USB Type-C Next Generation Connector Design Revealed
Meet the new and improved USB 3.1 Type-C connector.
The USB connector as we know it today has been with us since the mid-to-late 1990s. The things we find on the other end of those USB connectors are radically changed in the past decade; we wouldn't have even imaged charging our smartphones from our computers using the USB cable. Now it's time for USB to modernize itself with the rest of the industry. The USB-IF today unveiled renderings that show what the new Type-C connector will look like.
Announced late last year, USB Type-C will have the handy feature of being reversible, meaning that you'll never have a failed connection again for plugging it in upside down.
Design Characteristics
Entirely new design
• Tailored for emerging product designs
• Robust enough for laptops and tablets; slim enough for mobile phones
New smaller size
• Similar to size of USB 2.0 Micro-B
• Listen for the “click”
Usability enhancements
• Reversible plug orientation & cable direction
Supports scalable power charging
Future Scalability
• Designed to establish future USB performance needs
Specifications
Mechanical specs (preliminary):
• Receptacle opening: ~8.3mm x ~2.5mm
• Durability: 10,000 cycles
• Improved EMI and RFI mitigation features
Power delivery capacity:
• 3A for standard cables
• 5A for connectors
Functional capabilities:
• USB 2.0: LS/FS/HS
• USB 3.1: Gen1 (5Gbps)/Gen2 (10Gbps)
Enhanced power delivery options:
• Extended 5V current ranges plus USB PD
Docking support:
• USB PD-based interface configuration option
Keep in mind that these are just the early planned specifications. The final specs for USB Type-C are expected to be published sometime in July 2014.
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The last thing I remember reading about it is that micro-B was supposed to be the EU standard for low-power mobile device supplies/chargers. This is not a major problem for USB-C since there will be standard adapters and cables to convert between USB-C and A/B/micro-B. (USB-C is backward-compatible with USB1/2/3 through adapters and cables with built-in adapters.)
The last thing I remember reading about it is that micro-B was supposed to be the EU standard for low-power mobile device supplies/chargers. This is not a major problem for USB-C since there will be standard adapters and cables to convert between USB-C and A/B/micro-B. (USB-C is backward-compatible with USB1/2/3 through adapters and cables with built-in adapters.)
I'm pretty sure it's not USB micro B. Apple made a big fuss about going back to non reversible cables (which I agree with) and I believe the other big companies agreed. I'm pretty sure they were designing a new standard altogether.
5A @ 5V is only the new baseline spec.
The high-power USB specification has provisions to let devices request 12V and 20V if available instead of the default 5V, allowing the power spec to stretch all the way up to 100W. It is intended to replace the countless laptop and other medium-power devices' proprietary external power bricks.
Charging a notebook off usb would be great however.
My main commend was just about 25 watts(as in 5 amps @ 120 volts vs 5 amps @ 5volts. some users may not know the actual relation of watts to amps) is not LOTS of power, it is a huge bump from the 2.5 watts usb 2.0 has for most devices.
For the moment, all the articles I remember reading point to micro-B being the most likely candidate but since the bill will only get finalized in 2016 and kick in in 2017, there is still plenty of time for the EU to review their plan.