YOU ARE AT:Test and MeasurementAs USB Type-C takes off, Total Phase launches tester

As USB Type-C takes off, Total Phase launches tester

As device manufacturers seek to boost fast charging and data transfer capabilities, many of them are starting to equip wireless devices with USB Type-C ports in lieu of proprietary or micro-USB connectors.

However, the increased complexity and high-power capabilities of USB Type-C are putting new demands on testing in order to assure safety and consistence performance. Total Phase launched a new cable tester meant to tackle the additional capabilities of the Type-C cable at a price point it hopes will nudge manufacturers to implement more consistent testing and therefore better cable quality for consumers.

Type C is widely expected to become the dominant cabling type for a variety of devices. It supports the USB 3.1 protocol that enables data speeds up to 10 gigabits per second and power up to 100 watts. It is also reversible, so users never have to flip it right side up to get it properly inserted. The technology is helping laptop manufacturers slim down their products even further. While Apple has thus far stuck with its proprietary Lightning connector for its iPhone models, its most recent MacBook has just two external ports: a USB Type-C port, with various cables available for VGA, HDMI and other connections; and a 3.5 millimeter headphone hack for audio. The newest MacBook Pro has four USB Type-C ports.

CNet recently declared that “USB Type-C is is taking over.” Current smartphone models that utilize USB Type-C include the new Google Pixel and Pixel XL; the Motorola Z and Motorola Z Force; the HTC 10; LG G5 and V20; and Microsoft’s Lumia 950 and 950 XL.

However, there are already recognized problems with cable quality for USB Type-C. Android Central earlier this year reported faulty assembly and inaccurate labeling of cable capabilities are two issues and can result in serious device damage. In February, Apple had to issue a recall of faulty cables that did not charge or only intermittently charged its MacBook. In August, accessory provider Anker put out a USB Type-C recall as well, as Michael Crider of Android Police reported.

USB Type-C offers the ability to carry up to 100 watts for fast device charging – but, as Total Phase CEO Gil Ben-Dov told RCR Wireless News, that feature also increases the risk of fire if cables aren’t tested properly to ensure the 24 pins and between 13 to 19 wires in a single cable are all aligned and assembled correctly.

“While a cable’s design may be certified, manufacturing problems can cause a host of issues, from poor performance all the way to damage of connected devices,” Ben-Dov said. “The reality is that one bad cable can ruin a device, along with a company’s reputation.”

Traditional USB cable testing is expensive and time-consuming, and has precluded the testing of every single cable that gets produced, Ben-Dov said. Total Phase’s new tester is said to include comprehensive testing so quickly that the cost and time involved will allow every cable to be tested before it is shipped. Ben-Doy estimated the test costs at 2 to 3 cents per test.

In asking its customers what they wanted in a testing device, Ben-Dov said it had to address cost concerns, withstand the sometimes harsh conditions of a manufacturing environment and be simple for cable assembly workers to use.

Early-adopter USB Type-C offerings have been on the market for more than one year. The USB Implementors Forum, where the specifications originate, announced a compliance program and a logo for devices in August, which may help combat some of the faulty cable problems by giving consumers a guidepost for cables that have met compliance testing.

Image copyright: nicholashan / 123RF Stock Photo

ABOUT AUTHOR

Kelly Hill
Kelly Hill
Kelly reports on network test and measurement, as well as the use of big data and analytics. She first covered the wireless industry for RCR Wireless News in 2005, focusing on carriers and mobile virtual network operators, then took a few years’ hiatus and returned to RCR Wireless News to write about heterogeneous networks and network infrastructure. Kelly is an Ohio native with a masters degree in journalism from the University of California, Berkeley, where she focused on science writing and multimedia. She has written for the San Francisco Chronicle, The Oregonian and The Canton Repository. Follow her on Twitter: @khillrcr