Is the new blue USB 3 port backward compatible to USB 2.x?

[Man-wai Chang to The Door (33600bps)]

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[Paul]

Is the new blue USB 3 port backward compatible to USB 2.x?

Yes.

It is backward compatible, in part because there are two separate
sets of contacts. The ones in white letters here, are the
traditional signals, running USB 1.1 or USB 2.0. The signal
names in red letters, are USB 3. If you plug in a connector
with only the USB2 signals on it, the interface runs USB2.

http://usb3.com/images/usb3_dia.jpg

Paul

 

[Man-wai Chang to The Door (33600bps)]

Yes.

It is backward compatible, in part because there are two separate
sets of contacts. The ones in white letters here, are the
traditional signals, running USB 1.1 or USB 2.0. The signal
names in red letters, are USB 3. If you plug in a connector
with only the USB2 signals on it, the interface runs USB2.

I suspect that this design is too demanding on the plug. The plug must
be of the right length to make proper contacts.

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[david]

I suspect that this design is too demanding on the plug. The plug must
be of the right length to make proper contacts.

Why would you think making this would be too "demanding"? No more
demanding that making, say, a micro USB connector?

 

[Paul]

I suspect that this design is too demanding on the plug. The plug must
be of the right length to make proper contacts.

Remember, they're engineers. They get paid to come up with
solutions like this. And the USB standards organization would
receive feedback from manufacturers, as to how feasible the
thing is, in terms of building connectors and cables.

In terms of the USB3 launch, the cables and connectors were
the first components to be available. I thought it was a joke
at the time, that you could buy a USB3 cable, when there was
no hardware to use it. It doesn't look that hard to build cables.
It is harder to build working silicon (5 gigabits/sec).

Paul

 

[Man-wai Chang to The Door (33600bps)]

In terms of the USB3 launch, the cables and connectors were

the first components to be available. I thought it was a joke
at the time, that you could buy a USB3 cable, when there was
no hardware to use it. It doesn't look that hard to build cables.
It is harder to build working silicon (5 gigabits/sec).

I found a few USB 3.0 items listed in a few shops in Hong Kong's Golden
Shopping Arcade. But they are too expensive when they were supposed to
become popular soon and hence be cheap.

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[Man-wai Chang to The Door (33600bps)]

Why would you think making this would be too "demanding"? No more

demanding that making, say, a micro USB connector?

It's just quite tricky. Factories would in the end create something
sub-standard when these toys are mass-produced.

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[david]

It's just quite tricky. Factories would in the end create something
sub-standard when these toys are mass-produced.

I think you underestimate the capability of modern molding and
fabrication techniques. Except, maybe, in China.

 

[Man-wai Chang to The Door (33600bps)]

I think you underestimate the capability of modern molding and

fabrication techniques. Except, maybe, in China.

Unfortunately, all bets are on China now. Would USA wake up to your call?

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