The day when you can use a single cable to power your laptop, smartphone, and monitor is just around the corner. Apple's recently unveiled new MacBooks have eliminated traditional USB ports, leaving only a USB Type-C port.

USB is divided into A, B, and C according to the type specification, and the numbers such as 2.0, 3.0, and 3.1 indicate the data transfer speed. Types A, B, and C have different terminal shapes.

Type A is a flat, rectangular shape with pins arranged in a single row that can only be inserted in one direction. It can transmit both power and data. It is the most common type, found on PC motherboards and USB flash drives. Type B is a square shape with pins arranged two on top and two on the bottom. Type C is smaller than Type A and has no front or back, like the Lightning cables used on iPhones and iPads.

USB 2.0 has a maximum data transfer speed of 480 Mbps, 3.0 theoretically supports 5 Gbps, and 3.1 theoretically supports 10 Gbps. The connectors on Type A that support 3.0 are blue. Just because a cable supports 3.1 doesn't mean it can achieve the required speed. The smart device you want to use must support 3.1.

Kim Jae-hwan, a manager at Serial Microelectronics Korea, said, “In the case of monitors, there is a cable that connects to the computer, and two cables that connect the power. If you only have a laptop, you can connect the power to the monitor and transfer data with a single Type-C cable.” He added, “The connector shapes for mice, monitors, and keyboards are different, but now that they have the same shape, you can connect them all with a single cable.”


For Type-C, the operating voltage can be set by default. Depending on the topology, the desired voltage can be set to 5V, 9V, 12V, 15V, or 20V depending on the product. Current can also be set. A single Type-C cable can transmit up to 100W of power. 100W can power a 40-inch monitor. For Type-C to operate, data communication is required, and TI provides the IC that controls this communication.

TI's control ICs are segmented into levels to meet customer specifications. For example, if a system has ten functions, customers can choose an IC with just one, two, or three functions, depending on their needs.

Manager Kim said, "When the mobile phone port transitions to Type-C, phone accessory and portable device manufacturers need to prepare. Apple and Samsung have separate standards, and if these are unified into a single Type-C port, things will change significantly. “Even in factories, there are multiple lines depending on the device, and those will also be integrated into Type-C,” he said, expressing his expectations.

In addition, he added, "USB Type-C products are available, but many people are still unfamiliar with them. They are just beginning to be developed in the market. I want to help people understand what ICs are used in these products and how they are developed."

Accordingly, an online seminar (eeWebinar) scheduled for the 27th will provide detailed information on various applications that can apply USB Type-C and the Type C reference design provided by TI.