Tech Info - USB and Firewire

USB and FireWire (IEEE 1394a and b) represent the newer generations of external serial interfaces being adopted to reduce PC and connection costs and to improve performance.

USB (1.x and 2.0)

The USB specification defines what are now called standard A and B type connectors. The A type connects to the Host, Hub or Bridge. The Type B connects to the end peripheral. This is shown in diagram 1 below. The 'On-the-Go (OTG)' specification introduced a Mini-B connector, Micro A and B connectors (in 2007) as well as peer-to-peer operation. Great to see that the USB folk make their specs freely available unlike the IEEE 1394 folks. USB 1.x provides low speed (up to 1.5 M Bit/s) at distances of 3m, USB 1.x at high speed (12 M Bit/s) at distances of 5m. Version 2.0 supports speeds to 480 M Bit/s at distances of up to 5m. In all cases a maximum of 5 hubs may be supported. USB (1.x and 2.0) provide a base current of 100MA and a maximum current of base X 5 = 500MA for powering of peripherals or battery charging applications.

Standard Type A Pin assignment

Pin Nam e VBUS DD+ Color Notes

1 2 3

Red White Green

Power Data Data +

GND

Black

Ground

Standard Type B Pin assignment

Pin Nam e VBUS DD+ GND Color Notes

1 2 3 4

Red White Green Black

Power Data Data + Ground

Mini-USB Type B Pin assignment

Originally defined as part of the 'On-the-Go (OTG)' enhancement, features a single connector mini type B and peer-to-peer operation (the Mini A and AB connectors have been deprecated). The Mini B connector may still be used within the USB standard but not within the OTG standard where it has been replaced with the Micro standard (see below).
Pin Nam e VBUS DD+ ID GND Color Notes

1 2 3 4 5

Red White Green Black

Power Data Data + NC Ground

Micro-USB Type A/B Pin assignment

Added to the USB and 'On-the-Go (OTG)' enhancement in 2007, features Micro A, Micro B plugs and an A/B receptacle.
Pin 1 2 3 Name VBUS DD+ Color Red White Green Notes Power Data Data +

4 5 Shell

ID GND Shield

Black -

Micro A - Ground : Type B - NC Ground Drain

In addition the Micro-USB connectors mandate the following color coding:

Connector Micro A plug Micro-B receptacle Micro-B Plug Micro-AB receptacle Color White Black Black Gray Notes -

USB 3.0
USB 3.0 (November 2008) provides for speeds up to 5.0 G Bit/s - termed SuperSpeed in the specifications. Cable length is not defined in the USB 3.0 standard but lengths of 3m are expected and 5m are available. USB 3.0 uses new Standard and Micro A and B plugs and receptacles using 9 pins to obtain the full SuperSpeed performance (5.0 G Bit/s). A new keying method is used to enable backward connectivity and operation with USB 2.0. Where either a USB 2.0 plug OR receptacle is used the connection is limited to USB 2.0 speeds, whereas when USB 3.0 plugs and receptacles are used USB 3.0 speeds are supported. USB 2.0 Mini-B connectors are not supported within the USB 3.0 specification. USB 3.0 increases the base current from 100MA (USB 2.0) to 150MA. The maximum load is now 6 x base to 900MA (up from USB 2.0 x 5 = 500MA). Supported interconnections between USB 2.0 and USB 3.0 are shown in the table below:
Receptacle USB 2.0 Standard A USB 3.0 Standard A USB 2.0 Standard B USB 3.0 Standard B USB 3.0 Powered B USB 2.0 Micro B USB 3.0 Micro B Plugs USB 2.0 or 3.0 Standard A USB 2.0 or 3.0 Standard A USB 2.0 Standard B USB 2.0 or 3.0 Standard B USB 3.0 Powered B, USB 2.0 or 3.0 Standard B USB 2.0 Micro B USB 2.0 or 3.0 Micro B Notes -

USB 2.0 Micro AB USB 3.0 Micro AB

USB 2.0 Micro A or Micro B USB 3.0 Micro A or Micro B, USB 2.0 Micro A or Micro B

USB 3.0 Connectors

USB 3.0 uses a 9 pin design (USB 2.0 plugs and receptacles will interconnect as shown in the above table) and defines the following connectors that, when a USB 3.0 plug and receptacle are paired will provide full 5.0 G Bit/s performance:
USB 3.0 Connectors Housing Color Code Blue Blue Notes

USB 3.0 Standard A Receptacle USB 3.0 Standard A Plug USB 3.0 Standard B Receptacle USB 3.0 Standard B Plug USB 3.0 Standard B Powered Receptacle USB 3.0 Standard B Powered Plug

Additional 2 pins to Standard B DPWR (Power) and GND Additional 2 pins to Standard B DPWR (Power) and GND Identical to Micro B except keying Identical to Micro B except keying Only receptacle allowed by OTG

USB 3.0 Micro B Receptacle USB 3.0 Micro B Plug USB 3.0 Micro A Receptacle USB 3.0 Micro A Plug USB 3.0 Micro AB Receptacle

USB 3.0 Type A/B Pin assignment

Pin 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Name VBUS DD+ GND StdA_SSRXStdA_SSRX+ GND_DRAIN StdA_SSTXNotes Power Data - Differential USB 2.0 Data + Differential USB 2.0 Ground Differential SuperSpeed RX Differential SuperSpeed RX Signal Ground Return Differential SuperSpeed TX

9 Shell

StdA_SSTX+ Shield

Differential SuperSpeed TX Drain

Notes: 1. Pins 1 - 4 are identical to those of a USB 2.0 Standard A Receptacle allowing interconnection with USB 2.0 devices - though limited to USB 2.0 speeds (480 M Bit/s)

IEEE 1394 (Firewire a.k.a. i.Link)

The IEEE high speed serial connector is known as Firewire and i.Link (Japan). The IEEE 1394a-1995 specification provides up to 400 M bit/sec and uses either a 6 pin connector (PCs/Computers) or a 4 pin connector (camcorders and AV equipment). The latest specification IEEE 1394b provides up to 800 M bit/sec (but is slated for 3.2 G bit/s) and uses a 9 pin connector which may operate in 'biligual mode' (will connect to either a 4 or 6 pin IEEE 1394a connectors but needs a special converter cable) or 'beta mode' (will connect to another IEEE 1394b system). Firewire uses the Open Host Controller Interface (OHCI) As always the lack of freely available specifications is just a pain - leading to confusion and plain stupidity. It is a shame that the IEEE 1394 working group could not take a leaf out of the IEEE 802 group which now provides specs at no cost 6 months after their initial publication. Sigh.

Firewire/i.Link 6 Pin Connector Assignment

This connector is usually found on PCs (Apple especially) and disk systems. .
Pin Name Colo r Notes

1 2 3 4 5 6

Power GND TPBTPB+ TPATPA+

Power (18V - 25V, 15W) Ground Pair B Pair B + Pair A Pair A +

Firewire/i.Link 4 Pin Connector Assignment

This very compact connector is usually found on camcorders and other digital AV equipment.
Pin Nam e TPBTPB+ TPATPA+ Colo r Notes

1 2 3 4

Pair B Pair B + Pair A Pair A +

Firewire/i.Link 9 Pin Connector Assignment

This is the new IEEE 1394b (Firewire 800) connector which allows interconnection to older 1394a systems in 'bilingual mode'(4 or 6 pin - using an appropriate converter cable). In 'beta mode' allows connection to other 1394b systems. Note: The power specification shown below (12 - 25V) highlights the problems of keeping definitive specifications limited to folks who are prepared to shell out filthy lucre for the privilege of reading the three lines that interest them and the confusion that arises as users legitimately try to reconcile various published specs and product notes. Various device specifications, notes and descriptions contain a variety of specific power values within the range shown below. The majority of chipset specifications use a low figure of 12V, many device descriptions (some based on the same chipsets) maintain the older maximum value of 25V. Since one of the benefits of the 1394b specification is longer cable runs on certain media types we have shown the low value as 12V since this seems to allow for increased voltage drop and consequently makes sense to us. We would be delighted to provide further information and clarification on this topic if anyone cares to update us.
Pin Name Colo r Notes

1 2 3 4 5

TPBTPB+ TPATPA+ TPA(R)

Pair B Pair B + Pair A Pair A + Pair A Ground Ref.

6 7 8 9

VG SC VP TPB(R)

Power Ground Status Contact (Reserved NC) Power (12-25V DC, 15W) Pair B Ground Ref