A Look at Micro USB Connectors and their Uses

image

Developed in 1994, the Universal Serial Bus, abbreviated USB signifies the connection protocols for communications between electronic devices via cables and other connectors. The electronic devices can be anything among mobile phones, cameras, keyboards, printers, media players and so on. The micro USB is a miniature version of this serial bus that does a similar work of establishing a connection between peripheral devices and computers.

The USB has a rich history. Seven companies brainstormed to come up with a solution that will enhance the usability factor of the existing interfaces at that time. These companies are IBM, Microsoft, Compaq, Intel, DEC, Nortel and NEC. They addressed the rising problems of the complications in software configurations of devices to come up with a simpler and easy-to-use version that would solve all problems. And this is how the micro USBs came into being.

They have trumped the usability card and have made their ways into everyone’s digital accessory list. They have made connections simpler while taking the usability factor to newer heights. They have come into limelight with their rapid integration into the many avenues of the digital world. In this article, we will elaborate on the various types of micro USBs available, their specifications, devices they are used on and things to keep in mind while choosing the right micro USB for your device.

Types of Micro USB

The USBs have evolved over the years to suit the various needs of the devices that they are used on. These differ in numerous specifications that make them unique. Among the various categories, micro USB is one such classification. Micro USBs can be further classified as well.

Micro USBs can be classified into three broad categories. These include the following:

  • Micro USB A
  • Micro USB 2 Type B Receptacle
  • Micro USB 2 Type AB Receptacle

Both of the above types can be further classified into a few more categories that differ from each other in height, PCB position and presence of plastic locating pegs and through-hole shell stakes.

Mobile phones nowadays use the Micro USB A-Type commonly. It is a compact design than generally comes with 5 pins.

The Micro USB B Type is also a usually found in mobile phones nowadays. The number of contacts is 5 and it comes with a black-coloured receptacle. The PCB position could either be in the bottom or in the middle. It has a horizontal orientation and requires a B type mating cable.

The Micro USB AB Type works with either a USB A or a USB B connection. This also comes with a 5 pin design with the PCB type being a surface mount one. The orientation is horizontal and the mating cable type is AB.

Each of the three types of Micro USB’s mentioned above have on-the-go features since these are pretty much portable and so are most of the devices that they are used on.

Uses of Micro USB

The micro USBs are power packed little devices that make connections easier. And they are used widely for a plethora of electronic devices. As already discussed, micro USBs are pretty effective in establishing connections between computers and other devices. Some of these interfaces include the following:

  • Speakers
  • Modems
  • Wi-Fi adapters
  • Ethernet adapters
  • Printers
  • Flash drives
  • Audio players
  • Printers and many more.

It is easy to carry them around since they fit snugly into the smallest pocket of your bag. So you do not have to worry about an inability to connect peripherals whenever required. This way you are always one step ahead in the digital world.

Choosing the right USB

While buying, it is very much important to choose the right micro USB that would suit your requirement the best. Since there are a number of types of micro USBs available in the market, it is easy to get confused with the variations. And people tend to buy the wrong ones in this confusion. And the consequences are obviously not that good. SO it is absolutely important to know the specifications of the devices that you would be using the micro USB for. Once you know that, buying the right micro USB becomes easy as pie.

If you are looking for the right micro USB, you should consider buying from the best.

Satyajit Seal
Satyajit Seal has over 6 years of experience as a freelance content writer. He is a web enthusiast who loves to explore various niches in his content, which he composes for different blogs. In his writeups, he touches upon different topics, such as health, entertainment, lifestyle, fashion, and so on. He tries to include something unique in each content, which the readers find interesting. He is a lover of modern arts, painting and wildlife by nature.