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USB Type-C

Make your keyboard future-proof and reversible

Type-C USB

  • Slightly wider than MicroUSB connectors. Keep in mind when designing PCBs to fit standard cases.
  • Soldering is much more difficult.
    • Mini/Micro-USB has 5 pins.
    • Type-C has 24.
  • Completely surface mount Type-C connectors are impossible to solder by iron.
    • Type-C connectors have two rows of pins, one of which exit from below the connector.
    • If hand-soldering via iron, choose a hybrid connector with through-hole pins for the under-connector row.
  • Type-C connectors often do not extend as far as old Mini-USB connectors do from the edge of a PCB.
  • Often, the legs of a Type-C through-hole connector are extremely short (<1mm). Thick PCBs may be difficult to assemble.

Design Considerations

  • Type-C is physically larger.
  • Type-C requires its own components to function.
  • Some Type-C connectors have legs too short for 1.6mm PCBs.
  • Assembly costs may increase.

Implementation

This diagram breakouts to a header.

Keyboard use

  • Pull-down the CC lines
  • Use the DP/D+ and DM/D- lines just like any other USB connector
  • Connect VBUS and GND like any other USB connector
  • It is inferred that the pull-downed CC lines don’t have to be connected to anything else in particular.

Type C High-Current Legacy Devices

From ST’s PDF, it appears possible to draw more current through Type-C:
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Sources

https://www.scorpia.co.uk/2016/03/17/using-usb-type-c-on-hobyist-projects/
https://www.mpe-connector.de/index.php?lang=en&menu=16&product_group[]=9&action=Search&id_product=7192
http://www.st.com/content/ccc/resource/technical/document/application_note/group0/a6/91/45/9e/12/a0/4d/42/DM00235987/files/DM00235987.pdf/jcr:content/translations/en.DM00235987.pdf