For a lot of industrial sensing applications your hardware chooses the interface for you, and usb3 is relatively common. Ethernet too, but usually only 1 gbit which is getting too slow for a lot of applications.
Is the wide micro Type-B connector common though? Cause that what the picture looks like. Seems like a weird choice. Full-size type B seems much more common.
The micro-b connector with screw locks on it looks like it matches the dimensions of the USB3 Vision standard. This standard is used for industrial machine vision cameras. The full size B connectors are unsuitable for a number of reasons, including overall size and needing through-hole soldering on PCBs. Type-C with locking connectors is also now specified for this standard, but didn’t exist not too long ago and will take a while to replace it.
Source: I helped write the above-mentioned standard.
For industrial use (especially in power stations), optical connections have the advantage of electrical isolation. Under fault conditions there can be high voltage transients between different parts of the plant - optical connections remove this as a cause for concern.
Micro B?! What in the flying F#$&? Who on earth would be using USB 3.1 Gen 2, and paying the premium for extended optical transceiver cables, but not also using Type C? Rules it out for such fan applications like a 100m VR tether for Oculus Quest, for example.
Why do you insist on crushing my dreams of being an incoherent elderly person aimlessly wandering my yard in bunny slippers with a 100m long USB cable dragging along behind my phone that is blasting distorted electro and dance tracks from its internal speaker?
Maybe they'll offer a hybrid cable that does transmit power. Sure it'll be $100/meter, but that's a small price to pay for distorted electro whilst wearing bunny slippers. Don't give up on your dreams!
I will pay $100/m for such an optical USB cable only if it is oxygen-free. Can't have the audio quality being mangled by the cable. No, no, I am not going to buy any barely functional junk from the dollar store...
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Memo.Ray - Friday, December 6, 2019 - link
Sweet! Now I can use my usb keyboard and mouse from the other side of the building! I don't have to be so close to the monitor and hurt my eyes!ballsystemlord - Friday, December 6, 2019 - link
Or you could just ssh in...ballsystemlord - Saturday, December 7, 2019 - link
from a terminal.wr3zzz - Friday, December 6, 2019 - link
What kind of USB usage scenario/device needs 100m cable?nevcairiel - Friday, December 6, 2019 - link
The article has various usage examples. Primarily industrial use, connecting machines on the floor to computers elsewhere.edwpang - Friday, December 6, 2019 - link
But long network cable should be cheaper, right?saratoga4 - Friday, December 6, 2019 - link
For a lot of industrial sensing applications your hardware chooses the interface for you, and usb3 is relatively common. Ethernet too, but usually only 1 gbit which is getting too slow for a lot of applications.RobinRosengren - Saturday, December 7, 2019 - link
Is the wide micro Type-B connector common though? Cause that what the picture looks like. Seems like a weird choice. Full-size type B seems much more common.BlueCheese2 - Sunday, December 8, 2019 - link
The micro-b connector with screw locks on it looks like it matches the dimensions of the USB3 Vision standard. This standard is used for industrial machine vision cameras. The full size B connectors are unsuitable for a number of reasons, including overall size and needing through-hole soldering on PCBs. Type-C with locking connectors is also now specified for this standard, but didn’t exist not too long ago and will take a while to replace it.Source: I helped write the above-mentioned standard.
abufrejoval - Friday, December 6, 2019 - link
In $/m these may seem more affordable...Duncan Macdonald - Friday, December 6, 2019 - link
For industrial use (especially in power stations), optical connections have the advantage of electrical isolation. Under fault conditions there can be high voltage transients between different parts of the plant - optical connections remove this as a cause for concern.edzieba - Friday, December 6, 2019 - link
Micro B?! What in the flying F#$&? Who on earth would be using USB 3.1 Gen 2, and paying the premium for extended optical transceiver cables, but not also using Type C? Rules it out for such fan applications like a 100m VR tether for Oculus Quest, for example.phoenix_rizzen - Friday, December 6, 2019 - link
It actually looks like that horrid USB 3.0 Micro-B connector that Samsung used on 1 model of phone, which makes it even more odd.PeachNCream - Friday, December 6, 2019 - link
Good, I can turn the screen brightness on my phone up without worrying about draning the battery while I'm puttering around in my yard.QinX - Friday, December 6, 2019 - link
I hope you understand that these cables don't transmit power. It's even stated in the article.PeachNCream - Friday, December 6, 2019 - link
Why do you insist on crushing my dreams of being an incoherent elderly person aimlessly wandering my yard in bunny slippers with a 100m long USB cable dragging along behind my phone that is blasting distorted electro and dance tracks from its internal speaker?Hardware Geek - Friday, December 6, 2019 - link
Maybe they'll offer a hybrid cable that does transmit power. Sure it'll be $100/meter, but that's a small price to pay for distorted electro whilst wearing bunny slippers. Don't give up on your dreams!TheSkullCaveIsADarkPlace - Wednesday, December 11, 2019 - link
I will pay $100/m for such an optical USB cable only if it is oxygen-free. Can't have the audio quality being mangled by the cable. No, no, I am not going to buy any barely functional junk from the dollar store...futrtrubl - Sunday, December 8, 2019 - link
By "full speed USB" do they mean USB at full USB 3.1 Gen 2 speeds or do they mean "USB 1.1/Full-Speed: 12 Mbps"?