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USB Reversable Cable Images Emerge

Posted by Soulskill on from the saving-you-3-annoying-seconds-a-couple-times-a-day dept.

Lucas123 writes: "A presentation released today by Intel revealed images of the USB 3.1 Type-C cable and connectors, which is symmetrical and will no longer require a user to correctly orient the plug. Initially, the USB 3.1 Type-C specification will support up to 10Gbps data transfer speeds. The Type-C connectors resemble those of Apple's Thunderbolt cabling in that they are much smaller than today's USB SuperSpeed connectors. The receptacle opening is 8.3mm x 2.5mm.The first iteration will have a 5 volt power transfer rate, but it is expected to deliver up to 100 watts for higher power applications in the future."

22 of 208 comments (clear)

  1. Re:Reversible by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    No no, reversable. You're "able" to reverse it, see?

  2. Voltage != Power by x0ra · · Score: 4, Informative

    I don't want to sneak peak, but "5 volt power transfer rate" makes strictly NO SENSE. The "volt" is not a unit of power...

    Damn incompetent journalists ...

    1. Re:Voltage != Power by SuricouRaven · · Score: 4, Insightful

      I believe that's how it works - as 100W at 5V would be 20A, which would cause some problems with cables melting. Start at 5V, and a means for devices to negotiate higher voltages if the host is capable of supplying. Not all hosts will be able to - good luck getting 100W out of a tablet.

    2. Re:Voltage != Power by idji · · Score: 4, Informative

      IAAP (I am a physicist).
      There is nothing wrong with "5 volt power transfer". It is just saying that the power (whether 100mA or 100A) is always transferred at 5 volts, and not at 0.5 V or 50V. What is strange here is the "power transfer rate". Power= "energy transfer rate". "Power change rate" would make sense when talking about power ramp up, (i.e. how many milliseconds it needs to go from 100mA to 1A).
      A Type-C cable with100W racing through it sounds like a fire hazard to me.

    3. Re:Voltage != Power by compro01 · · Score: 4, Informative

      Realistically, how many amps is thing thing going to allow?

      They're saying 5A at 20V.

      Realistically, I wish the USB-C connector could start at 5 volts but negotiate to 12 volts to offset voltage drop.

      That's mostly what it's going to do. It starts at 5V, and negotiates up to 12V or 20V.

      Here's the whole presentation - https://intel.activeevents.com...

      --
      upon the advice of my lawyer, i have no sig at this time
  3. Re:Hey you, early USB plug apologist by Ralph+Wiggam · · Score: 3, Insightful

    Manufacturing costs have fallen in the past 18 years.

  4. Re:Reversible by NatasRevol · · Score: 4, Funny

    Please find one that has the explanation of a joke.

    --
    There are two types of people in the world: Those who crave closure
  5. Obligatory XKCD by Ivan+Stepaniuk · · Score: 3, Insightful

    https://xkcd.com/927/

    --
    My other signature is a car
    1. Re:Obligatory XKCD by ninjabus · · Score: 5, Funny

      I raise you a more relevant obligatory SMBC http://www.smbc-comics.com/?id...

  6. Re:Reversible by NeverVotedBush · · Score: 4, Insightful

    I loved "The first iteration will have a 5 volt power transfer rate".

    Classic.

  7. Re:Reversible by Teun · · Score: 3, Informative
    Indeed. :)

    And I worry about 100W @ 5V, that's 20 A!
    Sounds a bit troublesome through these small connectors.

    --
    "The likes of Facebook and WhatsApp are free to those whose privacy is of zero value."
  8. Why still male-female ends? by InfiniteLoopCounter · · Score: 3, Informative

    Seriously, why can't we have cables that fit into each other as well as be symmetrical. Oh wait, that's thanks to the patent system. At least this is progress and maybe we will have one standard for most types of application (not holding my breath).

    1. Re:Why still male-female ends? by Necroman · · Score: 3, Informative

      The linked patent expired in 2006, so that specific one isn't an issue in this case. Also, round connectors in general are a pain to line up properly and connect.

      --
      Its not what it is, its something else.
  9. Re:Hey you, early USB plug apologist by sunderland56 · · Score: 4, Insightful

    A D-shaped connector - instead of a square one - would not have cost any more, and would have eliminated a LOT of frustration over the past 18 years.

  10. Re:Reversible by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Informative

    The 100W case will be 20volts at 5amps

    It's in the Intel pdf file at https://intel.activeevents.com/sz14/connect/fileDownload/session/3446B9E71F4FD3D70D8FB478DA239801/SZ14_HSTS002_100_ENGf.pdf

  11. Re:Hey you, early USB plug apologist by RyuuzakiTetsuya · · Score: 4, Insightful

    still doesn't keep me from swearing a lot when trying to plug in an HDMI cable.

    Plug makers should have to test how easy it is to plug something in with out being able to see it. Like trying to snake your arm behind a TV or large desk.

    --
    Non impediti ratione cogitationus.
  12. Re:Reversible by 50000BTU_barbecue · · Score: 3, Insightful
    I used to worry about high currents thrown around electronics these days. I don't anymore. Check it out:

    - 100 amp mosfets in TO-220 packages with the thin tab. First time I saw this I thought it's going to catch fire. Lots of cheapo UPSes work like this now, and they *do* pass hundred of amps through the flimsiest of materials. So it gets hot, so? It'll last one day past the warranty and that's all it needs to do.

    - Brushless motor controllers for RC toys. 35 amps through 14 gauge wire with 200C silicone sheath. Hey, it only runs for 10 minutes anyways!

    - 180 amp brushless controllers. Motors the size of a Coke can rated for 6KW. Yes 6 kilowatts. Granted, they're water cooled, but I would have thought this is the equivalent of a tankless water heater and the boat could have just worked off the steam generated!

    Obviously, previous design rules WRT to current were too conservative. Look at your dryer plug, and look at a RC boat's (or any battery powered toy) connectors. But I predict fires in any case as manufacturers start counting strands in the wires...

    --
    Mostly random stuff.
  13. Re:Hey you, early USB plug apologist by meerling · · Score: 5, Informative

    You obviously never had to actually deal with serial and parallel connectors and their little screws to hold them in place.
    USB was a freaking godsend!
    Of, things can certainly get better, but companies hate jumping into new territory and would rather do it one increment at a time, if they can't avoid changing in the first place.

  14. Re:Reversible by jcdr · · Score: 4, Informative

    The same document in page 14 limits the 60W and 100W profiles to the A and B type. So the C type is probably limited to 36W.
     

  15. Reversable? by rossdee · · Score: 3, Funny

    But if you plug it in the other way round won't the phone charge the car's battery, and the 1's become 0's on the data?

    1. Re:Reversable? by Wuhao · · Score: 3, Insightful

      But if you plug it in the other way round won't the phone charge the car's battery, and the 1's become 0's on the data?

      No. You just have to keep the charging device elevated above the charged device. It works like a siphon.

  16. Re:Quick tip - USB logo is always on the top by dacut · · Score: 3, Interesting

    So when you plug in a cable, the logo on the top is always correct. When it is a sideways plug, you are on your own. :)

    I have a few cables which violate this spec (despite the USB spec being quite clear on this point). I'm not sure if it's a manufacturing error (cable assemblies sent to the molding process upside-down) or the manufacturer just being egotistical ("We want our logo to be visible to the user"). Western Digital, I'm looking at you...

    I really ought to toss them (along with my collection of USB 1.1 cables and hubs).