USB-TYPE C

The USB-C connectors connect to both hosts and devices, replacing various USB-B and USB-A connectors and cables with a standard meant to be future-proof. The 24-pin double-sided connector is slightly larger than the micro-B connector, with a USB-C port measuring 8.4 millimetres (0.33 in) by 2.6 millimetres (0.10 in). The connector provides four power/ground pairs, two differential pairs for non-SuperSpeed data (though only one pair is populated in a USB-C cable), four pairs for SuperSpeed data bus (only two pairs are used in USB 3.1 mode), two "sideband use" pins, V_CONN +5 V power for active cables, and a configuration pin used for cable orientation detection and dedicated biphase mark code (BMC) configuration data channel.

Connecting an older device to a host with a USB-C receptacle requires a cable or adapter with a USB-A or USB-B plug or receptacle on one end and a USB-C plug on the other end. Cable length should be 1.0 m or less. Legacy adapters with a USB-C receptacle are "not defined or allowed" by the specification, due to their being able to create "many invalid and potentially unsafe" cable combinations.

DEVICES

Devices may be hosts or peripherals. Some, such as mobile phones, can take either role depending on what kind is detected on the other end. These types of ports are called Dual-Role-Data (DRD). When two such devices are connected, the roles are randomly assigned but a swap can be commanded from either end. Furthermore, dual-role devices that support USB Power Delivery may independently and dynamically swap data and power roles using the Data Role Swap or Power Role Swap processes. This allows for charge-through hub or docking station applications where the Type-C device acts as a USB data host while acting as a power consumer rather than a source.

USB-C devices may optionally support bus power currents of 1.5 A and 3.0 A (at 5 V) in addition to baseline bus power provision; power sources can either advertise increased USB current through the configuration channel, or they can support the full USB Power Delivery specification using both BMC-coded configuration line and legacy BFSK-coded V_BUS line.

MODES

Audio Adapter Accessory Mode

USB-C plug supports analog headsets through an audio adapter accessory with a 3.5 mm socket providing four standard analog audio signals (Left, Right, Mic, and GND). The audio adapter may optionally include a USB-C pass-through plug to allow 500 mA device charging. Analog headsets shall not replace the 3.5 mm jack with a USB-C plug.

Analog signals use the USB 2.0 positive differential pair (Dp) and the two side-band use pairs. The presence of the audio accessory is signalled through the configuration channel and V_CONN.

Alternate Mode

An Alternate Mode dedicates some of the physical wires in a USB-C 3.1 cable for direct device-to-host transmission of alternate data protocols. The four high-speed lanes, two side-band pins, and (for dock, detachable device and permanent cable applications only) two non-SuperSpeed data pins and one configuration pin can be used for alternate mode transmission. The modes are configured using vendor-defined messages (VDM) through the configuration channel.

SOFTWARE SUPPORT

• Windows 10 and Windows 10 Mobile supports USB 3.1, USB-C, alternate modes, billboard device class, power delivery, audio accessory and USB Dual Role support.
• Windows 8.1 added USB-C and billboard support in an update.
• OS X Yosemite supports USB 3.1, USB-C, alternate modes and power delivery.
• Android Marshmallow works with USB 3.1 and USB-C.
• Chrome OS supports USB 3.1 and USB-C starting with the Chromebook Pixel 2015 and supports alternate modes, power delivery, and USB Dual Role support.

s issue may not work properly with certain products, including Apple and Google products, and may even damage power sources such as chargers, hubs, or PC USB ports.