USB2.0 and USB3.0 wiring by color (micro and mini connectors)

The USB interface began to be widely used about 20 years ago, to be precise, since the spring of 1997. It was then that the universal serial bus was implemented in hardware in many personal computer motherboards. Currently, this type of connecting peripherals to a PC is a standard, versions have been released that have significantly increased the data exchange speed, and new types of connectors have appeared. Let's try to understand the specifications, pinouts and other features of USB.

What are the advantages of Universal Serial Bus?

The introduction of this connection method made it possible:

• Quickly connect various peripheral devices to your PC, from the keyboard to external disk drives.
• Make full use of Plug&Play technology, which simplifies the connection and configuration of peripherals.
• Refusal of a number of outdated interfaces, which had a positive impact on the functionality of computing systems.
• The bus allows not only to transfer data, but also to supply power to connected devices, with a load current limit of 0.5 and 0.9 A for the old and new generations. This made it possible to use USB to charge phones, as well as connect various gadgets (mini fans, lights, etc.).
• It has become possible to manufacture mobile controllers, for example, a USB RJ-45 network card, electronic keys for entering and exiting the system

Types of USB connectors - main differences and features

There are three specifications (versions) of this type of connection that are partially compatible with each other:

1. The very first version that has become widespread is v 1. It is an improved modification of the previous version (1.0), which practically did not leave the prototype phase due to serious errors in the data transfer protocol. This specification has the following characteristics:

• Dual-mode data transfer at high and low speed (12.0 and 1.50 Mbps, respectively).
• Possibility of connecting more than a hundred different devices (including hubs).
• The maximum cord length is 3.0 and 5.0 m for high and low transfer speeds, respectively.
• The rated bus voltage is 5.0 V, the permissible load current of the connected equipment is 0.5 A.

Today this standard is practically not used due to its low throughput.

1. The dominant second specification today... This standard is fully compatible with the previous modification. A distinctive feature is the presence of a high-speed data exchange protocol (up to 480.0 Mbit per second).

A clear demonstration of the advantages of USB 2.0 over other interfaces (transfer speed 60 MB per second, which corresponds to 480 Mbit per second).
Thanks to full hardware compatibility with the younger version, peripheral devices of this standard can be connected to the previous modification. True, the throughput will decrease up to 35-40 times, and in some cases more.

Since these versions are fully compatible, their cables and connectors are identical.

Please note that, despite the bandwidth specified in the specification, the actual data exchange speed in the second generation is somewhat lower (about 30-35 MB per second). This is due to the implementation of the protocol, which leads to delays between data packets. Since modern drives have a read speed four times higher than the throughput of the second modification, that is, it does not meet current requirements.

1. The 3rd generation universal bus was developed specifically to solve problems of insufficient bandwidth. According to the specification, this modification is capable of exchanging information at a speed of 5.0 Gbit per second, which is almost three times the reading speed of modern drives. Plugs and sockets of the latest modification are usually marked blue to facilitate identification of belonging to this specification.

USB 3.0 connectors have a characteristic blue color.
Another feature of the third generation is an increase in the rated current to 0.9 A, which allows you to power a number of devices and eliminate the need for separate power supplies for them.

As for compatibility with the previous version, it is partially implemented; this will be discussed in detail below.

USB versions of connectors

USB versions currently include 1.1, 2.0, 3.0, 3.1 and 3.2.

1. USB 1.1 type was the first version of the USB standard, released back in 1998, and has a maximum transfer speed of 12 Mbps. However, in many cases, USB 1.1 only operates at 1.2 Mbps. Today it is long outdated and out of use.
2. USB 2.0 standard , introduced in 2000, has a maximum speed of 480 Mbit/s in Hi-Speed ​​mode or 12 Mbit/s in normal operation. It is backward compatible with USB 1.1. Like version 1.1, it has 5V power lines with up to 500mA, giving a power of 2.5W.
3. USB 3.0 was introduced in 2008 and has the fastest data transfer speed of 5 Gbps in SuperSpeed ​​mode. USB 3.0 connectors are usually blue. This interface is backwards compatible but has an increased output current of up to 900 mA, resulting in a power output of 4.5 W.
4. The next version is USB 3.1 , which was officially introduced to the market in 2013. It doubles the interface speed to 10 Gbps, transferring data as fast as the original Thunderbolt standard. It is backward compatible with USB 3.0 and USB 2.0. USB 3.1 has three power profiles and allows larger devices to be powered from the host: up to 2A at 5V (for power consumption up to 10W) ​​and up to 5A at 12V (60W) or 20V (100W) - this the so-called USB Power Delivery (USB-PD) technology, defined separately from the USB standard itself.
5. The latest version of the interface is USB 3.2 . It was introduced in 2022. This interface retains the existing USB 3.1 data modes – SuperSpeed ​​and SuperSpeed+, with 5 Gbps and 10 Gbps respectively, but also introduces two new data modes offering transfer speeds of 10 and 20 Gbps, however they require USB-C . USB 3.2 is also the first version of the interface where USB-C is the only available and acceptable connector standard.

With its flat and rectangular shape, USB Type A was the original design for the first USB standard. In a traditional USB cable, the Type A connector, also known as the A male connector, connects to the host, its USB port also includes a Type A, which is a Type A female. Type A ports are typically found in host devices such as desktop computers . laptops, game consoles, etc. In addition, Type A plug connectors can be found on popular devices connected to the above-mentioned devices - keyboards, mice, etc.

USB 1.1, 2.0, and 3.0 all have the same Type A connector design, meaning that it is always compatible with a Type A port, even if the device and host use different versions of USB. They differ only in that versions 3.0 and 3.1 add additional lines for additional signals required to use SuperSpeed ​​and SuperSpeed+ modes.

Useful: Pinout of twisted pair network 8 wires - color scheme

Essentially, the B connector is the end portion of a standard USB cable that connects to a peripheral device, such as a printer, phone, or external hard drive, and is also known as the B male connector. Since peripherals come in different shapes and sizes, the B connector and its port are also available in several different versions. There are currently 5 popular models of USB and Type B connectors available: Original Standard B, Mini-B, Micro-B, Micro-B USB 3.0 and Standard USB B Type 3.0. They differ mainly in size, allowing Type B connectors to be placed in very small devices.

USB Type B cables are almost forgotten these days. This is because printers and other large devices already use wireless WiFi channels.

The standard Type B connector design is used for connecting large peripheral devices such as printers or scanners to a computer and was designed for USB 1.1. Much smaller Mini-B ports can be found in older portable devices such as digital cameras and older portable storage devices. This connector format is now obsolete. Micro-B USB is slightly smaller than Mini-B and is the most common type of USB connector for modern smartphones and tablets. Micro-USB 3.0 is the most widespread design and is mainly used for portable USB 3.0 drives. USB 3.0 and higher interface connectors are typically blue to facilitate intuitive connections to computers that also have blue USB 3.x ports.

At 8.3 x 2.5mm, the USB Type-C port and connector are about the same size as a USB Micro-B port, making it small enough to handle even the smallest peripherals. Both ends of the cable are identical, which allows you to flip the cable in any way you want. Additionally, thanks to the symmetry of the plug, the problem of inserting it upside down is eliminated - it fits in both orientations.

USB-C and USB 3.1 are backward compatible with USB 3.0 and 2.0. In a pure USB Type-C connection, Type-A ports and connectors are no longer included, but Type-C to Type-C cables exist for compatibility, for example to connect modern mobile devices to computers. There are also adapters that allow Type C hosts and devices to work with USB devices. While this may make the connection more complicated at the moment as different USB adapters are required, this will be temporary as only the C port will be used in the future.

There are USB Micro <-> C adapters on sale, we recommend buying a few to spare, as more and more USB-C equipment will appear. Such adapters will be useful in a situation where everyone around only has chargers with “regular” Micro-USB.

USB 2.0 A and B will still be on the market for a long time because there are billions of devices with this port and it is cheap, also because it is mechanically the strongest USB connector, if the connectors are good quality and the boards are not thin then these The connectors are really reliable. This confirms their use in stage equipment, where they are standard and can operate on stages and studios for many years without failure. The same thing applies to equipment: oscilloscopes, digital power supplies, CNC, automation.

Classification and pinout

Connectors are usually classified by type, there are only two of them:

• A is a plug connected to the female socket installed on the PC system board or USB hub. Using this type of connection, you can connect a USB flash drive, keyboard, mouse, etc. These connections are fully compatible between the initial version and the second generation. With the latest modification, compatibility is partial, that is, devices and cables from earlier versions can be connected to third-generation sockets, but not vice versa.

  
  Type A connectors

• B – plug for connecting to a socket installed on a peripheral device, for example, a printer. The dimensions of the classic type B do not allow it to be used for connecting small-sized devices (for example, tablets, mobile phones, digital cameras, etc.). To correct the situation, two standard reduced modifications of type B were adopted: mini and micro USB.

Note that such convectors are compatible only between earlier modifications.

Various Type B Connector Models

In addition, there are extension cables for the ports of this interface. At one end there is a type A plug, and at the other there is a socket for it, that is, in fact, a “female” - “male” connection. Such cords can be very useful, for example, to connect a flash drive without crawling under the table to the system unit.

USB Extension Cable

Now let's look at how contacts are wired for each of the types listed above.

Displays, laptops and adapters

To transfer video in one of the alternative modes (DisplayPort or HDMI), that is, for example, from a laptop to a monitor, you should also pay attention to the technical requirements. There are currently several monitors on the market with a USB Type-C connector from LG, Eizo, Acer and HP (for example, Envy 27, about 40,000 rubles). For video output, the DisplayPort standard is almost universally used, which indeed works quite reliably. But if we talk about fast charging, which places special demands on the monitor’s power supply, then in many cases buyers have questions.

Video in alternative mode The USB-C connector, for example, like that of the LG 27UD88 (about 38,000 rubles), usually provides reliable video transfer to the monitor, but Power Delivery fast charging is not always possible for it.
However, power supply from the monitor to the laptop is not always required. The Asus MB169C+ portable 15-inch monitor (about 15,000 rubles) receives power from the laptop via a fully used Type-C connector. One way or another, nowadays it more often happens that a laptop with a USB Type-C connector is connected to a monitor via an HDMI or DisplayPort port. In such cases, an adapter is required that converts the video signal and transmits it to the monitor using the desired standard. Such accessories can be purchased from about 1000 rubles. Compared to other cables, choosing adapters is quite simple, because their task is only to convert the video signal without taking into account other features of USB 3.1.

For those interested in a laptop or tablet with a Type-C connector, the choice is currently limited, but great. In addition to the MacBook (12 inches), there are hybrids Acer Aspire Switch 10 V (about 25,000 rubles) and Asus T100HA (about 18,000 rubles). And the young Google Pixel Chromebook is equipped with two whole Type-C ports (though only of the USB 3.1 Gen 1 standard), but it has not yet gone on official sale in Russia.

Old documentation Despite the fact that the Acer Aspire Switch 10 V is equipped with only one Type-C port, the manual indicates old types of USB connectors.
Probably, it is unlikely that any user will dare to switch all their peripheral devices to Type-C at once, so most Laptop owners will first need a USB 3.1 adapter to transfer data and video signals via a USB Type-A, HDMI or DisplayPort cable. Prices for recommended flexible models start at 2,500 rubles, such as the Icy Box IB-DK4031. Club 3D SenseVision is more expensive - about 6,500 rubles - but it includes HDMI, DVI, USB 3.0 Type-A, 4 USB 2.0 connectors, USB fast charging, as well as jacks for connecting a microphone and headphones.

The choice for desktops is less rich at the moment: traditionally, motherboard manufacturers introduce new standards in premium models. The only motherboard with four USB 3.1 Gen 2 ports (two each Type-A and Type-C) is the Asus Rampage V 10, which costs about 38,500 rubles. At least the indication of fast transfer of 10 Gbit/s is also on the panel of interface connectors. One of the USB 3.1 options from the lower price category of desktops is the MSI X99A SLI (LGA 2011-3) with one Type-A and one Type-C port for about 15,000 rubles.

Universal adapter

Switching to computers with a Type-C connector will require an adapter with different types of ports for the peripherals.

> Club 3D SenseVision (about 6,500 rubles) The adapter is relatively expensive, but is equipped with a large number of ports, including HDMI, DVI, microphone and headphone jacks, as well as four USB 2.0 ports and a connector for fast charging (USB 3.1 Gen 1)

> Icy Box IB-DK4031 (about 2,500 rubles) A ​​simpler version of the adapter with a Type-A connector (USB 3.1 Gen 1), HDMI, and a Type-C connector with Power Delivery for fast charging of external devices.

USB 2.0 connector pinout (types A and B)

Since the physical plugs and sockets of early versions 1.1 and 2.0 do not differ from each other, we will present the wiring of the latter.

Figure 6. Wiring the plug and socket of type A connector

Designation:

• A – nest.
• B – plug.
• 1 – power supply +5.0 V.
• 2 and 3 signal wires.
• 4 – mass.

In the figure, the coloring of the contacts is shown according to the colors of the wire, and corresponds to the accepted specification.

Now let's look at the wiring of the classic socket B.

Wiring of plug and socket type B

Designation:

• A – plug connected to the socket on peripheral devices.
• B – socket on a peripheral device.
• 1 – power contact (+5 V).
• 2 and 3 – signal contacts.
• 4 – ground wire contact.

The colors of the contacts correspond to the accepted colors of the wires in the cord.

USB 3.0 pinout (types A and B)

In the third generation, peripheral devices are connected via 10 (9 if there is no shielding braid) wires; accordingly, the number of contacts is also increased. But they are located in such a way that it is possible to connect devices of earlier generations. That is, the +5.0 V contacts, GND, D+ and D-, are located in the same way as in the previous version. The wiring for Type A socket is shown in the figure below.

Figure 8. Pinout of Type A connector in USB 3.0

Designation:

• A – plug.
• B – nest.
• 1, 2, 3, 4 – connectors fully correspond to the pinout of the plug for version 2.0 (see B in Fig. 6), the colors of the wires also match.
• 5 (SS_TX-) and 6 (SS_TX+) connectors for data transmission wires via the SUPER_SPEED protocol.
• 7 – ground (GND) for signal wires.
• 8 (SS_RX-) and 9 (SS_RX+) connectors for data receiving wires using the SUPER_SPEED protocol.

The colors in the figure correspond to those generally accepted for this standard.

As mentioned above, a plug from an earlier model can be inserted into the socket of this port; accordingly, the throughput will decrease. As for the plug of the third generation of the universal bus, it is impossible to insert it into the sockets of the early release.

Now let's look at the pinout for the type B socket. Unlike the previous type, such a socket is incompatible with any plug of earlier versions.

Wiring USB 3.0 type B

Designations:

A and B are plug and socket, respectively.

Digital signatures for contacts correspond to the description in Figure 8.

The color is as close as possible to the color markings of the wires in the cord.

Difficult choice of cables

The confusion doesn't stop with standards and versions alone. If previously it was possible to limit the choice to one USB cable with the required types of connectors, with USB 3.1 and Type-C it will not be so easy. Here, as in the case of standards and versions, there is currently a huge lack of information: not all Type-C cables can transmit data, video and supply power. In many cases, it is not clear to users whether a Type-C cable supports Power Delivery fast charging or an alternative mode for video transmission, because logos and markings, as a rule, are simply not there.

Premium Motherboards Currently, only select premium motherboards support USB 3.1 Gen 2.
Among them is the Asus Rampage V 10, equipped with two Type-A and two Type-C ports, it costs about 38,500 rubles. It is often impossible to determine whether the cable supports USB 3.1 or just USB 2.0. On the Amazon website, there are very often reviews from upset customers who, after purchasing, discovered that the purchased cable does not support the fast charging technology of their smartphones. Even the designation by some manufacturers, for example, Aukey, of a USB 3.1 Gen 1 cable with Type-C and Type-A ends as a “Type-C to USB 3.0 cable” does not help to get out of this difficult situation at all - this is completely wrong.

If you decide to get a device with a Type-C connector, be sure to make sure that the package includes a cable - only then will all your requirements be satisfied. Computer hardware supplier Hama, for example, offers several Type-C cables with detailed specifications, but prices start at 1,000 rubles. Buying a Thunderbolt 3 cable will cost even more - you will need to shell out about 2,000 rubles. But all the functions are provided here. If this price is too high, then willy-nilly you will have to rummage through product descriptions and customer reviews about them in search of the right cable.

USB-C: balanced plug

Data transfer, power supply and dialogue between devices - each of the 24 pins of the Type-C plug performs a separate function. It is easy to notice that their arrangement is symmetrical.

Micro USB connector pinout

To begin with, we present the wiring for this specification.

Micro USB v 2.0 connector wiring

As can be seen from the figure, this is a 5 pin connection; both the plug (A) and socket (B) have four contacts. Their purpose and digital and color designation correspond to the accepted standard, which was given above.

Description of the micro USB connector for version 3.0.

For this connection, a characteristically shaped 10 pin connector is used. In fact, it consists of two parts of 5 pin each, and one of them fully corresponds to the previous version of the interface. This implementation is somewhat confusing, especially considering the incompatibility of these types. Probably, the developers planned to make it possible to work with connectors of earlier modifications, but subsequently abandoned this idea or have not yet implemented it.

MicroUSB connector layout for version 3.0

The figure shows the pinout of the plug (A) and the appearance of the micro USB socket (B).

Contacts 1 to 5 fully correspond to the second generation micro connector, the purpose of the other contacts is as follows:

• 6 and 7 – data transmission via high-speed protocol (SS_TX- and SS_TX+, respectively).
• 8 – mass for high-speed information channels.
• 9 and 10 – data reception via high-speed protocol (SS_RX- and SS_RX+, respectively).

USB Key Features

USB (Universal Serial Bus) stands for universal serial bus for transferring data between devices. For example, between a computer and its peripherals - keyboard, mouse, flash drive, printer, scanner, webcam, etc.

Through USB, connected devices receive energy for operation and charging, so power banks and chargers are equipped with sockets of this type. A pair or two pairs of contacts are responsible for power supply, which in the diagrams are conventionally designated VCC or +5 V and GND (ground). If you look closely at the connector, you can see that these pins are longer than the others. This is done so that the connection/disconnection of power and information lines occurs with a time difference, otherwise the data may be transmitted with errors.

2 or more contacts are responsible for data, depending on the USB version. Half of them transmit the signal from the main device (host) to the periphery, and the second half - back.

The USB interface supports Plug and Play technology (“connect and use”). When connecting to a host, such as a computer, the peripheral device tells it what it is, and the host selects the appropriate driver. “Communication” occurs over data lines.

Devices released in the last decade are equipped with USB interfaces versions 2.0, 3.0, 3.1, 3.2. It's rare, but there are still old devices with USB 1.1. Interfaces of different generations transmit information at different speeds.

The theoretically achievable data transfer rates via the USB bus of current versions are presented in the table:

In order not to confuse the reader, only the maximum speeds are given here, according to the USB specifications of various versions, without taking into account their operating modes. This means that the actual speed of data exchange between devices connected by this bus can be several times lower.

USB connectors of different generations are compatible with each other, but the speed of data transfer between them is always limited by the potential of the slower side.

The latest, third generation USB can withstand more current than its predecessors, which affects the charging speed and maintenance of connected devices, especially those that consume a lot of energy, such as external hard drives.

The maximum output current of the USB charger or host port is:

• For versions 1.1-0 – 0.5 A.
• For version 3.0 – 0.9-1.5 A.
• For versions 3.1-3.2 – 1.5-3 A with the possibility of increasing to 5A.

The standard voltage of the USB output port is 5 V. Certain specifications of versions 3.1-3.2, aimed at connecting energy-intensive devices, can withstand up to 20 V.

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Externally, USB connectors of different generations differ in color. The third is the youngest, has a blue or blue tint, this is its typical feature. The first and second can be painted black, white, gray and other colors; their coloring has nothing to do with their characteristics.

Mini USB pinout

This connection option is used only in early versions of the interface; in the third generation this type is not used.

Mini USB connector pinout

As you can see, the wiring of the plug and socket is almost identical to the micro USB, respectively, the color scheme of the wires and the contact numbers are also the same. Actually, the differences are only in shape and size.

In this article we have presented only standard types of connections; many manufacturers of digital equipment practice introducing their own standards; there you can find connectors for 7 pin, 8 pin, etc. This introduces certain difficulties, especially when the question arises of finding a charger for a mobile phone. It should also be noted that products are in no hurry to tell how the USB pinout is done in such contactors. But, as a rule, this information is easy to find on thematic forums.