Universal Serial Bus (USB) is a specification[1] to establish communication between devices and

a host controller (usually a personal computer), developed and invented by Ajay Bhatt, while
working for Intel.[2][3] USB has effectively replaced a variety of interfaces such as serial and
parallel ports.

USB can connect computer peripherals such as mice, keyboards, digital cameras, printers,
personal media players, flash drives, Network Adapters, and external hard drives. For many of
those devices, USB has become the standard connection method.

USB was designed for personal computers, but it has become commonplace on other devices
such as smartphones, PDAs and video game consoles, and as a power cord. As of 2008, there are
about 2 billion USB devices sold per year, and approximately 6 billion total sold to date.[4]

Unlike the older connection standards RS-232 or Parallel port, USB connectors also supply
electric power, so many devices connected by USB do not need a power source of their own.

History
This section requires expansion.

The USB is a standard for peripheral devices. A group of seven companies began development
on it in 1994: Compaq, DEC, IBM, Intel, Microsoft, NEC and Nortel. The goal was to make it
fundamentally easier to connect external devices to PCs by replacing the multitude of connectors
at the back of PCs, addressing the usability issues of existing interfaces, and simplifying software
configuration of all devices connected to USB, as well as permitting greater data rates for
external devices. The first silicon for USB was made by Intel in 1995.[5]

The original USB 1.0 specification, which was introduced in January 1996, defined data transfer
rates of 1.5 Mbit/s "Low Speed" and 12 Mbit/s "Full Speed".[5] The first widely used version of
USB was 1.1, which was released in September 1998. The 12 Mbit/s data rate was intended for
higher-speed devices such as disk drives, and the lower 1.5 Mbit/s rate for low data rate devices
such as joysticks.[6]

The USB 2.0 specification was released in April 2000 and was standardized by the USB
Implementers Forum (USB-IF) at the end of 2001. Hewlett-Packard, Intel, Lucent Technologies
(now Alcatel-Lucent), NEC and Philips jointly led the initiative to develop a higher data transfer
rate, with the resulting specification achieving 480 Mbit/s, a fortyfold increase over the original
USB 1.1 specification.

The USB 3.0 specification was published on 12 November 2008. Its main goals were to increase
the data transfer rate (up to 5Gbps), to decrease power consumption, to increase power output,
and to be backwards-compatible with USB 2.0.[7] USB 3.0 includes a new, higher speed bus
called SuperSpeed in parallel with the USB 2.0 bus.[8] For this reason, the new version is also
called SuperSpeed.[9] The first USB 3.0 equipped devices were presented in January 2010.[9][10]

The system
A USB system has an asymmetric design, consisting of a host, a multitude of downstream USB
ports, and multiple peripheral devices connected in a tiered-star topology. Additional USB hubs
may be included in the tiers, allowing branching into a tree structure with up to five tier levels. A
USB host may have multiple host controllers and each host controller may provide one or more
USB ports. Up to 127 devices, including hub devices if present, may be connected to a single
host controller.[11] [12]

USB devices are linked in series through hubs. There always exists one hub known as the root
hub, which is built into the host controller.

So-called sharing hubs, which allow multiple computers to access the same peripheral device(s),
also exist and work by switching access between PCs, either automatically or manually. Sharing
hubs are popular in small-office environments. In network terms, they converge rather than
diverge branches.[citation needed]

A physical USB device may consist of several logical sub-devices that are referred to as device
functions. A single device may provide several functions, for example, a webcam (video device
function) with a built-in microphone (audio device function). Such a device is called a compound
device in which each logical device is assigned a distinctive address by the host and all logical
devices are connected to a built-in hub to which the physical USB wire is connected. A host
assigns one and only one device address to a function.

USB endpoints actually reside on the connected device: the channels to the host are referred to as
pipes.

USB device communication is based on pipes (logical channels). A pipe is a connection from the
host controller to a logical entity, found on a device, and named an endpoint. Because pipes
correspond 1-to-1 to endpoints, the terms are sometimes used interchangeably. A USB device
can have up to 32 endpoints: 16 into the host controller and 16 out of the host controller. The
USB standard reserves one endpoint of each type, leaving a theoretical maximum of 30 for
normal use. USB devices seldom have this many endpoints.

There are two types of pipes: stream and message pipes depending on the type of data transfer.

 isochronous transfers: at some guaranteed data rate (often, but not necessarily, as fast as
possible) but with possible data loss (e.g. realtime audio or video).
 interrupt transfers: devices that need guaranteed quick responses (bounded latency) (e.g.
pointing devices and keyboards).
 bulk transfers: large sporadic transfers using all remaining available bandwidth, but with
no guarantees on bandwidth or latency (e.g. file transfers).
 control transfers: typically used for short, simple commands to the device, and a status
response, used, for example, by the bus control pipe number 0.

A stream pipe is a uni-directional pipe connected to a uni-directional endpoint that transfers data
using an isochronous, interrupt, or bulk transfer. A message pipe is a bi-directional pipe
connected to a bi-directional endpoint that is exclusively used for control data flow. An endpoint
is built into the USB device by the manufacturer and therefore exists permanently. An endpoint
of a pipe is addressable with tuple (device_address, endpoint_number) as specified in a TOKEN
packet that the host sends when it wants to start a data transfer session. If the direction of the data
transfer is from the host to the endpoint, an OUT packet (a specialization of a TOKEN packet)
having the desired device address and endpoint number is sent by the host. If the direction of the
data transfer is from the device to the host, the host sends an IN packet instead. If the destination
endpoint is a uni-directional endpoint whose manufacturer's designated direction does not match
the TOKEN packet (e.g., the manufacturer's designated direction is IN while the TOKEN packet
is an OUT packet), the TOKEN packet will be ignored. Otherwise, it will be accepted and the
data transaction can start. A bi-directional endpoint, on the other hand, accepts both IN and OUT
packets.

Two USB receptacles on the front of a computer.

Endpoints are grouped into interfaces and each interface is associated with a single device
function. An exception to this is endpoint zero, which is used for device configuration and which
is not associated with any interface. A single device function composed of independently
controlled interfaces is called a composite device. A composite device only has a single device
address because the host only assigns a device address to a function.
When a USB device is first connected to a USB host, the USB device enumeration process is
started. The enumeration starts by sending a reset signal to the USB device. The data rate of the
USB device is determined during the reset signaling. After reset, the USB device's information is
read by the host and the device is assigned a unique 7-bit address. If the device is supported by
the host, the device drivers needed for communicating with the device are loaded and the device
is set to a configured state. If the USB host is restarted, the enumeration process is repeated for
all connected devices.

The host controller directs traffic flow to devices, so no USB device can transfer any data on the
bus without an explicit request from the host controller. In USB 2.0, the host controller polls the
bus for traffic, usually in a round-robin fashion. The slowest device connected to a controller sets
the bandwidth of the interface. For SuperSpeed USB (defined since USB 3.0), connected devices
can request service from host. Because there are two separate controllers in each USB 3.0 host,
USB 3.0 devices will transmit and receive at USB 3.0 data rates regardless of USB 2.0 or earlier
devices connected to that host. Operating data rates for them will be set in the legacy manner.

USB mass storage

Main article: USB mass storage device class

A flash drive, a typical USB mass-storage device.

USB implements connections to storage devices using a set of standards called the USB mass
storage device class (referred to as MSC or UMS). This was initially intended for traditional
magnetic and optical drives, but has been extended to support a wide variety of devices,
particularly flash drives. This generality is because many systems can be controlled with the
familiar metaphor of file manipulation within directories (the process of making a novel device
look like a familiar device is also known as extension). The ability to boot a write-locked SD
card with a USB adapter is particular advantageous for maintaining the integrity and non-
corruptible, pristine state of the booting medium.

Though most newer computers are capable of booting off USB mass storage devices, USB is not
intended to be a primary bus for a computer's internal storage: buses such as Parallel ATA
(PATA) (or IDE), Serial ATA (SATA), or SCSI fulfill that role in PC class computers. However,
USB has one important advantage in that it is possible to install and remove devices without
rebooting the computer (hot-swapping), making it useful for mobile peripherals, including drives
of various kinds. Originally conceived and still used today for optical storage devices (CD-RW
drives, DVD drives, etc.), several manufacturers offer external portable USB hard drives, or
empty enclosures for disk drives, which offer performance comparable to internal drives, limited
by the current number and type of attached USB devices and by the upper limit of the USB
interface (in practice about 40 Mbit/s for USB 2.0 and potentially 400 Mbit/s or more[17] for USB
3.0). These external drives have typically included a "translating device" that bridges between a
drive's interface (IDE, ATA, SATA, PATA, ATAPI, or even SCSI) to a USB interface port.
Functionally, the drive appears to the user much like an internal drive. Other competing
standards for external drive connectivity include eSATA, ExpressCard (now at version 2.0), and
FireWire (IEEE 1394).

Another use for USB mass storage devices is the portable execution of software applications
(such as web browsers and VoIP clients) with no need to install them on the host computer.[18][19]

Human interface devices (HIDs)

Main article: USB human interface device class

Mice and keyboards usually have USB connectors. These can be used with older computers that
have PS/2 connectors with the aid of a small USB-to-PS/2 adapter. Such adaptors contain no
logic circuitry: the hardware in the USB keyboard or mouse is designed to detect whether it is
connected to a USB or PS/2 port, and communicate using the appropriate protocol. Converters
also exist to allow PS/2 keyboards and mice (usually one of each) to be connected to a USB port.
These devices present two HID endpoints to the system and use a microcontroller to perform
bidirectional translation of data between the two standards.

Joysticks, keypads, tablets and other human-interface devices are also progressively migrating
from MIDI, and PC game port connectors to USB.[citation needed]

Physical appearance

[edit]
Pinouts of Standard, Mini, and Micro USB plugs. The USB logo is on the bottom of the two micro-USB
plugs (as they are shown in this figure) but on the top of the other plugs. [20]

Micro-B USB 3.0 compatible socket

USB 2.0 connector on the side of the specification standard micro USB 3.0 connector are aligned pin-
minute increase in the standard.
No.1:power (VBUS)
No.2:USB2.0 differential pair (D-)
No.3:USB2.0 differential pair (D+)
No.4:USB OTG ID for identifying lines
No.5:GND
No.6:USB3.0 signal transmission line (-)
No.7:USB3.0 signal transmission line (+)
No.8:GND
No.9:USB3.0 signal receiving line (-)
No.10:USB3.0 signal receiving line (+)

USB 1.x/2.0 standard pinning

Usability and "upside down" connectors

It is by design difficult to attach a USB connector incorrectly. Most connectors cannot be

plugged in upside down and it is clear from kinesthetic sensation of making a connection when
the plug and socket are correctly mated. However, it is not obvious whether the connector should
be face up or face down, and thus it is often necessary to try the insertion both ways. Officially,
the USB 2.0 specification states that the required USB Icon is to be "embossed" ("engraved" on
the accompanying diagram) on the "topside" of the USB plug, which "provides easy user
recognition and facilitates alignment during the mating process."[21] The specification also shows
that the "recommended" (optional) "Manufacturer's logo" ("engraved" on the diagram but not
specified in the text) is on the opposite side of the USB Icon. The specification further states
"The USB Icon is also located adjacent to each receptacle. Receptacles should be oriented to
allow the Icon on the plug to be visible during the mating process." However, the specification
does not consider the height of the device compared to the eye level height of the user, so the
side of the cable that is "visible" when mated to a computer on a desk can depend on whether the
user is standing or kneeling. Although published eight years later, the USB 3.0 specification has
similar wording, stating only "USB 3.0 receptacles should be orientated to allow the Icon on the
plug to be visible during the mating process."[22]

 Only moderate insertion/removal force is needed (by specification). USB cables and small USB
devices are held in place by the gripping force from the receptacle (without need of the screws,
clips, or thumbturns other connectors have required). The force needed to make or break a
connection is modest, allowing connections to be made in awkward circumstances (i.e., behind
a floor-mounted chassis, or from below) or by those with motor disabilities. This has the
disadvantage of easily and unintentionally breaking connections that one has intended to be
permanent in case of cable accident (e.g., tripping, or inadvertent tugging). Conversly though,
this prevents damage to the socket or the device which it is plugged into (such as pulling it off a
shelf) in the case of a serious jerk.
 The standard connectors were deliberately intended to enforce the directed topology of a USB
network: type A connectors on host devices that supply power and type B connectors on target
devices that receive power. This prevents users from accidentally connecting two USB power
supplies to each other, which could lead to dangerously high currents, circuit failures, or even
fire. USB does not support cyclical networks and the standard connectors from incompatible
USB devices are themselves incompatible. Unlike other communications systems (e.g. network
cabling) gender changers make little sense with USB and are almost never used, though cables
with 2 standard type A plugs are commonly found in North American dollar stores.

Durability

 The standard connectors were designed to be robust. Many previous connector designs were
fragile, specifying embedded component pins or other delicate parts which proved vulnerable to
bending or breakage, even with the application of modest force. The electrical contacts in a USB
connector are protected by an adjacent plastic tongue, and the entire connecting assembly is
usually protected by an enclosing metal sheath.

 The connector construction always ensures that the external sheath on the plug makes contact
with its counterpart in the receptacle before any of the four connectors within make electrical
contact. The external metallic sheath is typically connected to system ground, thus dissipating
damaging static charges
 This enclosure design also provides a degree of protection from electromagnetic
interference to the USB signal while it travels through the mated connector pair (the only
location when the otherwise twisted data pair travels in parallel). In addition, because of
the required sizes of the power and common connections, they are made after the system
ground but before the data connections. This type of staged make-break timing allows for
electrically safe hot-swapping, a common practice in the design of connectors in the
aerospace industry.[citation needed]

Compatibility

The USB standard specifies relatively loose tolerances for compliant USB connectors to
minimize physical incompatibilities in connectors from different vendors. To address a weakness
present in some other connector standards, the USB specification also defines limits to the size of
a connecting device in the area around its plug. This was done to prevent a device from blocking
adjacent ports due to the size of the cable strain relief mechanism (usually molding integral with
the cable outer insulation) at the connector. Compliant devices must either fit within the size
restrictions or support a compliant extension cable which does.

 Two-way communication is also possible. In USB 3.0, full-duplex communications are

done when using SuperSpeed (USB 3.0) transfer. In previous USB versions (i.e., 1.x or
2.0), all communication is half-duplex and directionally controlled by the host.
 USB 3.0 receptacles are electrically compatible with USB Standard 2.0 device plugs if
they physically match. USB 3.0 type-A plugs and sockets are completely backward
compatible, and USB 3.0 type-B sockets will accept USB 2.0 and earlier plugs. However,
USB 3.0 type-B plugs will not fit into USB 2.0 and earlier sockets.
 eSATAp (eSATA/USB) port is also compatible with USB 2.0 devices.

Connector types

Types of USB connectors left to right (ruler in centimeters):

• Micro-B plug • Standard-A receptacle

• proprietary (not USB) • Standard-A plug
• Mini-B plug (5-pin) • Standard-B plug

There are several types of USB connectors, including some that have been added while the
specification progressed. The original USB specification detailed Standard-A and Standard-B
plugs and receptacles. The first engineering change notice to the USB 2.0 specification added
Mini-B plugs and receptacles.

The data connectors in the Standard-A plug are actually recessed in the plug as compared to the
outside power connectors. This permits the power to connect first which prevents data errors by
allowing the device to power up first and then transfer the data. Some devices will operate in
different modes depending on whether the data connection is made. This difference in
connection can be exploited by inserting the connector only partially. For example, some battery-
powered MP3 players switch into file transfer mode and cannot play MP3 files while a USB plug
is fully inserted, but can be operated in MP3 playback mode using USB power by inserting the
plug only part way so that the power slots make contact while the data slots do not. This enables
those devices to be operated in MP3 playback mode while getting power from the cable.

USB standard connectors

Pin configuration of the USB connectors Standard A/B, viewed looking into face/end of plug

[edit] Standard type A

The USB 2.0 Standard-A type of USB plug is a flattened rectangle which inserts into a
"downstream-port" receptacle on the USB host, or a hub, and carries both power and data. This
plug is frequently seen on cables that are permanently attached to a device, such as one
connecting a keyboard or mouse to the computer via usb connection.

USB connections eventually wear out as the connection loosens through repeated plugging and
unplugging. The lifetime of a USB-A male connector is approximately 1,500 connect/disconnect
cycles.[24]

[edit] Standard type B

A Standard-B plug—which has a square shape with bevelled exterior corners—typically plugs
into an "upstream receptacle" on a device that uses a removable cable, e.g. a printer. A Type B
plug delivers power in addition to carrying data. On some devices, the Type B receptacle has no
data connections, being used solely for accepting power from the upstream device. This two-
connector-type scheme (A/B) prevents a user from accidentally creating an electrical loop.[25]

[edit] USB Mini and Micro connectors

Micro B USB

USB Mini AB cable

Various connectors have been used for smaller devices such as PDAs, mobile phones or digital
cameras. These include the now-deprecated[23] (but standardized) Mini-A and the currently
standard Mini-B,[26] Micro-A, and Micro-B connectors. The Mini-A and Mini-B plugs are
approximately 3 by 7 mm.

The micro-USB plugs have a similar width but approximately half the thickness, enabling their
integration into thinner portable devices. The micro-A connector is 6.85 by 1.8 mm with a
maximum overmold size of 11.7 by 8.5 mm. The micro-B connector is 6.85 by 1.8 mm with a
maximum overmold size of 10.6 by 8.5 mm.[20] The Micro-USB connector was announced by the
USB-IF on January 4, 2007.[27] The Mini-A connector and the Mini-AB receptacle connector
were deprecated on May 23, 2007.[28] As of February 2009, many currently available devices and
cables still use Mini plugs, but the newer Micro connectors are being widely adopted and as of
December 2010, the Micro connectors are the most widely used. The thinner micro connectors
are intended to replace the Mini plugs in new devices including smartphones and personal digital
assistants. The Micro plug design is rated for at least 10,000 connect-disconnect cycles which is
significantly more than the Mini plug design.[29] The Universal Serial Bus Micro-USB Cables
and Connectors Specification[29] details the mechanical characteristics of Micro-A plugs, Micro-
AB receptacles, and Micro-B plugs and receptacles, along with a Standard-A receptacle to
Micro-A plug adapter

USB Micro-AB Socket OTG

Main article: USB On-The-Go

An OTG device is required to have one, and only one USB connector: a Micro-AB receptacle.
This receptacle is capable of accepting either a Micro-A plug or a Micro-B plug attached to any
of the legal cables and adapters as defined in Micro-USB1.01.
The OTG device with the A-plug inserted is called the A-device and is responsible for powering
the USB interface when required and by default assumes the role of host. The OTG device with
the B-plug inserted is called the B-device and by default assumes the role of peripheral. An OTG
device with no plug inserted defaults to acting as a B-device. If an application on the B-device
requires the role of host, then the HNP protocol is used to temporarily transfer the host role to the
B-device.

OTG devices attached either to a peripheral-only B-device or a standard/embedded host will

have their role fixed by the cable since in these scenarios it is only possible to attach the cable
one way around.