Today, technology and communication have both reached altogether new heights. With so many different types of electrical devices being invented that can be connected to computers, mobile phones and laptops - the choice is all yours! Here is the take on USB connectors, better known as USB cables.
USB is simply the abbreviation coined for the term Universal Serial Bus. Basically, these connectors are used to connect several different types of cables with any standard compatible USB port. These USB cables are mainly used for transferring data. However, data transfer speeds can vary anywhere from 12Mbps in the version 1.1 to 480Mbps in the version 2.0.
A USB port can also be used for connecting different types of computer accessories by replacing their concerned cables with the connectors. As these connectors are now available in many different types of configurations.
These configurations are popularly used to connect different USB products with each other. What's more, they are also used to connect different peripherals with different types of standard port types.
The basic aim of the connector is to provide connectivity between different systems, making it possible to translate and transfer data between two individual ports. Developed in the 90's, it was created to simplify connections between peripheral devices and computers.
It has now become very popular because of its compatibility with many operating systems and platforms. In addition, it is famous because of its low cost of implementation and it is very easy to use.
Most of the modern-day computers built today are equipped with more than one port, and USB has now become the preferred interface for most office and home peripherals like cameras, printers, portable storage devices, and modems.
Uses and Benefits
USB specified that there would be two basic types of connectors, namely A and B. However, increasing revisions to these specifications and increasing demands on the part of the manufacturers have worked towards expanding the breadth of the connectors that are used for devices, but most of the USB devices are still using these 'A' and 'B' type interfaces.
Amongst the different varieties that are available in the market today, the more famous ones are the parallel to connectors, serial to connectors, USB Ethernet connectors, and the RJ11 connectors.
Several of these can also be mounted directly to PC boards and are hence called internal connectors or motherboard connectors. However, these motherboard connectors can take up a lot of space and are very cumbersome when it comes to installing.
Panel connectors, on the other hand, don't really need to be mounted directly to the motherboard. However, they are attached to the front end and are hence called front or front panel connectors.
USB panels or connectors are primarily designed in certain female-to-female or male-to-male adapters. These adapters can also be made to order as per your specific requirements. If you have any specific needs, there are right angle connector types and also straight connector types.
When buying a USB connector, it is advisable to first consider its cost, ease of use, its compatibility with other connectors, the total number of connections and the energy saving factor.
The connector technology of today is expanding rapidly and is in turn paving the way for new trends in the market. As the buyer, you are advised to first check up on these trends before choosing a connector for your equipment.