Type si connector. Xiaomi Mi USB Type-C Noise Canceling Headphones

At the beginning of its journey, the USB port was designed to unite all other interfaces into one, its unchanging logo even hinted at this, but time passes and the universal port itself has grown to many badly compatible versions, which made even more chaos in the relationship of certain gadgets. Finally, He appeared on the horizon. Great and terrible USB Type C. Knowledgeable people greeted him with almost applause, and ordinary users only shrugged their shoulders. You can meet with this indifference even today, they say, yes, symmetrical, yes, it's easier to connect, so what? In fact, the difference turns out to be huge, and if you are still wondering which is better - Type C or microUSB, this is the place for you.

Type C is more practical

This compact port has declared itself as a new network standard and its appearance is quite consistent with such a high status. A symmetrical, 24-pin port can be found today on smartphones of the flagship and mid-range price segments, laptops, docking stations, routers and a huge number of other equipment. It does not take up much space on the case and, yes, it is more convenient to connect it. And now you don't have to carry with you a certain number of blocks from different equipment.
Backward compatibility is also important. The Type-C port allows you to use any technique from the oldest to the most modern without any particular restrictions.
A couple of years ago, there was an acute issue of finding adapters and compatible flash drives, but today they are a dime a dozen on the market.

Data transfer speed - up to 10 Gb / s

In this regard, Type C is a big reserve for the future, because it offers users data transfer speeds up to 10 Gb / s. Modern smartphones this, of course, is not necessary, but in the future it may well come in handy.
Here, by the way, we must immediately put an end to the confusion. The first Type C installed on a smartphone (by the way, it was Nokia N1) supported only the 2.0 protocol, while later devices could have both 3.0 and 3.1 with the corresponding data transfer rates. This limitation is imposed by the manufacturer with an eye to modern realities and will invariably increase.


Charging - up to 100 watts of power

Fast chargers are already sweeping the planet. They are developed by different manufacturers and they work according to different principles, but the essence is the same - to increase the power and thus reduce the charging time of the gadget. If you read our last text, then you noticed that in modern technologies of fast charging, the numbers do not even come close to the indicated one. However, in the future this seemingly transcendental power will also be used. You may have come across this technology on the Web under the name USB Power Delivery. This is what many see as the future standard for fast charging.
Moreover, the Type C port can not only charge, but also charge other devices, which third-party manufacturers will obviously not fail to use in their developments.

Alternative modes

If up to this point we talked exclusively about proprietary developments, now it's time to look at the related technologies. Type C will also allow connection to monitors with DisplayPort, MHL and HDMI.
Thunderbolt 3, which guarantees high-speed data and video transfers, cannot be overlooked. Through this interface you can daisy chain up to 6 peripherals (eg monitors). True, it is difficult to imagine a situation when it is really necessary.

Sound transmission - audiophile quality

If we evaluated all of the above modes in the context of a reserve for the future, then this is something that even ordinary users are faced with today. We're talking about mass replacement of the audio jack with a Type C port. Split ports, in this case, only one (but very serious) advantage: you can use the headphones even when the smartphone is charging. But on all other points, the analog jack is inferior to the digital USB-C. In the latter case, the sound quality will be higher, noise cancellation and echo cancellation are better implemented. Equally important is the ability to transfer some of the tasks (and related equipment) to the headset, which will also help to avoid unnecessary noise and expand the headset's control capabilities. The flip side of the coin is that headphones will clearly become more expensive than modern simple "whistles" or, in other words, "whistles" will simply die out as a species.
And in the future, according to the developers, cooler things await us. For example, the ability to track body temperature during sports using headphones.

Docking stations

It was the versatility of the USB Type C port that made possible use docking stations for smartphones. Connecting to a dock makes it possible to get an almost full-fledged desktop PC from a smartphone. Not a gaming level, of course, but it will definitely pull on multimedia, since the power of mobile processors is more than enough for this. On the this moment there are two devices on the market that have this functionality. This is the HP Elite x3, on which we did a great review and the Samsung Galaxy S8, S8 + and Note8 models with their DeX Station... Given the speed at which Type C is spreading, I would like to hope that analogs will appear from other manufacturers.

As we can see, a miniature Type-C port is not only charging, as many people think, but also a lot of other possibilities. It is for its versatility that USB-C is appreciated. But the sea of ​​these indisputable pluses crosses out one fat minus. Port capabilities will always be limited by the host device, and it is impossible to externally recognize these limitations. That is, Type C always looks the same, and in order to find out what exactly it will “be able to” on a particular device, you will have to look for detailed specifications. Moreover, the difficulties here will be not only with the presence / absence of alternative modes, but also with the involved speeds. Moreover, the compatibility of two devices can be “killed” by using the wrong cable. This game of attentiveness turns out to be not sickly. The only thing that pleases is that the further, the more these restrictions will be leveled with the development of technology.

Advantages of the USB 3.1 port:
★ fast
★ powerful
★ universal

Advantages of the Type-C connector:
★ durable
★ symmetrical

Now it is guaranteed that you can connect the USB cable to the device the first time.

⚠ It is necessary to distinguish between the concepts " port"And" connector». Connector(socket) Type-C can be soldered even on an old phone (instead of micro-USB), but port it will remain so old USB 2.0 - this will not add to the speed of charging and data transfer. Of the convenience, only the symmetry and reliability of the connector will appear.

⚠ Thus, the presence of Type-C does not mean anything yet. Smartphone models are on sale with a new connector, but with old port... The advantages listed in this article do not apply to such smartphones.

Pin assignment

The contacts of the connectors in the diagrams are shown from the outer (working) side, unless otherwise specified.

The port contains 24 pins (12 pins on each side). The "upper" ruler is numbered A1 ... A12, the "lower" one - B1 ... B12. For the most part, the lines are identical to each other, which makes this port indifferent to plug orientation. The contacts of each line can be divided into 6 groups: USB 2.0, USB 3.1, Power, Ground, Matching channel and Additional channel... Now let's take a closer look.

Actually, USB 3.1. High-speed data lines: TX +, TX-, RX +, RX- ( pins 2, 3, 10, 11). Speed ​​up to 10 Gb / s. In the cable, these pairs are crossed, and what is RX for one device is represented as TX to the other. And vice versa. By special order, these pairs can be retrained for other tasks, for example, for video transmission.

Good old . Low speed data lines: D + / D- ( pins 6, 7). This rarity was included in the port for the sake of compatibility with old low-speed devices up to 480 Mb / s.

Power Plus - Vbus(pins 4, 9). The standard voltage is 5 volts. The current is set depending on the needs of the periphery: 0.5A; 0.9A; 1.5A; 3A. In general, the port specification implies a power transfer of up to 100W, and in the event of a war, the port is capable of powering a monitor or charging a laptop with 20 volts!

GND - "Ground" - mother (pins 1, 12). Minus everything and everything.

Matching channel(or configuring) - SS ( pin 5). This is the main feature of USB type-C! Thanks to this channel, the system can determine:

- The fact of connection / disconnection peripheral;
- The orientation of the connected plug. Oddly enough, but the connector is not absolutely symmetrical, and in some cases the device wants to know its orientation;
- The current and voltage that should be provided to the periphery for power supply or charge;
- The need to work in an alternative mode, for example, to transmit an audio-video stream.
- In addition to monitoring functions, this channel supplies power to the active cable if necessary.

Additional channel - SBU (pin 8). The additional channel is usually not used and is provided only for some exotic cases. For example, when transmitting video over a cable, an audio channel goes over the SBU.

USB 3.1 Type-C pinout

The "striped color" here depicts the contacts of a bare wire.

A strange solution was to mark the D + and D- wires not as in USB 2.0, but vice versa: D + white, D- green.

Gray outline marks wires whose color, according to Wikipedia, is not regulated by the standard. The author did not find any indications at all on the colors of the wires in official documentation.

Wiring connectors Type-C ▼

Typical diagram USB-C cable Plug-plug ▼


Power / Charge Technology USB PD Rev.2 (USB Power Delivery)

The USB-C cable does not have such concepts as "Connector-A" or "Connector-B" - the connectors are now the same in all cases.

Device roles are denoted with new terms:

DFP- active, power supply device (like a USB port A)
UFP- passive, receiving device (like a USB port B)
DRP- "two-faced" device dynamically changing its status.
In addition, the charger is called Power Provider, charged - Power consumer.

The distribution of roles is carried out by setting a certain potential on the CC contact using one or another resistor:

Active device ( DFP V bus.
The resistor value tells the consumer what current he can count on:
56 ± 20% kOhm - 500 or 900 mA
22 ± 5% kOhm - 1.5 A
10 ± 5% kOhm - 3 A

▲ Adapters from USB 2.0 (3.0) to USB-C, used to connect new smartphones to old PCs or storage devices, are soldered according to the DFP scheme, that is, they show themselves to the smartphone as an active device

Passive device ( UFP) is determined by the resistor between the CC and GND.
Resistor value: 5,1 kOhm

▲ Adapters from USB-C to USB-OTG are soldered exactly according to the UFP scheme, that is, they simulate a consuming device.

⚠ USB PD Rev2 technology in which by contact CC agree current and voltage charge should not be confused with Quick Charge (QC) technology, where the contacts D− and D + only agrees voltage charge. USB PD Rev2 is only supported in USB 3.1.
QC is supported without reference to the port version.

USB-micro-USB-C adapter

Pinout of the Type-C to USB 3.0 OTG adapter board from different sides ▼



Analog audio via Type-C

The standard provides for the ability to transmit analog audio through a digital port. This feature is implemented in HTC smartphones U series, HTC 10 Evo, Xiaomi Mi, LeTV. The author would be grateful if the reader would add to this list.

Analog headsets with a Type-C plug are used to work in this mode. To connect the classic, adapters are provided.

Analog audio is transmitted on Data−, Data +, SBU1 and SBU2 channels. The smartphone enters this mode if the plug of the headset or adapter resistance between contacts A1-A5 and B1-B5 is less than0.8 ... 1.2 kOhm... Instead of a resistor, I have seen just a jumper.

Video over USB-C

For video transmission via USB 3.1, the "DisplayPort Alternate Mode" has been developed.
See the list of devices that support this mode. I think it will be very useful to many. I do not know what kind of cord you had and whether it worked with QC3.0 before? How long did you live in it? What is "normal USB"?

Xiaomi introduced USB Type-C headphones to the Indian market with noise canceling and superior sound quality. What is so interesting about them? Let's take a closer look.

These wired headphones The earbuds were specially launched with the Mi Mix 2 in mind, because the smartphone has a USB Type-C port instead of a 3.5mm audio jack.

According to analytics, 32% of Xiaomi mobile phone users prefer USB Type-C headphones.

The body of the headset is made of titanium, which guarantees resistance to scratches and corrosion. The range of reproducible frequencies is 20-40,000 Hz with a sensitivity of 113 dB. Thanks to the active noise canceling (ANC) function, the headphones are able to suppress external noise.

The earbuds are compatible with most Xiaomi smartphones that have a USB Type-C port:

  • Mi Mix 2,
  • Mi Mix,
  • Mi 6,
  • Mi 5,
  • Mi 5s,
  • Mi 5s Plus,
  • Mi Note 2.

However, they are not compatible with Redmi 5X and Redmi Pro.

The headphones have a micromechanical noise canceling module that easily cope with blocking out ambient noise. When the mode is turned on, noises with a power of 25 dB are suppressed, with a frequency range from 50 to 2000 Hz.

Mi Noise Canceling USB Type-C Wired Headset is also not compatible with Redmi 4C and Redmi 4S. You will be able to listen to music and the active noise canceling function will work. However, you will not be able to receive calls or control music using the built-in remote.

The headphone cable is made of environmentally friendly material that is completely non-toxic. In addition, a digital decoder is installed to achieve the best sound in the headphones.

The cost of the accessory is about $ 45. In general, for such a price, it is not bad at all. Good build quality, active noise cancellation, remote control and hardware audio decoding function to improve its sound.

USB Type-C is not only an improvement on the charging port of the device, but also a great opportunity to replace the 3.5 mm jack.

What is USB Type-C? What is this format? Now we will understand this with an example. universal device Promate Unihub-C.

Read also:Windows 8/10 USB device descriptor request failed - what to do?

First, a little theory. To date, this format is an actively promoting connector on the market for connecting to peripherals and recharging devices.

It can be not only smartphones, but also some laptop models. The main difference from other formats is balanced plug... It is versatile and works independently of the connection side.

Development and certification was carried out by the USB Implementers Forum group of companies.

This group includes the most large producers electronics such as Microsoft, Dell, HP, Intel and Samsung.

Many manufacturers have supported the innovation, and are already actively start to implement it in their new developments.

USB Type-C is the latest, but has already joined a number of standard, format that is becoming more and more relevant.

From point of view physical appearance, such a connector differs from the standard designs of the MicroUSB and MiniUSB formats as more technological modifications.

The new format specification is based on 24-pin USB device connectors.

Let's list the new characteristics of the changed format:

  • number of signal outputs - 24;
  • supported USB format - USB 3.1;
  • third-party interface implementation mode is now supported alternatively;
  • the data transfer rate was increased to the maximum - 10 Gbps;
  • input current consumption is also increased, the maximum volume is 100 W;
  • standard dimensions - 8.34x2.56 mm.

Previous USB types

Read also:

Before USB creation 3.1, supporting USB Type-C, more than early versions... It all started with USB 1.0, but it did not enter the device market due to incomplete development.

It was replaced by a newer one and current version- USB 1.1. She is became the first standard version which all users quickly got used to.

The communication speed was only 12 Mbps and the maximum current consumption was 100 mA.

Read also:TOP 12 Best USB flash drives for all occasions: for music, movies and data backup

After that, the USB 2.0 version was created. It was presented at the beginning of the first quarter of 2000. It included increased basic parameters.

Thus, the transmission speed has increased to 480 Mbps. The maximum current consumption has also been increased - 1.8A by 2.5V.

Read also:TOP-12 Best memory cards for smartphones, cameras and video recorders | Review of popular models + Reviews

USB 3.0 was introduced to the public at the end of 2008 and immediately gained the trust of users, as it brought much more improvements than expected.

For visual distinction from other versions, it was made in blue. The data transfer rate has increased much more e - as much as 5 Gbps, but the current consumption did not increase much - 5V by 1.8A.

Read also:How to remove write protection from a usb flash drive - Solving basic problems

The newest version is USB 3.1. It was developed and released to device markets in 2013. She has received the most significant improvements to date.

The updated version was distinguished by the highest data transfer rate - up to 10 Gbps, and power consumption increased to 100V.

Comparison of characteristics USB types

Connector types

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It is unlikely that many users remember such a connector as USB Type-A. However, this connector is still used in PCs.

At the beginning of its existence, such a connector was very popular, and appearance USB was almost the same as modern plugs.

The USB Type-B Mini connector was more popular. Most often, it is used in modern mobile devices, cameras and other devices.

With it, the devices can be easily connected to a PC for data transfer. However, only the physical form was changed, and the standard was left the same - USB 2.0.

In order to somehow make the dimensions of smartphones and other mobile devices as small as possible, the format was optimized to Type-B Micro.

This connector format is used in 99% of smartphones and tablets based on. Even the very first smartphones have this connector.

The next step was to optimize USB to version 3.0, which, as we said, applied significant improvements to speed up the work.

Devices using USB Type-C

Devices supporting this format appear in large numbers.

In the future, it is planned to transfer all Android devices to this format. This will speed up the charging process of the device and the speed of data transfer between the device and the PC.

Google has announced that already now their branded devices will have connectors of this format.

Thus, it turns out that the devices of this company will no longer be so easy to charge or connect to a PC, because the Type-C format has not yet fully formed on the market.

You can only purchase a USB adapter cable bundled with the device itself, since it is not yet so easy to find it separately.

Not all stores, which are most often within walking distance from us, are able to purchase such peripherals for sale.

It all proceeds from this - peripheral wires with a Type-C connector can be purchased so far only in specialized stores, and only subject to their availability.

However, there are companies that already launched the production of USB hubs with Type-C support... For example, the Promate device is uniHub-C.

Such a device has several outputs at once - USB 3.1 Type-C with a charging port, two USB 3.0 ports and a 4K HDMI port.

Key Features

  • Allows you to charge your MacBook and at the same time be connected to USB 3.0 and HDMI devices
  • An HDMI adapter allows you to connect a computer or laptop via USB 3.0 to a TV or any device that supports 4K resolution.
  • USB 3.0 connection by either side.
  • The hub is able to work with last generation computers and smart devices that support USB Type-C ports.
  • USB voltage - 5V, 900mA, data transfer rate - 5Gbps, support for Windows 10/8/7 / Vista / XP, Mac OS X 10.2 (or higher)

The new USB Type-C standard is still underdeveloped in the market, but manufacturers are gradually adopting the new technology. In smartphone manufacturing, USB-C is already a new trend, because it is not only an improved charging connector, but also a means of abandoning the traditional 3.5mm headphone port. Today we will talk in more detail about USB Type-C, and this article will tell you what it is.

Today almost everyone electronic devices are equipped with a USB connector. From desktop computers to smartphones and a variety of laptop drives. USB is the ubiquitous standard when it comes to connecting peripherals or transferring data between devices. Last thing major update USB came out in 2013 with the release of USB 3.1, followed by the release of a new Type-C connector. As you can see, almost 4 years have passed since then, and Type-C has not taken root.

Currently on the market you can count on one hand the number of devices using USB Type-C technology. Among computers, these are the latest laptops from Apple, from Google, a line from Samsung and a few more hybrid devices... Among smartphones, there are mainly flagships of the outgoing year:, and.

So why is USB Type-C better than its predecessors? Let's find out.

What is USB Type-C


USB Type-C is a new and rapidly evolving industry standard for data transmission for computers and mobile devices. The main and most significant innovation of Type-C is the redesigned connector - universal, balanced, capable of working on either side. The USB-C connector was invented by the USB Implementers Forum, a group of companies that developed and certified new standard USB. It also includes the largest technology companies such as Apple, Samsung, Dell, HP, Intel and Microsoft. By the way, this is important to know, because therefore USB Type-C has been easily adopted by most PC manufacturers.

USB-C is the new standard

The first thing to know is that USB Type-C is the new industry standard. Just like they used to be USB 1.1, USB 2.0, USB 3.0, or the most recent USB 3.1. Only the previous generations of USB were more focused on increasing data transfer speeds and various other improvements, while Type-C from a physical point of view changes the design of the connector in the same way as the modifications of the technology - MicroUSB and MiniUSB. However, the decisive difference in this case is that, unlike MicroUSB and MiniUSB, Type-C is aimed at replacing absolutely all standards, and on both sides (for example, USB-MicroUSB).

Main characteristics:

  • 24 signal outputs
  • USB 3.1 support
  • Alternative mode for implementing third-party interfaces
  • Speed ​​up to 10 Gbps
  • Energy transfer up to 100 W
  • Dimensions: 8.34x2.56 mm

USB Type-C and USB 3.1

One of the possible questions for those who do not know about USB Type-C could be something like this: what does USB 3.1 have to do with USB Type-C? The fact is that USB 3.1 is the main data transfer protocol for Type-C. The speed of version 3.1 is 10 Gbps - in theory, this is 2 times faster than USB 3.0. Another USB 3.1 can be presented in the original connector format - this port is called USB 3.1 Type-A. But today it is much easier to find USB 3.1 with the new Type-C universal connector.

USB versions

To better understand why Type-C will replace traditional USB versions, the first step is to understand the difference between the two. There are different versions of USB, as well as even different connectors - for example, Type-A and Type-B.

USB versions refer to a common standard, but the difference lies in the maximum data transfer rate and power of operation. Of course, there are many other factors as well.

USB 1.1
Although USB 1.0 is technically the first version of USB, it has failed to fully reach the market. Instead, a new version of USB 1.1 was released - it just became the first standard to which we are all accustomed. USB 1.1 can transfer data at a speed of 12 Mbps and draws a maximum of 100 mA of current.

USB 2.0
The second version of USB was introduced in April 2000. It provided the standard with a significant increase in the maximum data transfer rate - up to 480 Mbps. Also, USB 2.0 has become more powerful, consuming 1.8A at 2.5V.

USB 3.0
The USB 3.0 release brought with it not only the expected improvements in data transfer speed and power, but also new types of connectors. Moreover, USB 3.0 even got its own color - new version The standard has been marked in blue to valiantly distinguish it from older generations of USB. USB 3.0 can operate at speeds up to 5 Gbps, taking 5V to 1.8A for its operation. By the way, this version was presented in November 2008.

USB 3.1
Newest and most best version USB was released in July 2013, although it is still not widely used. USB 3.1 can provide users throughput up to 10 Gbps with a maximum power consumption of 5V / 1A, or optionally 5A / 12V (60W) or 20V (100W).

Type-A
Type-A is the classic USB interface. The short and rectangular plug became the original design for USB and remains the standard connector for use at the host end of a USB cable to this day. There are also some variations of Type-A - Mini Type-A and Micro Type-A, but these have never been widely accepted by the public due to the intricate socket. Both of these Type-A variations are now deprecated.


Type-B
If Type-A has become one side of the USB cable we are used to, then Type-B is the other. The original Type-B is a tall, beveled connector upper corners... Commonly found in printers, although it is itself an extension of the USB 3.0 standard to introduce new connectivity options. Classic MiniUSB and MicroUSB are also available in the Type-B version, along with the absolutely awkward MicroUSB 3.0, which uses additional plugs.

Type-C
Thus, after Type-A and Type-B, we have approached, obviously, the newest Type-C. The Type-A and Type-B versions were supposed to work together with each other through backward compatibility, but the arrival of Type-C completely ruined these plans, as USB-C implies a complete replacement of legacy USB connection technologies. Also Type-C was specially designed to additional options type Mini or Micro did not need to be released at all. This, again, is due to the intention to replace all current connectors with USB Type-C.


The main feature of the Type-C standard is the versatility or symmetry of the connector. USB-C can be used on both sides just like Apple's Lightning technology - no more special connection sides that are hard to find in the dark. Also the Type-C version is based on USB 3.1, which means it supports all the benefits latest version, including the highest speed.

USB-C is still backward compatible with existing USB variants, but adapters will of course be needed for this use case.


Disadvantages of USB Type-C

Of course, the new USB Type-C standard also has problems. One of the main and most serious concerns of the latest version of the technology is called the physical design of the connector - it is very fragile due to the symmetrical design. Apple, despite the same versatility with its Lightning, uses a sturdy metal plug that is much more robust.

An even more pressing and worrying problem with USB Type-C is the unregulated operation of the connector, which has led to a number of dangerous accessories being commercially available. Some of these accessories, through the use of unsupported voltage levels, can "fry" the connected device. For example, this was the case with the flagship that was magnificent at the start, which subsequently began to ignite at first, and then completely explode in the hands, trousers, cars and apartments of its owners.


This problem led to the obvious and only solution - a massive ban on the production and sale of non-original accessories with USB support Type-C. Thus, if an accessory does not meet the standard specifications of the USB Implementers Forum Inc., the product will not be eligible for sale. Also, to verify the operational status and authenticity of various third-party accessories, USB-IF has provided 128-bit encrypted software that will allow devices with this connector to perform automatic check connected USB-C device or accessory.

Minuses:

  • Design. The USB Type-C design is good, but the design has suffered - it's rather fragile. Apple uses an all-metal plug in its Lightning, while the Type-C uses an oval shape with the signal pins in the center.
  • Connector operation. If USB Type-C is allowed to operate at unsupported voltage levels, the cable and / or device is likely to catch fire.
  • Compatibility. USB Type-C is an innovation in the USB world, but latest generation leaves old devices in the past because it does not support working with them.
  • Adapters. To fully work with USB Type-C on older devices, you will have to buy adapters. This is an additional waste of money.

Benefits of USB Type-C


Despite all of the above, USB Type-C can be confidently called a step forward for the industry. Installing this connector will allow manufacturers to do more thin computers and mobile devices with fewer ports, highest speed data transmission and headphones. In the future, if USB Type-C hits the masses, the connector will be able to replace not only the 3.5 mm headphone port, but also HDMI - the interface used for video transmission. So USB Type-C will replace the usual connectors today and become a universal standard in any situation.

Pros:

  • Symmetry. USB Type-C allows you to forget about situations when you have to remember from which side to insert the cable into the connector. Also, from now on, you can not be afraid not to find the right side of the USB in the dark.
  • Compactness. The dimensions of USB Type-C are 8.4 x 2.6 mm, which allows manufacturers to make computers and mobile devices much thinner.
  • Versatility. Thanks to the integration of a single connector, it will be possible to charge both a laptop and a tablet or smartphone with one cable.

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