing them to charge faster. But it requires the right combination of charger, cables, and device to actually achieve this.
If you buy a USB-C charger that doesn’t support Power Delivery and try to use it with a Microsoft Surface, for example, the laptop will complain that it’s “not charging” despite receiving some power. Fixing this requires figuring out whether or not it’s the cable or wall charger that doesn’t support Power Delivery, and replacing it with something that does support it. There would be no way for a layperson to hold two USB-C chargers and know the difference between one that supports Power Delivery and one that doesn’t.
How any normal person is supposed to grasp this soup of standards, built atop a single port that looks the same, is anyone’s guess.
Furthering the confusion, some devices actually can’t be charged with chargers supporting Power Delivery, despite sporting a USB-C port — because they weren’t designed to negotiate the higher wattage being delivered by the Power Delivery standard.
Then there’s DisplayPort and Thunderbolt, another set of standards supported by some USB-C devices. DisplayPort allows the use of an external display, such as a 4K monitor, but only supports one at a time at full resolution.
Thunderbolt, yet another optional standard, is a much faster layer on top of USB-C that allows additional possibilities, like the use of multiple displays daisy-chained from a single port, or the use of an external graphics card. It uses the exact same connector, but can be identified with an additional “lightning” symbol when supported.
While DisplayPort is relatively universal on devices with USB-C ports, Thunderbolt support is a patchwork and requires both devices being plugged in to support it.
If that sounds good, and you’re excited about Thunderbolt like I was recently, there’s another catch: Individual Thunderbolt ports are not equal. The standard allows for 40Gbps of throughput on the port, but some device makers only implement it partially, with 20Gbps of throughput, which limits how you’re able to use it.
How any normal person is supposed to grasp this soup of standards, built atop a single port that looks the same, is anyone’s guess. Having a single, universal port on the majority of my devices is a godsend, but it feels like spinning the wheel every time I plug something in: Will it behave the way I expect? If it’s this difficult for me, I’m not sure how the average person will know how to figure out what’s wrong.
There is some hope in the future with USB 4, which the USB Implementers Forum (USB-IF) announced in 2019. The new standard uses the same USB-C connector, and is actually built on top of Thunderbolt, which will help resolve a large amount of confusion and offer fast speeds universally. But, like with previous versions of USB, getting devices certified will remain optional, and there’s no clear plan for how consumers will be able to identify cables or devices that support the new standard, all of which will need to be replaced to actually use it.
I’m thankful that USB-C is becoming universal, slowly pushing us toward a future where we have a single standardized connector for everything. But it’s more confusing than ever to perform the simple act of plugging things in. When it first arrived on the scene, USB-C was pitched as a utopia: One cable to rule them all, but now that we’re living in that future, figuring out which cable is the right one when they all look the same is an unresolved nightmare.
Tomi Engdahl says:
USB-C Is Taking Over… When, Exactly?
https://hackaday.com/2020/06/23/usb-c-is-taking-over-when-exactly/
Tomi Engdahl says:
USB-Type C Connection Overheating Damage Protection
Today’s consumers expect fast, safe charging USB Type-C connections for their portable devices, spurring demand for solutions that protect connections from overheating damage. PolySwitch® setP™ temperature indicators offer the smallest, most energy-efficient solution, making it simpler than ever to protect people and their mobile electronics.
setP™ Series – setP™ – Digital Temperature Indicator
https://www.littelfuse.com/products/temperature-sensors/digital-temperature-indicators/setp.aspx?utm_source=techbriefs&utm_medium=eblast&utm_campaign=mob
The Littelfuse setP™ temperature indicator helps protect USB Type-C plugs from overheating. It has been designed to the unique specifications of USB Type-C and is capable of helping to protect even the highest levels of USB Power Delivery.
Tomi Engdahl says:
Brian Lough has created a “surprisingly capable” bench supply that only costs $12.
USB-C-Powered Bench Power Supply Can Be Used Anywhere
https://www.hackster.io/news/usb-c-powered-bench-power-supply-can-be-used-anywhere-b70972316dce
Brian Lough has created a “surprisingly capable” bench supply that only costs $12.
This build uses the IP2721 IC-based PD decoy module to negotiate with the charger to decide which voltage to take from the PSU. It also contains the ZK-4KX Buck-Boost module, which has the display and controls for the power supply. This module makes it easy to convert the voltage from the PD supply to what’s needed, including higher voltages. Lastly, it features a couple of banana jack sockets, which also work with standard cables and a switch to turn off the voltage to the ZK-4KX.
This supply is shown paired with a PD power bank
Tomi Engdahl says:
What’s In A USB-C Connector?
https://hackaday.com/2020/10/27/whats-in-a-usb-c-connector/
Anyone who’s ever put together a bill-of-materials for an electronic device will be familiar with the process of scouring supplier catalogs and data sheets for the best choice of components. The trick is to score the best combination of price and performance for the final product, and for those unused to the process, there are always seemingly identical products with an astonishingly wide variety of prices. It’s a topic [Timon] explores in a Twitter thread, examining a 20-cent in quantity of 100 USB-C socket alongside one that costs only 5 cents, and his teardown provides a fascinating insight into their manufacture.
The parts look so nearly identical that while it’s possible to differentiate between them visually, it’s near impossible to work out which was the cheaper. Some tiny features such as a crack in a metal fold or a bit less plating on the contacts emerge, but even then it’s no guide to the quality as they don’t appear on the same part. It’s only when the metal shell is removed to expose the underlying plastic moulding that more clues emerge, as one moulding is more complex than the other.
Lets play “Which part is cheaper?”
We have two 16-pin USB-C connectors. One costs ~20 cents and the other ~5 cents at QTY 100.
https://threadreaderapp.com/thread/1317577204608475136.html
Tomi Engdahl says:
Bench Supplies Get Smaller Thanks To USB-C
https://hackaday.com/2020/10/19/bench-supplies-get-smaller-thanks-to-usb-c/
Bench power supplies are an indispensable tool when prototyping electronics. Being able to set custom voltages and having some sort of current limiting feature are key to making sure that the smoke stays inside all of the parts. Buying a modern bench supply might be a little too expensive though, and converting an ATX power supply can be janky and unreliable. Thanks to the miracle of USB-C, though, you can build your own fully-featured benchtop power supply like [Brian] did without taking up hardly any space, and for only around $12.
USB-C can be used to deliver up to 100W but is limited to a few set voltage levels. For voltages that USB-C doesn’t support, [Brian] turns to an inexpensive ZK-4KX buck-boost DC-DC converter that allows for millivolt-level precision for his supply’s output.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xdq6dzH26QY
Tomi Engdahl says:
https://www.hackster.io/news/ryan-ma-s-pd-micro-offers-usb-power-delivery-to-20v-in-an-arduino-pro-micro-compatible-board-d7212000a077
Tomi Engdahl says:
Active clamp flyback is the architecture of choice for striking the optimal balance between cost and performance in UHD #PowerSupplies ON Semiconductor #USBC #GaN #CircuitDesign
Active clamp flyback complements ultra high density USB-C PD 3.0 designs
https://www.edn.com/active-clamp-flyback-complements-ultra-high-density-usb-c-pd-3-0-designs/?utm_content=bufferc38d3&utm_medium=social&utm_source=edn_facebook&utm_campaign=buffer
New and emerging applications, like USB-C PD 3.0 100 W programmable power supplies (PPS), are driving demand for smaller and more compact switch mode power supply (SMPS) form factors, often referred to as ultra high density (UHD). As you can see in Figure 1, increasing switching frequency reduces transformer volume, benefiting UHD, but higher switching frequencies increase power dissipation, necessitating evolving flyback architectures.
Tomi Engdahl says:
USB-C Has Finally Come Into Its Own
“The port of the future” has become the port of right now—with one big exception.
https://www.wired.com/story/usb-c-surface-pro-kindle-ps5-iphone-standard/?mbid=social_facebook&utm_social-type=owned&utm_campaign=wired&utm_medium=social&utm_brand=wired&utm_source=facebook
THE SURFACE PRO 7. The Kindle Fire HD 10. The PlayStation 5. All major gadgets announced or detailed this week, each with a bevy of enhancements. But more important than any of those flagship products on its own is the fact that together they embraced something their predecessors did not: USB-C.
You know USB-C. If you own a premium Android smartphone, chances are you’re already using it. But its ubiquity otherwise has been slow in coming.
The reason for USB-C’s ascent is simple: It’s just better. It can charge both ways, letting you use a laptop to power your smartphone, for instance. It can also charge fast
It can transfer data at blistering speeds of up to 10 gigabits per second—and eventually much faster, as Intel’s Thunderbolt protocol converges with USB4. It can power video to external displays. And it’s reversible, meaning it works whichever way you plug it in.
Even so, the road has been bumpy. Just because USB-C can do all these things doesn’t mean that it always does. Take charging. While the body that governs USB protocol, the USB Implementers Forum, sets a Power Delivery standard, manufacturers have come up with their own unique implementations as well. Qualcomm has Quick Charge, Samsung has Adaptive Fast Charging, and so on. The result, as nicely detailed by Android Authority earlier this year, is a landscape where you’re never quite sure what you’re going to get, especially once you reach for a third-party cable.
Your phone will still charge, just not as fast as advertised if all of the involved components aren’t built for the same spec. And in extreme cases, some dodgy cables have been capable of frying devices altogether by drawing too much power for a specific task.
Tomi Engdahl says:
https://www.eetimes.com/power-your-next-product-with-a-universal-usb-c-power-adapter/
Tomi Engdahl says:
Cursed USB-C: When Plug Orientation Matters
https://hackaday.com/2021/03/22/cursed-usb-c-when-plug-orientation-matters/
One of the selling points of the USB-C plug is that supposedly there is no way to incorrectly insert it. As [Pim de Groot] shows with a ‘Cursed USB-C 2.0 Device‘, reality is a bit more complicated when it comes to USB 2.0 compatibility in USB-C. He made a PCB that elegantly demonstrates the simplicity of the problem, featuring two LEDs. Only one orientation of the USB-C plug will cause one of the LEDs to light up green, with the other orientation leaving both LEDs blinking red.
The reason for this behavior is simple: as [Pim] explains, although the USB-C plug has only a single pair of data lines (D+/-) for USB 2.0 connectivity, the receptor duplicates these on either side of its pins, leading out two pairs of D+/- lines. Normally you would connect the matching lines in these pairs together to ensure consistent behavior no matter the plug orientation, but you don’t have to.
By leading each USB 2.0 data pair to its own SAMD11C MCU, only one of the MCUs would be connected to USB, resulting in the connected MCU blinking the LEDs.
https://twitter.com/mifune/status/1373564866443759617
Tomi Engdahl says:
Easy USB‑C Power For All Your Devices
https://hackaday.com/2021/04/21/easy-usb%e2%80%91c-power-for-all-your-devices/
[Mansour Behabadi] wanted to harness the high power capability of USB-C using as simple a hardware design as possible. After some research and experimental prototyping, he designed the fpx — an easy to use USB‑C power delivery board. The fpx is an improved follow up to his earlier USB PD project fabpide2 which we featured some time back. However, practical implementation of the USB PD protocol can be a bed of thorns. Negotiating power delivery usually requires a dedicated PD controller coupled with a micro-controller for user control.
With USB PD, a USB-C port can be configured as either a source, a sink, or both and allows connected devices to negotiate up to 100 W (20 V, 5 A) of power. The fpx is based around the popular STUSB4500 PD controller, which does most of the PD heavy lifting. To program the STUSB4500, he used an ATtiny 816 micro-controller, whose UPDI programming and debugging interface consumes lower board real estate.
https://blog.oxplot.com/fpx/
Tomi Engdahl says:
Power Your Next Product with a Universal USB-C Power Adapter
https://www.eetimes.com/power-your-next-product-with-a-universal-usb-c-power-adapter/
Nowadays, consumers want to quickly and conveniently charge their portable devices anywhere. However, there are many types of charging adapters and connectors, which can make determining which charger or chargers to have on hand confusing for the end user.
Carrying multiple charging adapters for different portable devices can be overwhelming. On the other hand, so many charging adapters are produced annually — the latest Global E-waste Monitor report indicates that about 1 million tons of power adapters are produced every year. These chargers are shipped with portable consumer devices such as mobile phones, laptop computers, tablets, digital cameras, smart speakers, power tools, and many other product types. On Jan. 31, 2020, the European Parliament voted to standardize chargers of devices in an attempt to reduce the amount of e-waste generated.
Tomi Engdahl says:
Kädestä pitäen: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yyUydcPD7cQ
Tomi Engdahl says:
USB-C has won praise for its symmetrical design and capability, and drawn criticism for the many different standards and capabilities of any given port or cable.
How do you deal with the proliferation of standards now at play?
USB-C: ONE PLUG TO CONNECT THEM ALL, AND IN CONFUSION BIND THEM
https://hackaday.com/2019/07/29/usb-c-one-plug-to-connect-them-all-and-in-confusion-bind-them/
Trying to be all things to all devices through these multiple valid data speeds and power levels makes for a total combination of six different ways to build a spec compliant cable. This complicates the testing matrix of developing a USB-C device. Not only because lower-spec cables may not work when a higher-spec is required, but also because of situations where non-compliant implementations mean a higher-spec cable would not work even though a lower-spec cable did. (Such as with the initial faulty batch of Raspberry Pi 4.)
Tomi Engdahl says:
Stephen Shankland / CNET:
USB standards body unveils its USB-C 2.1 revision, which supports power up to 240W, up from 100W currently, aimed at devices like 4K displays and gaming laptops — An upgrade to the USB-C standard will accommodate levels of up to 240 watts, an improvement that could let you plug power-hungry devices …
USB-C upgrade delivers a whopping 240W for gaming laptops and other power-hungry devices
That’s up from 100 watts for today’s USB.
https://www.cnet.com/news/usb-c-upgrade-delivers-a-whopping-240w-for-gaming-laptops-and-other-power-hungry-devices/
An upgrade to the USB-C standard will accommodate levels of up to 240 watts, an improvement that could let you plug power-hungry devices like gaming laptops, 4K monitors and printers into the universal port. The jump in maximum power is more than double today’s 100-watt capacity.
The USB Implementers Forum (USB-IF), the industry group that develops the technology, revealed the new power levels in the version 2.1 update to its USB Type-C specification on Tuesday. The USB-IF didn’t immediately provide a comment. The new 240-watt option is called Extended Power Range, or EPR.
Cables supporting 240 watts will have additional requirements to accommodate the new levels. And USB-IF will require the cables to bear specific icons “so that end users will be able to confirm visually that the cable supports up to…240W,” USB-IF said in the specification document.
A capacity of 240 watts is enough to run larger monitors, printers, gaming laptops and other devices. Dell’s UltraSharp 32-inch 4K monitor has a peak power usage of 230 watts, for example, the same level as HP’s 17-inch Omen gaming laptop.
The USB-C specification isn’t the only one covering how USB ports and cables work. Today’s mainstream USB 3.2 and brand-new USB 4 govern how data is sent over cables, while USB Power Delivery governs how devices negotiate with chargers and other devices.
One port USB hasn’t managed to displace is Intel’s Thunderbolt. With USB 4, it’s caught up to Thunderbolt’s 40Gbps speed by actually embedding Thunderbolt technology.
But USB 4 is rare, just arriving now in newer laptops, and Thunderbolt offers some reliability advantages. Thunderbolt uses a laptop’s USB-C ports through a repurposing called “alt mode,” but not all USB-C ports support Thunderbolt.
USB Type-C® Cable and Connector Specification Revision 2.1
https://usb.org/document-library/usb-type-cr-cable-and-connector-specification-revision-21