USB History

https://gct.co/usb-connector/usb-history-timeline

USB (Universal Serial Bus) was originally developed and introduced in 1996 as a way of setting up communication between a computer and peripheral devices by replacing many varieties of serial and parallel ports.

USB connectors have become the standard connection method for devices such as keyboards, game pads & joysticks, scanners, digital cameras, printers and external hard drives.

Although designed for personal computers USB has become commonplace on other devices such as mobile phones, tablets, video game consoles, AC power adaptors, memory sticks and mobile internet access dongles. It's very likely that you will come across a USB technology across a broad range of markets and applications.

USB Timeline

1996        - initial release

Form Factor                   Standard (Full size)

Types

                               Type A plug & receptacle
                                      Type B plug & receptacle

USB Software Version   1.0

Data Transfer Speed      1.56 Mbits/s

Power Transfer Rate       100 mA 

1998        - USB Specification 1.1 Introduced
                                       - Data transfer rate increased

USB Software Version     1.1

Data Transfer Speed       12 Mbits/s

Power Transfer Rate        100 mA

2000          - USB Specification 2.0 introduced
                                          - USB Mini Introduced
                                          - USB High Speed Introduced

Form Factor                       Mini

Types

                                           Mini Type A plug & receptacle
                                           Mini Type B plug & receptacle
                                           Mini Type AB receptacle

USB Software Version        2.0

Data Transfer Speed          480 Mbits/s (USB High Speed)

Power Transfer Rate           500 mA

2007           - USB Micro introduced
                                            - USB On-The-Go introduced

Form Factor                         Micro

Types

                                            Micro Type A plug
                                            Micro Type B plug & receptacle
                                            Micro Type AB receptacle

USB Software Version         2.0

Data Transfer Speed           480 Mbits/s (USB High Speed)

Power Transfer Rate            500 mA

2008            - USB Specification 3.0 introduced
                                              - USB SuperSpeed introduced
                                              - USB SuperSpeed Types introduced

Form Factor                           Standard & Micro SuperSpeed

Types

                                        SS Type A plug & receptacle
                                               SS Type B plug & receptacle
                                               SS Micro Type A plug
                                               SS Micro Type B plug & receptacle
                                               SS Micro Type AB receptacle

USB Software Version            3.0

Data Transfer Speed              5 Gbits/s (USB SuperSpeed)

Power Transfer Rate              Up to 900 mA

2013            - USB Specification 3.1 introduced
                                              - USB SuperSpeed+ (SS+) introduced

USB Software Version            3.1

Data Transfer Speed              10 Gbits/s (USB SuperSpeed+)

Power Transfer Rate               Up to 1.5A

2014             - USB Type C introduced

Form Factor                             Type-C

Types                                       Type-C plug & receptacle

USB Software Version              3.1

Data Transfer Speed                10 Gbits/s

Power Transfer Rate                 Up to 3A

2017             - USB Specification 3.2 introduced

USB Software Version              3.2

Data Transfer Speed                20 Gbits/s

Power Transfer Rate                 Up to 5A

2019                             - USB Specification 4 introduced

USB Software Version              4.0

Data Transfer Speed                40 Gbits/s

Power Transfer Rate                 Up to 5A