USB Reversable Cable Images Emerge

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."

Comments

Re:Reversible

[Anonymous Coward]

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

Voltage != Power

[x0ra]

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 ...

Re:Voltage != Power

[SuricouRaven]

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.

Re:Voltage != Power

[idji]

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.

Re:Voltage != Power

[compro01]

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...

Re:Reversible

[NatasRevol]

Please find one that has the explanation of a joke.

Re:Reversible

[NeverVotedBush]

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

Classic.

Re:Obligatory XKCD

[ninjabus]

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

Re:Hey you, early USB plug apologist

[sunderland56]

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.

Re:Reversible

[Anonymous Coward]

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

Re:Hey you, early USB plug apologist

[RyuuzakiTetsuya]

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.

Re:Hey you, early USB plug apologist

[meerling]

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.

Re:Reversible

[jcdr]

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.