2 Interface USB 3.0 SuperSpeed
2.2 Basic features of USB 3.0

The new version of USB 3.0, called as SuperSpeed, was created in November 2008. However its introduction into practice took almost three years. USB 3.0 is a follower of USB 2.0 and shares with previous versions of USB interface many characteristics. One of the main requirements for the development was the backward compatibility. So what are the advantages of new version of USB over previous versions?

  • Higher transmission speed - up to 5 Gbit/s
  • Full backward compatibility (with the exception of some connectors)
  • Advanced power management
  • 80% increase in potential power consumption from the bus
  • Packets are routed over the bus (i.e. data are selectively routed to a particular device according to his address)

Obviously the new version of USB interface has not only advantages but these advantages prevail over disadvantages. The main disadvantages can be seen in:

  • Increase in number of wires in the cable
  • Increased susceptibility to electromagnetic interference EMI (Electromagnetic Interference), which is associated with the use of more wires in the cable and high speed modulation
  • Certain types of connectors restrict backward compatibility

When we talk about the new version of USB bus, it should be noted that in essence, it is a standing side by side USB 2.0 and the new Super Speed USB bus. This phenomenon is described in details below.

USB version 3.0 greatly expands the possibilities and application of previous versions of USB interfaces.

Since July 2013, it is prepared a new version of USB interface in version 3.1 (USB 3.1 Gen 2). This version is also known as SuperSpeed+. The advantage of the new generation of USB interface has to be its speed (up to 10 Gbit/s) and reduced overhead during signal encoding. The interface has to be backward compatible with USB 3.0, i.e. you can use devices and hubs on standards USB 3.0 and USB 2.0.