From USB 1.0 to USB 4.0: A revolution in transmission speed and function.
USB (Universal Serial Bus) was born in 1994. Since its birth, it has developed from the initial USB 1.0 to the current USB 4.0, and has undergone many major upgrades. Each upgrade iteration not only brings a huge leap in transmission speed, but also has been comprehensively expanded in terms of functions and application scenarios.
Today, let's review the development of USB in various stages and understand the differences and characteristics of each version.
1. USB 1.0: Laying the foundation and opening a new era
USB 1.0 is the first version of the USB protocol. It was released in January 1996. Its initial data transmission rate was about 1.5 Mbps. It was mainly used for data transmission between some low-speed devices, such as keyboards and mice. The main interface at that time was Type-A. This interface was simple in design, but it could only be inserted in one direction, which was slightly inconvenient to use. Although this low-speed transmission could meet basic needs at the time, it was incapable of transmitting slightly larger data.
2. USB 1.1: Small steps and fast running to improve performance
USB 1.1 is the second version of the USB protocol. It was released in August 1998. The USB1.1 protocol increased the transmission rate to 12 Mbps. The increase in rate enables the USB protocol to support the transmission of more large data types of devices, such as printers, scanners, etc., greatly expanding its application scenarios. The interface type of USB 1.1 is basically the same as USB 1.0, but as the technology continues to mature, the USB logo has also been gradually unified, laying the foundation for the development of subsequent versions.
3. USB 2.0: High-speed era, widely used
The USB 2.0 version was officially released in April 2000, further increasing its transmission rate to 480 Mbps, equivalent to 40 times that of USB 1.1, greatly improving data transmission efficiency. In addition, USB 2.0 also introduced the OTG (On-The-Go) function, allowing direct communication between devices, further expanding the application scope of USB. In terms of recognition, in addition to the USB 2.0 logo becoming Hi-Speed USB, its interface types include USB A, USB B, Micro A, Micro B, Mini A, Mini B, etc. The diverse interface design meets the communication needs of different types of devices.
4. USB 3.0: Super-speed transmission, performance leap
After 8 years of development, the USB 3.0 protocol version was released in November 2008, increasing its transmission rate to 5 Gbps, more than 10 times the rate of USB 2.0, which can basically meet the high-speed transmission requirements of high-definition video and large-capacity storage devices. The USB 3.0 logo has changed to SuperSpeed USB, and its interface types have added USB Micro B and USB C on the basis of USB 2.0. In addition, USB 3.0 also introduces new power management functions, supports higher current output, and improves the charging speed of devices.
5. USB 3.1: Double the speed, upgraded functions
The USB 3.1 version released in July 2013 further increased the transmission rate to 10 Gbps, further meeting the user's demand for high-speed data transmission efficiency. USB 3.1 is marked as SuperSpeed+ or SuperSpeed 10Gbps, and its interface types include USB A, USB B, USB Micro B, and USB C. In addition, USB 3.1 also introduced a new power management function, supporting higher current output and improving the charging speed of the device.
6. USB 3.2: Dual-channel transmission, doubled speed
USB 3.2 was released in September 2017. Based on USB3.1, it uses dual-channel transmission technology to increase its transmission speed to 20 Gbps, achieving more efficient data transmission. USB 3.2 is marked as SuperSpeed 20Gbps, and its interface type is mainly USB C. While improving transmission efficiency, USB 3.2 also supports multiple functions, such as video output and power transmission, further expanding the application scenarios of USB.
7. USB 4.0: Integrating Thunderbolt technology to usher in a new era
USB 4.0, released in 2019, has a transmission rate of up to 40 Gbps, which is twice that of USB 3.2, and can meet the needs of professional creative workers and users with high-speed requirements. USB 4.0 is identified as USB4, and its interface type is unified as USB C. USB 4.0 also integrates Intel's Thunderbolt 3 technology, supporting single-connection transmission of data, video signals and power.
Summary
USB 1.0 has evolved from a 1.5 Mbps transmission rate to the 40 Gbps transmission rate brought by USB 4.0. The development of USB technology is an information revolution that improves transmission rate and function. Each upgrade brings users a more efficient and convenient experience. With the release of USB 4.0, USB technology has been further pushed to a new level. After integrating Thunderbolt technology, it supports single-line transmission of multiple functions, providing unlimited possibilities for the connection of future devices.