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DVI Connector Guide Online Cable Store

Written on March 16, 2010 – 1:20 pm | by onlinecablestore

DVI Connector Guide

	DVI (Digital Visual Interface) was developed by the industry body DDWG (the Data Display Working Group) to send digital information from a computer to a digital display, such as a flat-panel LCD monitor. DVI uses TMDS (transition minimized differential signaling) to transmit large amounts of digital data from the source to the display, resulting in a high-quality image. DVI technology successfully moved from the computer marketplace to the audio/video realm, and is now found on many high-end TVs, DVD players, and HDTV set-top boxes. DVI took a step forward with HDMI, which integrates audio and video into a more compact interface. The DVI interface uses a connector that resembles a DB-style connection. However, instead of round pins, the DVI connector uses flattened pins that appear “twisted” at an angle. This design is referred to as an LFH (low force helix) connector. The peculiar shape of the pins ensures a good contact with the mating connector. DVI connectors use thumbscrews for retention. Most DVI connectors have 24 pins and a single larger, offset ground bar. These are called DVI-D interfaces, and carry a digital signal only. Some DVI connectors, called DVI-I, have four extra pins that surround the offset ground bar. A DVI-I interface is designed to carry both digital and analog signals.
	DVI-D Dual-link
		This connector contains 24 pins, arranged in three horizontal rows of eight pins. To the side of this grouping of 24 pins is a wide, flat pin called a ground bar. A dual-link interface provides two TMDS links, or groups of data “channels” that can carry more than 10 Gbps of digital video information. A dual-link cable is backwards-compatible with single-link applications. The majority of DVI applications will use this DVI-D dual-link cable connection.

	DVI-D Single-link
		A single-link DVI connector has 18 pins. The male plug has them arranged in two groups of nine pins, with the flat ground bar off to one side. A single-link interface provides one TMDS link.

	DVI-I Dual-link
		This connector appears almost identical to the dual-link DVI-D connector except that it has an additional four pins that surround the flat offset ground bar. This is because the DVI-I interface was designed to carry both digital and analog signals. However, most DVI displays and video sources are DVI-D, and the female ports do not contain sockets to accept the four extra analog pins. As a result, DVI-I cables are limited to a narrow range of applications such as certain KVM switches. Also note that the offset ground bar on a DVI-I plug is larger than the one on a DVI-D plug. This means that a DVI-I connector cannot fit into a DVI-D socket simply by removing the four analog pins.

	DVI-I Single-link
		This is similar to the dual-link DVI-I, but it carries only a single TMDS link.

	DVI-A
		DVI-A is not an “official” standard according to the DDWG. Nevertheless, it is a connector type that allows a VGA device to connect to a DVI-I interface. For instance, the DVI output on a computer’s video card may be DVI-I and thus capable of supporting both digital and analog signals. In order to connect a VGA monitor, a cable or adapter with a DVI-A plug can be used to make the connection. A DVI-A connection has only the pins that carry analog signals loaded into the body of the connector.

	HDMI
		HDMI stands for High Definition Multimedia Interface. This technology carries the same video information as DVI but adds the capacity for digital audio and control signals as well. The current version of HDMI carries one TMDS link of digital video. Found on many home-theater/consumer electronics devices, HDMI uses a 19-pin connector that is held in place by friction. This connector is technically described as a Type A HDMI connector. The Type B connector is larger (28 pins), but it is not currently used by any devices in the marketplace.

Tags: DVI, DVI Cables, dvi connector guide, DVI to HDMI, DVI to M1, DVI-D, DVI-I

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USB Connector Guide

Written on March 16, 2010 – 1:09 pm | by onlinecablestore

USB Connector Guide

Universal Serial Bus (USB) was developed in the 1990s in an effort to simplify the connections between computers and peripheral devices. It has become widely popular due to its compatibility with many platforms and operating systems, its low cost of implementation, and its ease of use. Most computers that are built today come with several USB ports, and USB is the interface of choice for most home and office peripherals including printers, cameras, modems, and portable storage devices. USB standards are developed and maintained by an industry body called the USB Implementers Forum (USB-IF). In its original specification, USB defined only two connector types: A and B. Revisions to the specification and demands on manufacturers have expanded the breadth of connectors used for USB devices, but the majority of USB products still use these A and B connector interfaces.
USB A-Type	USB A-Type Male	USB A-Type Female
	Found on host controllers and hubs, the A-style connector is a flat, rectangular interface. This interface holds the connection in place, and makes it very easy for users to plug and unplug. Instead of pins, the connector uses flat contacts which can withstand continuous attachment and removal very well. The A-socket connector provides a “downstream” connection that is intended for use solely on host controllers and hubs. It was not intended for use as an “upstream” connector on a peripheral device. This is critical because a host controller or hub is designed to provide 5VDC power on one of the USB pins. That is also why A-A cables are not common. Note: An A-A cable, if used to connect two downstream host controller or hub ports together, may short the hosts’ power supplies. This could cause damage to equipment and may even present a fire hazard.

USB B-Type	USB B-Type Male
	The B-style connector is designed for use on USB peripheral devices. The B-style interface is squarish in shape, and has slightly beveled corners on the top ends of the connector. Like the A connector, it uses the friction of the connector body to stay in place. The B-socket is an “upstream” connector that is only used on peripheral devices. Because of this, the majority of USB applications require an A-B cable.

USB micro-A (5-pin)
	Recognized by the USB-IF, micro USB-A can be found on new mobile devices such as cell phones, GPS units, PDAs and digital cameras. Micro-A offers a connection physically smaller in size to a USB mini-B, while still supporting the high speed transfer rate of 480Mbps and On-The-Go features. The connection can be easily identified by its white colored receptacle and compact 5 pin design.

USB micro-B (5-pin)
	Recognized by the USB-IF, micro USB-B can be found on new mobile devices such as cell phones, GPS units, PDAs and digital cameras. Micro-B offers a connection physically smaller in size to a USB mini-B, while still supporting the high speed transfer rate of 480Mbps and On-The-Go features. The connection can be easily identified by its black colored receptacle and compact 5 pin design.

USB micro-AB (5pin)
	Designed exclusively for USB On-The-Go devices, the micro-AB connection can accept either a micro-A or micro-B cable connection. The micro-AB interface can be easily identified by its grey colored receptacle and compact 5 pin design. The micro-AB exists only as a receptacle on On-The-Go devices and will not exist on a cable.

USB mini-B (5-pin)	USB mini-B (5-pin)
	One drawback to the B-style connector is its size, which measures almost 1/2-inch on each side. This makes a B-style interface unsuitable for many compact personal electronic devices, such as PDAs, digital cameras, and cellphones. As a result, many device manufacturers began using “miniaturized” B-style connectors. The most popular style of mini-B connector, and the only one recognized by the USB-IF, is the 5-pin mini-B. It is quite small, about two-thirds the width of an A-style connector. The 5-pin mini-B is also specified for use in a new standard called USB On-The-Go which allows peripheral devices to communicate with the presence of a host controller.

USB mini-B (4-pin)
	This is an unofficial connector found on many digital cameras, especially certain Kodak® models. It resembles the shape of a standard B-style connector, with beveled corners; however it is much smaller in size.

USB mini-B (“Fuji®”)
	Another unofficial connector also widely used on digital cameras, especially certain models manufactured by Fuji®. It more closely resembles an A-style connector with its flat, rectangular shape.

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Audio/Video Cable Connector Guide

Written on March 16, 2010 – 12:59 pm | by onlinecablestore

Audio/video devices use a variety of different interfaces. One similarity that most A/V connector types share is their ease of pluggability. Manufacturers of consumer electronics prefer to use simple interfaces that average users can plug and unplug without having to tighten thumbscrews, or release tabs or latches. This preference can prove challenging to manufacturers who must balance convenience with performance.

1/4-inch	The 1/4-inch connector is commonly called a phone connector because it was used for years by telephone operators to patch telephone connections together. It has a tip/ring/sleeve design, like the 3.5mm connector, but it is larger in length and diameter. The 1/4-inch connectors may have only a tip and sleeve, or a tip, ring and sleeve (TRS). A TRS connection is used for balanced audio lines, or depending upon the equipment, for stereo sound. The 1/4-inch connectors are very common on musical instruments (especially guitars), and other staging devices such as effects pedals, mixing consoles, speakers, and amplifiers.

3.5mm	The 3.5mm connector is commonly called a 1/8-inch connector or a mini-plug. It is a small, thin metal plug that can be used to carry one, two, or even three signals. The tip of the plug is separated from the sleeve of the connector by a concentric band of insulating material. For stereo or audio/video versions of the plug, there may be one or two additional metal bands, called rings, placed between the tip and the sleeve. 3.5mm connectors are commonly used for computers and portable devices. A computer’s sound card uses these connectors for speakers, line-in/line-out connections, and also for microphones. Portable devices use the 3.5mm interface as a line-out connection for headphones or for connection to an auxiliary input on an amplifier. The “three-pole” version of the 3.5mm plug is often used on camcorders. This plug has a tip and two rings, which can carry video as well as right/left stereo audio.

BNC	BNC connectors are round plugs with a bayonet-style locking system, used on coaxial cables. BNC plugs have good impedance characteristics, and their locking mechanism keeps them securely in place once connected. Because they are more expensive and harder to connect than RCA plugs, they are often used for higher-end and/or professional audio/video equipment. They are very common in CCTV and surveillance camera applications. There are many popular theories explaining the acronym “BNC”, but the most likely is “Bayonet-Neill-Concelman”, which refers to the two gentlemen that developed it years ago (Paul Neill from Bell Labs, and Carl Concelman from Amphenol).

DVI-D Dual-link	This connector contains 24 pins arranged in three horizontal rows of eight pins. To the side of this grouping of 24 pins is a wide, flat pin called a ground bar. A dual-link interface provides two TMDS links, or groups of data “channels” that can carry more than 10 Gbps of digital video information. A dual-link cable is backwards-compatible with single-link applications. DVI interfaces in the A/V world are found on HDTVs and on HD sources such as DVRs or satellite receivers. Check manufacturer specifications before connecting PC equipment to a DVI interface on an A/V device.

HDMI	HDMI™ stands for High Definition Multimedia Interface. This technology carries the same video information as DVI but adds the capacity for digital audio and control signals as well. The current version of HDMI carries one TMDS link of digital video. Found on many home-theater/consumer electronics devices, HDMI uses a 19-pin connector that is held in place by friction. This connector is technically described as a Type A HDMI connector. The Type B connector is larger (28 pins), but it is not currently used by any devices in the marketplace. HDMI is the interface of choice for most newer HD A/V devices. Not only does it provide outstanding audio and video performance, but it also supports High-bandwidth Digital Content Protection (HDCP), a technology built into consumer electronic equipment that prevents illicit duplication of copyrighted material.

HD15	A very common connector used mostly as a video interface for computers and monitors. It can also be found on HD displays, and on older HD source devices such as satellite receivers and cable boxes. The HD15 is a High Density DB-style connector, so it can also be called an HD DB15. Another popular name is “VGA connector”, although it is used in video applications that support much higher resolutions (SVGA, XGA, UXGA, etc.). An HD15 connector is the same size as a DB9 connector, but it has three rows of 5 pins. On most HD15 male connectors, there is one pin (pin 9) missing in the middle row.

RCA	The venerable RCA plug gets its name from the RCA Corporation, which popularized its use on radios and phonograph players as far back as the 1940s. The RCA connector is a round plug with a central tip and a metal ring, separated by insulating material. The tip has a smooth, domed shape. The shape and design makes the connector extremely easy to plug and unplug into equipment. RCA connectors are often used with coaxial cables, where the center conductor terminates to the tip, and the coaxial shield is in contact with the metal ring of the plug. Even though they are used for video applications, most RCA connectors do a poor job of maintaining a precise impedance. As such, they are rarely used for broadcast or professional applications. The RCA plug is sometimes referred to as a Cinch or phono connector. RCA interfaces are very common on consumer electronics devices, for applications such as Composite Video, Component Video, Line-Level Audio, and S/PDIF Digital Audio.

S-Video (4-pin Mini-DIN)	The 4-pin mini-DIN connector is most often used for S-video applications. It has 4 pins arranged in 2 rows, and a keying block to make certain the plug cannot be inserted improperly. Even though an S-video connector has 4 pins, it only carries two signals—luminance and chrominance. The other 2 pins are used for signal ground connections.

TOSLINK™	TOSLINK is the name of an optical interface for digital audio signals. The interface was developed by Toshiba, and TOSLINK is their registered trademark. The TOSLINK (or EIAJ optical) connector is a small, round optical conductor housed in a squarish connector body. Originally intended for use solely with Toshiba CD players, it has been adopted by many other manufacturers and is standard equipment on many A/V sources and receivers. Even though TOSLINK uses fiber optic cable, it is limited to a maximum cable length of about 5 meters, due to the low power of the LEDs used in TOSLINK transceivers.

F-type	The F-type connector is used on coaxial cable, and is widely used for cable TV, satellite TV, and off-air TV antenna applications. The connector is round with the conductor of the cable itself poking through the center of the connector body. Most F-type connectors are threaded, so that they can be screwed into place. Some F-types don’t have threads, and are merely pushed onto the mating connector. F-type fittings can be terminated in a few different ways: crimp, twist-on, or compression. A compression fitting is the preferred method, because it offers the most secure termination, with the lowest amount of RF leakage. The origin of the name of F-type connector is not widely known.

Banana plugs	Banana plugs are often used to make speaker wire connections on amplifiers, speakers, and audio wallplates. A banana plug has a metal pin that “bows” out in the middle, resembling the shape of a banana. Banana plugs are normally used in pairs and mate with binding posts, which are typically found on higher-end amps and speakers. Plugs, Wallplates and Binding Posts.

Speaker pins	Speaker pins are also used to terminate speaker wire connections. Instead of a wide body like a banana plug, a speaker pin has a straight, narrow shape. These pins are used to connect to push-on speaker connections found on many CE devices, and to 5-way binding posts. Speaker Pins.

XLR	XLR is a type of connector used for many professional audio applications. Originally designed by ITT Cannon, the most common configuration is a 3-pin connector for “balanced” audio signals. When male and female XLR connectors are mated, the design of the connector makes contact on pin 1 (ground) before any other pins. This prevents potential damage to the system. A balanced audio signal offers great protection against EMI noise, and can travel a long distance. For this reason, balanced lines using XLR connections are often used for microphones, mixers, amplifiers, and other pro audio devices.