Clevertouch | Quick Tips | USB C Overview

USB Type-C connectors are expected to become the new standard in device-to-device connectivity as they grow in popularity. USB Type-C cables should offer up to 10Gbps data rates and 100 watts of power.

The Type-C connector is user-friendly, offering reversible plug orientation, cable direction, and the ability to transfer power and data simultaneously; as well as supporting different protocols, such as DisplayPort, MHL, HDMI, and Thunderbolt.

A USB Type-C port can replace many different connectors presently found on most laptops. The Apple MacBook, introduced early this year, uses the single USB Type-C port for:

• Battery charging on external devices*
• USB 3.1 Gen 1 (up to 5 Gbps)
• Native DisplayPort 1.2 video output
• VGA output using USB-C VGA Multiport Adapter (sold separately)
• HDMI video output using USB-C Digital AV Multiport Adapter (sold separately)

*Devices such as the new Apple MacBook or Google Chromebook Pixel 2 charge at 29Wh.

While USB Type-C is a great idea combining the most used functions on mobile devices, many cheap USB cables are only designed for data transfer at about 10Wh of power.

Most USB-C cables can be used for USB 3.1 data transfer and basic VGA output. But the quality of the cable will become an issue for charging, as well as for HDMI and DisplayPort video output; where the power requirements are much higher.

With this, the USB-C cable could also offer:

• USB 3.1 Gen 2 data transfer rates of 10Gbps
• USB Power Delivery 2.0 – Up to 100W of bi-directional power delivery
• DisplayPort Alternate Mode (DP Alt Mode) with DP 1.3 support

Even though USB-C is capable of supporting all of these features, not all of them are present all this time. Users will need to know the specifications of their devices to understand the display protocols supported.

Please note not all USB-C devices support all of the latest USB-C specs.

A lot of tablets and phones don’t support Alt Mode video, and we are still in the early days of USB Power Delivery, with very few devices going beyond 40 or 60 watts.

What is Alt Mode?

Alt Mode is a term you will come across frequently when investigating USB-C. Alt Mode is a functional extension of USB-C which enables the USB connection to carry non-USB signals.

Alt Mode(s) are optional capabilities that are unique to the USB-C connector or port that allow technologies, like DisplayPort and Thunderbolt 3, to be transmitted.

Knowing what devices and ports support the various Alt Modes may be confusing, and at times, frustrating.

DisplayPort over Alt Mode

DisplayPort Alt Mode (DP Alt Mode) allows a USB-C equipped computer to connect directly to a display or monitor. The monitor will need to have a USB-C port for you to make this connection. You can still use a USB-C equipped laptop with monitors that have more traditional video ports, such as VGA, DVI, HDMI, and DisplayPort but you will need to get a USB-C video adapter.

What do I need to know before using DisplayPort over Alt Mode?

• Confirm your computer’s USB-C port supports DP Alt Mode
• Read the tech specs on the USB-C video adapter to ensure it supports the resolutions and refresh rates you want
• If you are interested in a USB-C MST video adapter, make sure your video card also supports MST

USB C considerations for Clevertouch Display

• Not all laptop/tablets and mobile phone with USB-C ports, will support all of the latest USB-C specs and features (such as video for Alt Mode).

What Alt Mode is being used?

DP1.2 and DP1.4 is supported

What are the maximum supported resolutions with USB-C?

3840 x 2160 @ 60hz - 4:4:4 10-bit colour

It also supports:

640x480@60Hz	720x480@60Hz	720x576@50Hz
800x600@60Hz	1024x768@60Hz	1280x720@60Hz
1280x800@60hz	1280x960@60Hz	1280x1024@60Hz
1680x1050@60hz	1920x1080@60Hz

What is the Power Delivery specification being used in the new Clevertouch, and which ports support them?

UX Pro

USB C 1 – 5V 3A, 9V 3A, 12V 3A, 15V 3A, 20V 2.25A, for maximum power delivery of 45W.

USB C 2 – Charge is not supported

Impact Plus

USB C 1 - 5V 3A, 9V 3A, 12V 3A, 15V 3A, 20V 2.25A, for maximum power delivery of 45W.

USB C 2 – Charge is not supported

Impact

USB C 1 - Charge not supported

USB C considerations for Cables

• USB 3.1 cables are considered full-featured USB-C cables. They are electronically marked cables that contain a chip with an ID function based on the configuration channel and vendor-defined messages (VDM) from the USB Power Delivery 2.0 specification. The cable length should be ≤2 m for Gen 1 or ≤1 m for Gen 2.
• Full-featured USB-C cables that implement USB 3.1 Gen 2 can handle up to 10 Gbit/s data rate at full duplex.
• They are marked with a SuperSpeed+ (SuperSpeed 10 Gbit/s) logo.
• USB-C cables that do not have shielded SuperSpeed pairs, sideband use pins, or additional wires for power lines can have increased cable length, up to 4 m. These USB-C cables only support 2.0 speeds and do not support alternate modes.
  All USB-C cables must be able to carry a minimum of 3 A current (at 20 V, 60 W) but can also carry high power 5 A current (at 20 V, 100 W). USB-C to USB-C cables supporting 5A current must contain e-marker chips programmed to identify the cable and its current capabilities.
• Connecting an older device to a host with a USB-C receptacle requires a cable or adapter with a USB-A or USB-B plug or receptacle on one end and a USB-C plug on the other end. Legacy adapters (i.e. adapters with a USB-A or USB-B plug) with a USB-C receptacle are “not defined or allowed” by the specification, because they can create “many invalid and potentially unsafe” cable combinations.