USB 3.0 Specifications Announced

USB 3.0 Cable

The new SuperSpeed mode of operation on USB 3.0 devices promises to allow data transfer at up to 300 MB/s.

A USB 3.0 host adapter will still be compatible with the high-speed transfer mode introduced officially with USB 2.0, which goes up to 60 MB/s (480 Mbit/s).

The SuperSpeed mode requires new USB cables (pictured) which, in addition to the existing pair of data lines (D+/D-), which only had to be implemented as an unshielded twisted pair (UTP), now use a separate shielded pair of conductors for each direction of transfer, and a common shield covers the whole cable to give compliance with electromagnetic compatibility limit values.

USB 3.0 plugs will also have five additional contacts, while remaining compatible with existing USB sockets, because the new contacts have been squeezed into previously unused positions.