We explain what USB is and what this universal connection method is for. Also, its various standards and types of connectors.
What is USB?
In computing, the terms USB (acronym forUniversal Serial Bus, that is, Universal Serial Bus) or BUS refer to a standard of connection and electrical and data transmission, between computers, peripheral devices and other electronic devices.
Said system consists of a communications bus guided by protocols, cables and connectors of universal series, that arose like a way to universalize the connection of the devices to the different models of computers.
It should be clarified that a bus, in computational architecture, refers to a digital transmission system ofdata between computers and their components, manufactured on a printed circuit with resistors and capacitors, and commonly used in today's computing.
USB emerged in 1996 in its version 1.0, as an initiative of Intel, Microsoft, IBM, Compaq, DEC, NEC and Nortel, then incompatible with each other, by standardizing the connection ports of their products.
Two years later the 1.1 specification was already in widespread use, and since then its use became the norm, replacing connectors such as the serial port, parallel port, game port, among others.
Currently most peripherals use USB connectors: pointers, flash drives, keyboards, joysticks, scanners, cameras, speakers, cell phones, etc.
This offers a myriad of benefits, beyond extreme compatibility: peripherals can be connected at any time and instantly recognized, enables joint data transmission and electricity, and also allows transmission speeds of up to 1250 Mbps (in its current standard).
What is USB for?
In principle, USB fulfills an important role in today's hypercomputed world: serving as a universal connection method, thus eliminating the need for adapter devices, to cater to the connector types of a peripheral, and even allowing rapid transit of the device. information between different types of electronic system.
In addition, the USB allows you to charge the battery electronic devices, connecting them to a computer, whether or not it is connected to an electrical line.
USB standards
Is namedUSB standard to the type of connector intended for these functions, which has evolved over time, increasing its capabilities and adapting to the needs of the new hardware computer scientist. The standards to date are:
- Standard 1.0. The initial low-speed model that failed to catch on in the year it was released. In its full version (1.1) it offers a transfer rate of up to 1.5 mbps.
- Standard 2.0. Called high-speed, they increased the transfer rate to 480 mbps, using two pairs of cable lines: two for electricity and two for data.
- Standard 3.0. Considered of super high speed, it allows reaching 600 mbps, since it includes five additional contacts, discarding the optical fiber traditional even though it will be compatible with previous standards. Its most updated version (3.2) was announced in July 2017 and is expected to reach much higher speeds in 2019.
USB connectors
The micro-USB is the smallest version out there.
Within the same USB standard, various types and sizes of connectors are contemplated, that is, of cable terminations. Some of its characteristics, however, vary, in order to vary the polarity and avoid electrical overloads.
- Type A. The most common arrangement, present in removable memory (flash) drives, is usually medium-sized, flat, and is common in hubs and many peripherals.
- Type B. Square and elongated in shape, they are usually used by large devices, such as printers or scanners.
- Mini-USB. Often used in digital cameras and other gadgets, it almost always consists of a type B connector.
- Micro-USB. Present in most smartphones, in its 1.1 / 2.0 and 3.0 variants, it is the smallest version that exists.