11 misunderstandings about USB Type-C

1.USB Type-C and PD are complicated

When using a universal connector that can be plugged into a power supply or device, negotiating which device to power which device seems daunting for product designers and consumers. However, the complexity of the product can vary according to the needs of the product designer. For devices that only support Type-C, an integrated circuit (IC) can be used to perform this negotiation and connection. For more complex features, power supply protocol (PD) can be implemented. To achieve USB-C PD compliance, a series of strict guidelines must be followed. Before product certification, it must be reviewed by the USB-IF Regulatory Committee. Using firmware from a certified IC supplier can simplify solution design.

2. USB Type-C and PD are expensive

In order to detect, connect, and negotiate communication, it seems more expensive to switch from USB 2.0 to https://www.utmel.com/blog/categories/connector/what-is-a-usb-type-c-connector. For basic USB-C functions, a state machine controller can be used. The market price of this controller is less than 20 cents. This will minimize cost, power consumption and PCB space. In addition, with the widespread adoption of USB-C, the price of controller ICs is also falling, and they are becoming more and more energy-efficient. With the popularity of USB-C, the price of implementation is falling. Including the USB-C socket and controller in the system costs less than 20 cents.

3. All Type-C ports have the same function

Although it is a universal connector, the actual characteristics of the USB-C port may vary greatly. The port of the travel adapter only charges the device, and the port of the wearable device usually only accepts charging. The ports of dual-role devices such as laptops can both charge and accept charging. The power level limit of the standard Type-C port is 15W. If the PD protocol is implemented, it can be as high as 100W. In addition, the data communication of some ports can be as high as USB Super Speed Gen 2 10Gbps. Other features may include a display port or support for Thunderbolt.

4. All Type-C cables are the same

Although all USB-C cables have the same pin arrangement and can be plugged into any USB-C port, it does not necessarily mean that they have the same electrical characteristics and characteristics. The standard cable has a rated current of 3A and a length of less than 4 meters. Cables shorter than 2 meters or need to support 3-5A need an electronic marking IC, namely e-marker. The cable may also be "full-featured", for example, supporting up to 4K HD video. As mentioned above, a full-featured cable may actually have more wires, allowing additional bandwidth. The Type-C specification enables designers to use only the features required by their ports, thereby reducing complexity and cost. As the market matures, more and more solutions have been optimized for a given market demand.

5. USB Type-C is another cable that needs to be purchased

Although USB-C cables are unique, the adoption rate of USB-C form factors is high, and USB-C cables are becoming more common. The trend is that this cable will eventually become the only cable consumers need. If the same cable can be used to charge PCs, phones and any wearable devices from any charger, the number of cables required by consumers will eventually be reduced.

6. Type-C cable is just an interface different from Type-A and Type-B

Type-C using PD is far superior to Type-A and Type-B in terms of power and data rate. Although the power capability of Type-A and Type-B BC 1.2 has been developed to a maximum of 7.5W, USB-C PD can negotiate power up to 100W. The maximum data rate of USB SS Gen 1 is 5Gbps, and the maximum rate of Gen 2 is 10Gbps. The recent update also supports the simultaneous use of Tx and Rx lines, further doubling the effective data rate.

7. The Type-C cable is only used for data and charging small electronic products

USB-C is of course universal. It can not only power phones and small wearable devices, but also power PCs, home appliances, and even industrial devices with a power rating of less than 100W.

8. I still need 3.5mm jack to listen to music

This is not a problem. USB-C supports audio acquisition based on connectors. The USB-C cable has dedicated D+/D- pins to support audio signals. The SBU pin can also be used for microphone and ground signals. Some headset manufacturers are developing headsets that use USB-C connectors, and many manufacturers are developing dongles. The dongle is a small adapter with a 3.5mm jack on one end and a USB-C on the other end, allowing consumers to continue to use their favorite 3.5mm headphones. Although the sound quality may be degraded due to the installation of the dongle, many consumers choose this cheap option instead of replacing the headset immediately.

9.USB-C no longer supports analog audio

Many people think that if you transmit via USB-C, all audio must be digital. This is not the case. Many electronic platform designers will continue to use analog audio. There is a provision in the USB specification that if the system uses analog audio, it must also support digital audio.

10. I cannot charge and listen to music at the same time

Although USB-C has very diverse functions, it can charge, transfer data, and listen to audio, but some people still find it difficult to use because the device has only one port. The initial assumption was that the USB-C port can only support one function at a time. However, the USB-C specification stipulates that multiple functions can be performed on the same port at the same time. The USB-C specification provides for allowing accessory support for this purpose. Consumers can buy dongles with USB-C input and multiple outputs to charge, transfer data and listen to audio at the same time.

11. The video quality based on the USB port is too poor

This is not the case. USB-C features are certainly better than USB 2.0 features. The USB-C specification includes "alternating mode". These function extensions support non-standard USB protocols, such as display port and Thunderbolt transmission via USB-C connector. USB-C supports up to 4K HD video based on super speed pin. The USB-C connector truly combines industry-leading power, data, video and audio protocols in a stylish and flexible form factor.

Editor of electronic sites: Utmel Electronic and Kynix Electornic. Both are selling electronic components and electronic products.