The USB 3.0 Promoter Group on Tuesday unveiled their upcoming USB 3.2 specification, which will replace the current USB 3.1 specs upon its release. The specification is said to double the data rates of USB 3.1, while still using existing cables.
An incremental update, USB 3.2 is designed to define multi-lane operation for USB 3.2 hosts and devices. USB Type-C cables already support multi-lane operation, and with USB 3.2, hosts and devices can be created as multi-lane solutions, allowing for either two lanes of 5Gb/s or two lanes of 10Gb/s operation.
The group – comprised of Apple, HP, Intel, Microsoft, and other companies – says the new spec will support two lanes of 10Gb/s transfer speed, essentially doubling current speeds while remaining compatible with current cables and earlier USB devices.
A USB 3.2 host connected to a version 3.2 storage device will now be capable of realizing over 2 GB/sec data transfer performance over an existing USB Type-C cable that is certified for SuperSpeed USB 10 Gbps.
“When we introduced USB Type-C to the market, we intended to assure that USB Type-C cables and connectors certified for SuperSpeed USB or SuperSpeed USB 10 Gbps would, as produced, support higher performance USB as newer generations of USB 3.0 were developed,” said Brad Saunders, USB 3.0 Promoter Group Chairman. “The USB 3.2 update delivers the next level of performance.”
The new specification is now in a final draft review phase with a planned formal release in time for the USB Developer Days North America event in September 2017.
