Introduction to USB
• USB(Universal Serial Bus) is a mechanism used to connect peripheral
devices to computers.
Types of USB
USB Type-A USB Micro-B
The standard, universal connector found on virtually every The Micro-B connector has one configuration for
desktop PC and older laptops, as well as TVs, game consoles USB 2.0 and a different configuration for USB 3.0
and media players. and later. The Micro-B connector is found on many
popular models of Android smartphones and
USB Type-B external hard drives.
Most commonly used to connect printers and external hard
drives to desktop computers, the Type-B port actually has two USB Type-C
different configurations. One is specific to USB 1.1 and 2.0 Developed to support devices with a smaller, thinner
speed protocols, while the other is for use with the USB 3.0 and and lighter form factor. Type-C is slim enough for a
later spec. smartphone or tablet. In fact, many new laptops
have eliminated USB-A and RJ45 Ethernet ports and
offer USB-C as the only port for video, network, data
USB Mini-B
transfer and charging. The USB-C Type 2.1
The Mini-B connection is most often used by portable
specification (announced May, 2021) increases the
electronics such as digital cameras, MP3 players and some cell
power capacity of cables and connectors from 100W
phones, and only with USB 1.1 and 2.0 speeds. There are both
to 240W, making it possible to power and charge
four-pin and five-pin versions of the Mini-B connector.
larger, power-hungry devices such as 4K monitors, e-
bikes and gaming laptops.
Max. Data Transfer
Standard Also Known As Logo Year Introduced Connector Types Speed Cable Length**
USB 1.1 Full Speed USB 1998 USB-A 12 Mbps 3m
USB-B
USB 2.0 Hi-Speed USB 2000 USB-A 480 Mbps 5m
USB-B
USB Micro A
USB Micro B
USB Mini A
USB Mini B
USB-C*
USB 3.2 Gen 1 USB 3.0 2008 (USB 3.0) USB-A 5 Gbps 3m
USB 3.1 Gen 1 2013 (USB 3.1) USB-B
SuperSpeed USB Micro B
USB-C*
USB 3.2 Gen 2 USB 3.1 2013 (USB 3.1) USB-A 10 Gbps 3m
USB 3.1 Gen 2 USB-B
SuperSpeed+ USB Micro B
SuperSpeed 10Gbps USB-C*
USB 3.2 Gen 2x2 USB 3.2 2017 (USB 3.2) USB-C* 20 Gbps 3m
SuperSpeed 20Gbps
USB 4 USB4 Gen 2×2 2019 USB-C* 20 Gbps 0.8 m
USB4 20Gbps
USB 4 USB4 Gen 3×2 2019 USB-C* 40 Gbps 0.8 m
USB4 40Gbps
Functional Layer: This layer generates requests which are converted into transactions
containing different packets. This layer manages end to end data flow between host
and device.
Protocol Layer: Packets originates at transmit part of protocol layer and terminates at
receive part of protocol layer. It ensure end to end reliability of packets, Ensure
effective management of power, Ensure effective use of Bandwidth.
Link Layer: This layer manages port to port flow of data between USB host and device.
Here link is logical and physical connection between the ports viz. upstream and
downstream facing ports. Link layer commands are used between two linked ports to
communicate information between upstream and downstream ports. Hence these
commands ensure link level data integrity, flow control and power management. This
layer handles packet acknowledgement and takes care of error recovery. The Link
Layer also handles Header Packet Framing. Its functions are similar to MAC layer of
OSI model.
Physical Layer: This layer offers actual physical connection between two ports. The
connection uses two differential data pairs viz. one transmit path and one receive
path. The transmit part of physical layer performs data scrambling, 8b/10b encoding,
and serialization functions. The receive part of physical Layer performs de-
serialization, 8b/10b decoding, data descrambling, and receiver clock and data
recovery.
Features
• Uses a single interface with easy scalability -USB’s adaptability eliminates the need for separate connection
types and hardware specifications for each accessory. Additionally, the majority of personal computers feature
three to four USB ports. If more USB ports are needed, USB hubs can be employed to add on external ports.
• Minimizes space and power supply complexities -In comparison to older connections, USB sockets are
smaller in size. Additionally, the USB interface was created right from the outset to function as a DC power
source
• Does not need manual driver configurations-The host device’s operating system must only install the USB
device driver once. After that, when the peripheral device is connected, the driver is immediately launched to
set up the peripheral device. Typically, the device driver for any USB peripheral is loaded automatically the
first time the peripheral is connected to the host.
• Enables speed and reliability-USB offers multiple speed settings, making it more productivity-friendly and
efficient. It provides speeds between 1.5Mbit/s to 5Gbit/s. 2013 saw the release of USB 3.1, which boosted
the speed to 10Gbit/s. USB protocol may detect data transmission errors and tell the transmitter to resend the
data
• Saves costs-Due to the scalability of the manufacturing process and USB’s adaptability and popularity, it is
now affordable to produce USB-supported products
