USB power supply specification completed: up to 100W

　　The USB 3.0 and USB 2.0 promotion groups jointly announced today that the new USB power supply specification "USB Power Delivery" has been finalized, which greatly improves the power supply capacity of USB interfaces and data cables, up to an astonishing 100W. The trouble of USB external devices requiring auxiliary power supply is expected to be completely solved.

　　According to the new specification, USB data cables can carry higher voltages and currents, with a power supply capacity of up to 100W. They can not only power mobile hard drives, but can even charge laptops. However, the specification emphasizes that only officially certified USB data cables can do this.

　　It should be noted that the 100W power supply capability is not limited to the new USB 3.0, but can also be achieved by the previous generation USB 2.0.

　　The USB Power Delivery specification also enables switchable power without changing the direction of the data line.

　　Officials said that existing USB interfaces and data cables are also compatible with the new specification, and will coexist with USB, Battery Charging 1.2 battery charging specifications, and existing USB bus-powered applications.

　　Intel is responsible for editing the USB power delivery specification. Other companies that contributed include Dell, Foxconn, HP, Japan Aviation Electronics, LeCroy, LSI, MCCI, Microsoft, MQP, Nokia, NXP, Obsidian Technology, ON Semiconductor, Renesas Electronics, Seagate, SMSC, ST-Ericsson, Texas Instruments, and Western Digital.

　　The USB 3.0 and USB 2.0 promotion groups have submitted the new specifications to the USB-IF forum and will hold a developer meeting in Washington DC on August 2.

　　Download the complete USB 3.0 specification (USB_PD_V1_0-20120705-final.pdf is the new power supply specification): http://www.usb.org/developers/docs/usb_30_spec_071012.zip