USB: Difference between revisions

Revision as of 01:11, 10 February 2025

Universal Serial Bus (USB)

The Universal Serial Bus (USB) is an industry standard that establishes specifications for cables, connectors, and protocols for connection, communication, and power supply between computers, peripherals, and other computers. USB was designed to standardize the connection of peripherals to personal computers, both to communicate and to supply electric power. It has largely replaced interfaces such as serial ports and parallel ports, and has become commonplace on a wide range of devices.

History

USB was developed in the mid-1990s by a group of seven companies: Compaq, DEC, IBM, Intel, Microsoft, NEC, and Nortel. The goal was to simplify the connection of external devices to computers by replacing the multitude of connectors at the back of PCs, addressing usability issues, and simplifying software configuration of all devices connected to USB, as well as permitting greater data transfer rates for external devices.

Versions

USB has evolved through several versions:

USB 1.0: Released in January 1996, it had a data transfer rate of 1.5 Mbit/s (Low Speed) and 12 Mbit/s (Full Speed).
USB 2.0: Released in April 2000, it increased the data transfer rate to 480 Mbit/s (High Speed).
USB 3.0: Released in November 2008, it introduced a new transfer rate called SuperSpeed USB (5 Gbit/s).
USB 3.1: Released in July 2013, it introduced SuperSpeed+ (10 Gbit/s).
USB 3.2: Released in September 2017, it further increased the data transfer rate to 20 Gbit/s.
USB4: Announced in August 2019, it supports data transfer rates up to 40 Gbit/s.

Connectors

USB connectors have evolved over time, with several types being used:

USB Type-A: The original USB connector, widely used in computers and other devices.
USB Type-B: Commonly used for printers and other powered devices.
USB Mini and Micro: Smaller connectors used for mobile devices.
USB Type-C: A reversible connector that supports higher power and data transfer rates.

Power and Charging

USB was designed to allow many peripherals to be connected using a single standardized interface socket and to improve plug-and-play capabilities by allowing hot swapping. USB can supply power to low-consumption devices, eliminating the need for a separate power supply cable.

Applications

USB is used in a wide variety of applications, including:

Connecting peripherals such as keyboards, mice, and printers to computers.
Charging and data transfer for mobile devices.
External storage devices such as USB flash drives and external hard drives.
Audio and video devices, including webcams and microphones.

Related pages

References

"Universal Serial Bus (USB) Information." USB.org. Accessed October 2023.
"USB Implementers Forum." USB-IF. Accessed October 2023.

Gallery

USB Type-C on a MacBook
Certified USB logo
USB Type-A receptacle (white)
USB 3.0 Type-A receptacle (blue)
USB Type-B receptacle
USB 3.0 Type-B receptacle (blue)
USB Mini-A receptacle
USB Micro-A receptacle
USB Type-C receptacle pinout
USB icon
SanDisk Cruzer USB thumb drive
M.2 SSD connected to USB 3.0 adapter
Various USB cables
USB 5Gbps logo
USB 10Gbps logo
USB 20Gbps logo
USB 40Gbps logo
USB 80Gbps logo
USB Wireless certified logo

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-USB (Universal Serial Bus) is a widely used technology that allows for the connection of various devices to a computer system. It provides a standardized interface for the transfer of data and power between devices, making it a convenient and versatile solution for connecting peripherals.
+== Universal Serial Bus (USB) ==
+The '''Universal Serial Bus''' ('''USB''') is an industry standard that establishes specifications for cables, connectors, and protocols for connection, communication, and power supply between computers, peripherals, and other computers. USB was designed to standardize the connection of peripherals to personal computers, both to communicate and to supply electric power. It has largely replaced interfaces such as serial ports and parallel ports, and has become commonplace on a wide range of devices.
 == History ==
-The development of USB began in the early 1990s as a collaborative effort between several technology companies, including Intel, Microsoft, and Compaq. The goal was to create a universal connection standard that would replace the multitude of proprietary interfaces used at the time.
-USB 1.0, the first version of the standard, was introduced in 1996. It offered a data transfer rate of 1.5 Mbps (megabits per second) and supported up to 127 devices through a daisy-chain topology. USB 2.0, released in 2000, significantly improved the data transfer speed to 480 Mbps and introduced the concept of high-speed devices.
+USB was developed in the mid-1990s by a group of seven companies: [[Compaq]], [[DEC]], [[IBM]], [[Intel]], [[Microsoft]], [[NEC]], and [[Nortel]]. The goal was to simplify the connection of external devices to computers by replacing the multitude of connectors at the back of PCs, addressing usability issues, and simplifying software configuration of all devices connected to USB, as well as permitting greater data transfer rates for external devices.
+== Versions ==
+USB has evolved through several versions:
+* '''USB 1.0''': Released in January 1996, it had a data transfer rate of 1.5 Mbit/s (Low Speed) and 12 Mbit/s (Full Speed).
+* '''USB 2.0''': Released in April 2000, it increased the data transfer rate to 480 Mbit/s (High Speed).
+* '''USB 3.0''': Released in November 2008, it introduced a new transfer rate called SuperSpeed USB (5 Gbit/s).
+* '''USB 3.1''': Released in July 2013, it introduced SuperSpeed+ (10 Gbit/s).
+* '''USB 3.2''': Released in September 2017, it further increased the data transfer rate to 20 Gbit/s.
+* '''USB4''': Announced in August 2019, it supports data transfer rates up to 40 Gbit/s.
-In 2008, USB 3.0 was introduced, providing a major leap in performance with a data transfer rate of up to 5 Gbps (gigabits per second). USB 3.0 also introduced backward compatibility with USB 2.0 devices, allowing users to connect older peripherals to newer USB 3.0 ports.
+== Connectors ==
-== Technical Details ==
+USB connectors have evolved over time, with several types being used:
-USB utilizes a host-controller architecture, where a host device (typically a computer) acts as the central hub and controls the communication with connected devices. The host device provides power and manages the data transfer between devices.
-USB connectors come in various shapes and sizes, with the most common being the Type-A and Type-B connectors. Type-A connectors are typically found on computers and chargers, while Type-B connectors are commonly used on devices such as printers and external hard drives.
+* '''USB Type-A''': The original USB connector, widely used in computers and other devices.
+* '''USB Type-B''': Commonly used for printers and other powered devices.
+* '''USB Mini and Micro''': Smaller connectors used for mobile devices.
+* '''USB Type-C''': A reversible connector that supports higher power and data transfer rates.
-USB cables consist of four wires: two for data transfer (D+ and D-) and two for power (VCC and GND). The data transfer wires carry differential signals, which help reduce noise and improve signal integrity.
+== Power and Charging ==
+USB was designed to allow many peripherals to be connected using a single standardized interface socket and to improve plug-and-play capabilities by allowing hot swapping. USB can supply power to low-consumption devices, eliminating the need for a separate power supply cable.
 == Applications ==
-USB has become the de facto standard for connecting a wide range of devices to computers. Some of the most common applications include:
-[[Computer peripherals]]: USB allows for easy connection of devices such as keyboards, mice, printers, scanners, and external storage devices.
-[[Mobile devices]]: USB is used for charging and data transfer between smartphones, tablets, and other portable devices.
+USB is used in a wide variety of applications, including:
-[[Audio devices]]: USB is increasingly used for connecting headphones, speakers, and audio interfaces, providing high-quality digital audio transmission.
+* Connecting peripherals such as keyboards, mice, and printers to computers.
+* Charging and data transfer for mobile devices.
+* External storage devices such as USB flash drives and external hard drives.
+* Audio and video devices, including webcams and microphones.
-[[Gaming consoles]]: USB ports on gaming consoles enable the connection of controllers, headsets, and other gaming accessories.
+== Related pages ==
-[[Industrial automation]]: USB is utilized in various industrial applications, including machine control, data acquisition, and programming interfaces.
+* [[USB hub]]
+* [[USB On-The-Go]]
+* [[USB flash drive]]
+* [[Thunderbolt (interface)]]
-== Limitations ==
+== References ==
-While USB offers many advantages, it also has some limitations:
-[[Data transfer speed]]: Although USB 3.0 provides fast data transfer rates, it may not be sufficient for certain high-bandwidth applications, such as video editing or transferring large files.
+* "Universal Serial Bus (USB) Information." USB.org. Accessed October 2023.
+* "USB Implementers Forum." USB-IF. Accessed October 2023.
-[[Power limitations]]: USB ports have limited power output, which may not be enough to charge power-hungry devices or operate high-power peripherals.
+== Gallery ==
-[[Cable length]]: USB cables have a maximum length of 5 meters for USB 2.0 and 3 meters for USB 3.0, which can be a limitation in certain scenarios.
+<gallery>
+USB_Type-C_macbook.png|USB Type-C on a MacBook
+Certified_USB.svg|Certified USB logo
+USB_Type-A_receptacle_White.svg|USB Type-A receptacle (white)
+USB_3.0_Type-A_receptacle_blue.svg|USB 3.0 Type-A receptacle (blue)
+USB_Type-B_receptacle.svg|USB Type-B receptacle
+USB_3.0_Type-B_receptacle_blue.svg|USB 3.0 Type-B receptacle (blue)
+USB_Mini-A_receptacle.svg|USB Mini-A receptacle
+USB_Micro-A.svg|USB Micro-A receptacle
+USB_Type-C_Receptacle_Pinout.svg|USB Type-C receptacle pinout
+USB_Icon.svg|USB icon
+SanDisk-Cruzer-USB-4GB-ThumbDrive.jpg|SanDisk Cruzer USB thumb drive
+M.2_2242_SSD_connected_into_USB_3.0_adapter.jpg|M.2 SSD connected to USB 3.0 adapter
+Cables_in_Hong_Kong.JPG|Various USB cables
+USB_5Gbps_logo.svg|USB 5Gbps logo
+USB_10Gbps_logo.svg|USB 10Gbps logo
+USB_20Gbps_logo.svg|USB 20Gbps logo
+USB_40Gbps_logo_01.svg|USB 40Gbps logo
+USB_80Gbps_logo.svg|USB 80Gbps logo
+USB_Wireless_certified_Logo.svg|USB Wireless certified logo
+</gallery>
-== Conclusion ==
+[[Category:Computer buses]]
-USB has revolutionized the way we connect devices to computers, providing a standardized and versatile interface. Its widespread adoption and compatibility have made it an essential technology in various industries and everyday life. With ongoing advancements, such as USB 4.0 and USB-C connectors, USB continues to evolve, offering even faster data transfer speeds and improved functionality.
+[[Category:Computer connectors]]
-{{dictionary-stub1}}
+[[Category:USB]]