Looks good. IMHO the tongue is susceptible to damage; especially during the normal wear and tear of plugging in the cable on a mobile device. Is there any mention on how much power this connector will be able to transport? 100W would be a good start no?
It's not clear from the Intel slide deck if the higher power options will need different cables, but I think the connector may be standard but that the cable will need to be more robust to support the higher voltage/current levels.
No, 100W is an illusion for such a small connector. It may be able to bear 2Amps (10W@5V). The high power USB spec allows for 12V, which gives more headroom.
I find it a pity, that the high power USB spec limits itself to 12V. I would like to see up to 48V for more power while retaining small/thin cables.
Why Illusion ? there was talks about supporting 100W on regular USB cables by using higher voltages instead of high amperage, considering current quality USB cables can handle 2.1A, then working with 48-50V is enough to have 100W... this will work well for a lot of applications including laptops, tablets, external displays, external storage... the specifications require the device to negotiate first and request how much wattage is required so the power will be delivered :)
The only requirement I see will be improved insulation for the higher voltage, though it will be easier as it will be DC and not AC
That's a great idea. The only problem is exposed power pins are a big UL no no. There is an easy solution though, to protect the pins you could just put a shield around it. Oh wait that's exactly what a tongue is.
Replacing the standard A connector? Good luck. All current PCs and laptops use Type A and by the time they could phase it out in favor of Type C, a faster cable type or standard will have arrived.
Hrm, is a little confusing that the image doesn't show an A<=>C cable and calls it "USB 3.1." Sure hope existing laptops, etc. will be able to work with Type C gadgets, and laptops will Type C ports can use them to talk to A/B gadgets.
I would really like to see most devices going forward ship with Type-C connectors and include small Type-C to female Type-A connectors in the short term. Not only does this enable future compatibility with other Type-C devices, but it also opens up design space with the smaller ports. Also, if I'm not mistaken (somebody please correct me if I'm wrong here), the Type-C spec includes functionality to auto-negotiate which device is the host, eliminating the need for USB On-the-Go (OTG).
What's your reasoning? The Type-A connector has been around for a very long time and there is no reason that Type-A and the proposed Type-C can't live side-by-side on the same devices for many years before the Type-A connector becomes outmoded.
Really? Tongue in the socket again? Is this just a stubborn refusal to admit Apple did something well, or are they trying to produce a low cost/low rent connector at the expense of reliability?
USB1/2/3 ports can have the tongue easily ripped out by people tripping on the cords and pulling to the side, as any PC tech will tell you. It's a design that is easily improved, and if they're going to break physical compatibility anyway, there is really no excuse. The connector should either be Lighting style, or Thunderbolt/Mini-DP style (but reversible).
You don't realize that Apple is running this standards committee. The "lightning" connector did not have enough pins and was in need of an upgrade, Apple took over and dominated the "C" connector definition.
Please oh please someone get the USB-IF off this crazy idea of putting a tongue.. users have suffered enough with the fragile piece of junk that is microUSB. I've even stopped putting it in my designs and have gone back to mini USB which at least is more robust.
The way microUSB connectors so easily break off somedays I wonder if this is all a plot by tech companies to make more money on device replacements. Now given full design liberty and even a competing Apple's Lightning they still go an add a little plastic tongue? Well that confirms it.
I am sure I have seen connectors where there is no male/female end as such, each is essentially half male half female. The side with pins is the "receiving" side, the holes the transmitting.
Using these would mean that all connectors are the same, devices could plug directly into the PC or use a cable, cables have the same connector on both ends and are the same as devices.
If only Lemo connectors didn't cost 20-50$ each. And they still have a "right side up" which was always the ridiculous annoyance with USB 1-3. But at least Lemo connectors are super high quality, and the right orientation would be immediately obvious.
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thomas-hrb - Wednesday, April 2, 2014 - link
Looks good. IMHO the tongue is susceptible to damage; especially during the normal wear and tear of plugging in the cable on a mobile device. Is there any mention on how much power this connector will be able to transport? 100W would be a good start no?Folterknecht - Wednesday, April 2, 2014 - link
http://www.computerbase.de/2014-04/usb-3.1-type-c-...up to 100W with special cables/connectors
thomas-hrb - Wednesday, April 2, 2014 - link
Thanks @Folterknecht. I would hope that supporting 100W is part of the requirement for all cables not just for special cables and connectors.DanNeely - Wednesday, April 2, 2014 - link
It's not clear from the Intel slide deck if the higher power options will need different cables, but I think the connector may be standard but that the cable will need to be more robust to support the higher voltage/current levels.http://www.computerbase.de/bildstrecke/56518/5/
http://www.computerbase.de/bildstrecke/56518/6/
markus_b - Thursday, April 3, 2014 - link
No, 100W is an illusion for such a small connector. It may be able to bear 2Amps (10W@5V). The high power USB spec allows for 12V, which gives more headroom.I find it a pity, that the high power USB spec limits itself to 12V. I would like to see up to 48V for more power while retaining small/thin cables.
Xajel - Thursday, April 3, 2014 - link
Why Illusion ? there was talks about supporting 100W on regular USB cables by using higher voltages instead of high amperage, considering current quality USB cables can handle 2.1A, then working with 48-50V is enough to have 100W... this will work well for a lot of applications including laptops, tablets, external displays, external storage... the specifications require the device to negotiate first and request how much wattage is required so the power will be delivered :)The only requirement I see will be improved insulation for the higher voltage, though it will be easier as it will be DC and not AC
DanNeely - Thursday, April 3, 2014 - link
The 100W version is the power spec is 5A @ 20WDIYEyal - Friday, April 4, 2014 - link
20V*CZroe - Thursday, April 3, 2014 - link
That's why I'd prefer that the easily replaceable cable have the tongue instead of the device.phoenix_rizzen - Thursday, April 3, 2014 - link
Or get rid of the tongue completely. The contacts should be on the outside of the cable plug and the walls of the socket.I've broken the tongue off phones and desktops. But I've never broken a headphone jack or plug.
Tongues and pins are stupid. Say what you will about apple, they've at least figured this out.
tilandal - Monday, April 14, 2014 - link
That's a great idea. The only problem is exposed power pins are a big UL no no. There is an easy solution though, to protect the pins you could just put a shield around it. Oh wait that's exactly what a tongue is.Peeping Tom - Wednesday, April 2, 2014 - link
Replacing the standard A connector? Good luck. All current PCs and laptops use Type A and by the time they could phase it out in favor of Type C, a faster cable type or standard will have arrived.twotwotwo - Wednesday, April 2, 2014 - link
Hrm, is a little confusing that the image doesn't show an A<=>C cable and calls it "USB 3.1." Sure hope existing laptops, etc. will be able to work with Type C gadgets, and laptops will Type C ports can use them to talk to A/B gadgets.ivan256 - Wednesday, April 2, 2014 - link
Hopefully the physical connector will last several generations as USB-A connectors did.Too bad they didn't come up with something more physically robust than current USB cables though.
asuglax - Wednesday, April 2, 2014 - link
I would really like to see most devices going forward ship with Type-C connectors and include small Type-C to female Type-A connectors in the short term. Not only does this enable future compatibility with other Type-C devices, but it also opens up design space with the smaller ports. Also, if I'm not mistaken (somebody please correct me if I'm wrong here), the Type-C spec includes functionality to auto-negotiate which device is the host, eliminating the need for USB On-the-Go (OTG).solipsism - Wednesday, April 2, 2014 - link
What's your reasoning? The Type-A connector has been around for a very long time and there is no reason that Type-A and the proposed Type-C can't live side-by-side on the same devices for many years before the Type-A connector becomes outmoded.ivan256 - Wednesday, April 2, 2014 - link
Really? Tongue in the socket again? Is this just a stubborn refusal to admit Apple did something well, or are they trying to produce a low cost/low rent connector at the expense of reliability?USB1/2/3 ports can have the tongue easily ripped out by people tripping on the cords and pulling to the side, as any PC tech will tell you. It's a design that is easily improved, and if they're going to break physical compatibility anyway, there is really no excuse. The connector should either be Lighting style, or Thunderbolt/Mini-DP style (but reversible).
iwod - Wednesday, April 2, 2014 - link
Yes, I would rather Apple somehow works with USB-IF to bring Lightning Port Design as the new Type C Standard.A5 - Thursday, April 3, 2014 - link
HahahahahahahahaWARPEDXYKEE - Friday, April 18, 2014 - link
You don't realize that Apple is running this standards committee. The "lightning" connector did not have enough pins and was in need of an upgrade, Apple took over and dominated the "C" connector definition.supgk - Thursday, April 3, 2014 - link
Please oh please someone get the USB-IF off this crazy idea of putting a tongue.. users have suffered enough with the fragile piece of junk that is microUSB. I've even stopped putting it in my designs and have gone back to mini USB which at least is more robust.The way microUSB connectors so easily break off somedays I wonder if this is all a plot by tech companies to make more money on device replacements. Now given full design liberty and even a competing Apple's Lightning they still go an add a little plastic tongue? Well that confirms it.
speculatrix - Thursday, April 3, 2014 - link
I am sure I have seen connectors where there is no male/female end as such, each is essentially half male half female. The side with pins is the "receiving" side, the holes the transmitting.Using these would mean that all connectors are the same, devices could plug directly into the PC or use a cable, cables have the same connector on both ends and are the same as devices.
A bit of googling comes up with this:
https://www.digikey.com/us/en/ph/te/Hermaphroditic...
but it's not quite what I would envisage in a robust connector to replace the menagerie of USB connectors.
speculatrix - Thursday, April 3, 2014 - link
ah, here's a good example, a half-circle hermaphroditic connector:http://www.lemo.com/en/rugged-connector/h-connecto...
benzosaurus - Monday, April 14, 2014 - link
If only Lemo connectors didn't cost 20-50$ each. And they still have a "right side up" which was always the ridiculous annoyance with USB 1-3. But at least Lemo connectors are super high quality, and the right orientation would be immediately obvious.