It is truly said that nothing is constant in this world, and change is the only permanent thing, and this theory applies to each and object and aspect of the planet and Universe. Our galaxies are expanding; new planetary objects are being formed, our continents are moving, humanity is discarding old ideas to replenish the world with new ones, newer inventions are looking down upon the older ones with progress in leaps and bounds.
The computer, which once used to be the size of a room, is nowadays resting on one ‘s lap, and communication, be it among humans or machines, is no longer dependent on complex wires. One such example is the USB extension cable.
Definition of USB extension cable
The USB or Universal Serial Bus is an industry-standard, which was designed or rather invented with the motive of defining cable, connectors, protocols meant not only for communication but also a supply of power between personal computers and their peripheral devices.
The slot where one end of the USB is connected to the host or the computer is called a port, and the device to which the data is transferred or is charged is named the receptor.
Types of USB
The types of USB are divided into two categories in India.
- Physical design
USB type-A- This is the most popular type where one can see the end through which it is connected to the host. It is used in desktops, gaming consoles, and media players. These are simple rectangular shaped connectors like the plug at the end of a flash drive and is compatible with USB 2.0 and 1.1.
USB type B- The connector that is plugged into the other end of the peripheral device, such as printers, smartphones, etc., are termed type B. These are square-shaped with a large notch on top.
USB Type C- Type C is similar to type B with the advantage of reverse plug orientation which supports USB 3.1 and offers a top speed of 10GBps with a much higher output up to 20 volts and 5 Amperes. Also, it has bi-directional power.
- Functionality and Connection:-
USB 2.0 – termed as Hi-speed USB, the 2.0 version has a data speed rate of 489mbps. It is compatible with USB 1.1 and is an extension later.
USB 3.0 – it is the latest of its kind, released in November 2008. It is often referred to as the Superspeed USB. Compared to the previous standard 2.0, which could transmit data only to 480mbps, 3.0 can transmit data at the rate of 5Gbps, or 5120mbps.
Features
- Single interface for multiple uses- removes the need for different connectors and hardware for different peripherals.
- Compact in size- sockets are small in dimension as compared to parallel ports. No external power is needed.
- Speed- comes with various speed modes making it more efficient than parallel ports.
- Low cost- as the product is in high demand, manufacturing USB supporting devices have become inexpensive, its raw materials are available at lowcost.
- Reliability – able to detect errors during data transfer, the USB driver and specific driver software ensures error-free datacommunication. Also, it can notify and retransmit the data.
- Low power consumption – generally works on +5V and consumes current in milliamperes.
