Micro USB standard

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Components of the micro USB standard
Micro USB standard with pluggable cable

The micro-USB standard refers to a regulation based on the USB standard , according to which the connectors for the power supply of mobile phones and other electronic devices in Europe were standardized from 2011 ( standard EN 62684: 2011 ). In addition to the power supply, the interface can also be used for data transmission. A uniform micro USB plug is used to connect to the mobile phone. The cable can be connected to the charger either permanently or by a plug . With a pluggable cable, a standard USB plug (type A) must be used to connect to the charger.

In the meantime, several large IT companies have signed a Memorandum of Understanding that provides USB Type C as the mandatory charging standard for smartphones.

Micro-USB-B connector on a mobile phone with a charger
Micro-USB-B connector in detail

history

In June 2009, following pressure from the EU Commission and in particular from Industry Commissioner Günter Verheugen , 14 smartphone manufacturers agreed to develop a uniform interface for mobile phones ( common external power supply or common EPS ). The companies are Emblaze Mobile , Huawei Technologies , LG Electronics , Motorola Mobility , NEC , Nokia , Qualcomm , RIM , Samsung , Sony Ericsson , TCT Mobile ( Alcatel ), Texas Instruments and Atmel . In addition to the power supply, this interface is also capable of data transmission. In December 2010, the European standardization organizations defined the technical standards, which were then laid down in the IEC 62684: 2011 standard (German version: DIN EN 62684: 2010 "Specifications for the interoperability of a uniform external power supply device for use in mobile telephones capable of data transmission").

In February 2011, representatives of the high-tech association Digitaleurope presented the first Europe-wide standardized mobile phone charger in Brussels. Technically, the connector to the mobile phone is designed as a micro USB connector . The cable can be connected to the charger either permanently or through a standard USB plug (type A) .

Although Apple supports the unified charger initiative, the company continues to use its own connector type. In order to still comply with the EU directive, the manufacturer sells adapters to micro-USB plugs.

After the expiry of the voluntary agreement, the European Parliament passed a draft law in March 2014 which, among other things, provides for the introduction of a uniform charger, especially for mobile phones, from 2017.

Effects

The aim of the standard was to reduce the amount of electronic waste. So far, phone chargers accounted for more than 51,000 tons of electronic waste per year.

The EU Commission also expected the prices of chargers to fall. The Commission also hopes that manufacturers in other regions will adopt the European standard for chargers; a corresponding ITU recommendation has been available since 2011.

Electronic waste should also be avoided through the Qi standard for the wireless transmission of energy. In the future, different chargers will be superfluous. Adapters for z. B. Micro-USB available. Currently (as of 2020) the micro-USB standard is still used in outdated devices. Newer devices contain the USB-C connection, as this is reverse polarity protected and transfers data faster.

Web links

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ a b DIN EN 62684 - Uniform charging plugs for mobile phones . Retrieved November 15, 2014.
  2. ↑ a b Annex II, Technical Annex to MoU regarding the Harmonization of a Charging Capability for Mobile Phones (PDF) January 12, 2010. Retrieved February 26, 2011.
  3. ↑ heise online: Uniform USB-C chargers in the EU are to come. Retrieved December 19, 2018 .
  4. ↑ One for all: Micro-USB is becoming the standard for cell phone chargers . February 18, 2009. Retrieved April 27, 2013.
  5. ↑ EU Commission demands: One charger for all cell phones . February 16, 2009. Retrieved April 27, 2013. Template: dead link /! ... nourl ( Page no longer available )
  6. ↑ Apple bypasses the uniform EU charger with adapter . February 10, 2011. Retrieved September 26, 2012.
  7. ↑ Alexander Trisko: Lightning: adapter to micro USB due to EU standard . September 13, 2012. Retrieved September 26, 2012.
  8. ↑ Parliament calls for standardized mobile phone charger press release; accessed on March 15, 2014.
  9. ↑ a b Uniform mobile phone plugs - no more charging cables . Southgerman newspaper. February 9, 2011. Retrieved September 26, 2012.
  10. ↑ Universal power adapter and charger solution for mobile terminals and other hand-held ICT devices , International Telecommunications Union. June 13, 2011. Retrieved March 23, 2013.