What is USB - USB Technology Explained
USB, Universal Serial Bus is a technology for connecting computers with peripheral devices such as wired keyboard and wired mouse, storage devices and even other computers.
It is a standard for connectors, connectors and protocols for connection, communication, and to supply electric power. Many devices, even high-tier non-gaming laptops and smartphones use USB connectors for charging.
It was first was introduced in 1996 as a standard by corporations such as IBM, Microsoft corporation and Intel. It was widely adopted from 1998 when Apple adopted the USB interface in the Apple iMac. It largely replaced serial and parallel ports.
USB is maintained by the USB Implementers Forum(USB-IF). They promote and supports USB, maintenance of the specifications and the compliance program.
USB has different connectors and has changed and been improved over the years. The most recent one being USB-C
USB Standards
| USB Standard | Max Transfer Rate | Release Date |
|---|---|---|
| USB 1.0 | 12Mbps | 1996 |
| USB 1.1 | 12Mbps | 1998 |
| USB 2.0 | 480Mbps | 2001 |
| USB 3.0 | 5Gbps | 2008 |
| USB 3.1 | 10Gbps | 2013 |
| USB 3.2 | 20Gbps | 2017 |
| USB 4 | 40Gbps | 2019 |
USB Connectors
There are various types of connectors over the years.
- Type A connector
- Type B connector
- Type C connector
- Mini-A connector
- Mini-B connector
- Mini-AB connector
- Micro-A connector
- Micro-B connector
- Micro -AB connector
Advantages of USB interface
- It has eliminated the requirement to develop propriety interfaces to new peripherals.
- There is availability of a wide range of transfer speeds supported to suit a wide range of devices.
- USB interfaces are hot-swappable. This means that the devices can be exchanged between different ports and devices without having to reboot the host device or computer.
- Small to medium devices can be powered directly using the USB interface. This has eliminated the need for a primary power cable in such devices.
- USB interface is self-configuring, eliminating the need for the ser to adjust the device settings for speed or different data format.
- USB interfaces are tested through the compliance program. There are also a certification program.
- USB takes full advantage of additional processing power that can be economically put into peripheral devices that can manage themselves.
Limitations of USB
- USB Data Transfer rates are relatively slower than other interfaces such as Ethernet which has speeds as high as 100GBps.
- USB cables are limited in length. They were not designed for long distance transmission.
- A host cannot broadcast signals to all peripherals at once - each must be addressed individually.
- USB has a struct Tree Network topology and master/slave protocol for addressing peripheral devices. These devices cannot interact with one another except via the host, and two hosts cannot communicate over their USB ports directly.
Finally, USB has been one of the most revolutionary standards. It has ensured compatibility and interoperability with new devices even newer devices like webcams.
Introduction of USB-C in laptops and phones has helped reduce the number of accessories required. Most of the chargers using the Type C connector have various rating for both smartphones, tablets, and laptops.