What's up with so many different USB ports? - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / beginners

author: soFPG
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: August 03, 2020, 07:47:13 am
content: I am probably not the only one who is confused about the existing USB connector types (e.g. Micro USB A / B, Mini USB, USB-C etc.). Furthermore, as I am building USB connectivity into my projects, I noticed that there are several different footprints for the same USB connector?And more often than not it's hard to recognize whether the part I bought will fit that footprint (in case the parts are not at my place yet).Example shown in attachement.I also ordered a bunch of standard size USB connectors only to find out that I (currently) have no footprint for it.

author: ucanel
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: August 03, 2020, 08:28:50 am
content: Long story short you can not solve all problems with one magic socketso there evolved so many usb connectors:https://youtu.be/36CKsP9YQ1E

author: tooki
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 03, 2020, 08:57:39 am
content: Quote from: soFPG on August 03, 2020, 07:47:13 amThe USB standards standardize the plugs and sockets, not the footprints of the components. Why would you expect them to all be the same, when probably hundreds of companies make probably thousands of different models for each connector type? There will be ones optimized for cost, others for ruggedness, others for size, etc etc etc. They come in different orientations, position above (or into) the PCB, etc.I’d you don’t know what you’re going to need, you can get one of the assortments they sell on AliExpress that comes with dozens of variants.If you don’t want surprises, then you choose a connector from a real manufacturer that you can order from a real vendor like Digi-Key, mouser, Farnell, Reichelt, Conrad, etc.Quote from: ucanel on August 03, 2020, 08:28:50 amThat wasn’t the OP’s question.

author: ucanel
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: August 03, 2020, 04:23:47 pm
content: Quote from: tooki on August 03, 2020, 08:57:39 amSorry, obviously i misunderstood the question,i am not a native English speaker.

author: David Hess
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 03, 2020, 09:04:36 pm
content: You are in a maze of twisty USB connectors, some alike.Consumer standards tend to be about convenience and style rather than functionality and are often very poorly thought out, like the non-captive SATA connector design. All of them since USB-A and USB-B have been fragile as well. USB-C reminds me of MicroSD were the card is so small that it is difficult to mark and easy to lose.

author: wizard69
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 04, 2020, 07:48:56 pm
content: In part the problem is that USB is designed by committees that have members with competing goals. As we moved into the USB-C area the nonsense of one port to do everything came to being. The thought was that it would simply things for the consumer but it has actually had the opposite effect. So maybe the idea had some validity but it has yet to deliver on that.The common use case is the need to hook up a video monitor. A video connector that is obviously different to your general I/O is far easier to deal with from the consumers stand point than having to plug into a USB-C port with one of a dozen different adapters. A bridge too far maybe.Now over the long term ports like USB-C might make sense once all hardware is on the same page. The problem is it it taking way to long to get hardware all on the same page. Frankly we might never see hardware all on the same page but the mainstream might make it there. Apple for example seems to have gone all in on USB-C but in doing so they have created hardware that is less than compelling for many users at this point in time.

author: Doctorandus_P
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 07, 2020, 05:06:15 pm
content: Is this what you mean?

author: Nerull
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: August 07, 2020, 05:43:10 pm
content: Quote from: wizard69 on August 04, 2020, 07:48:56 pmWhat does any of that have to do with different USB sockets having different board footprints?

author: tooki
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 07, 2020, 07:31:52 pm
content: Quote from: Nerull on August 07, 2020, 05:43:10 pmLiterally every single reply in this thread except for yours and mine has talked about the different USB connector types, and not the footprints at all.

author: basinstreetdesign
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: August 09, 2020, 04:56:11 am
content: Quote from: soFPG on August 03, 2020, 07:47:13 amSo welcome to hardware engineering. Different manufacturers make different things. So, what else is new?It appears you are using KiCad.If you haven't betrothed yourself to a particular part from a particular manufacturer then pick 3-4 with compatible footprints and make up a new footprint for them.If you have then do the same for the one you have on order. This will happen several times for each project and if you aren't used to it by now then get that way.