An USB plug that goes both ways • Hacker News Board

Re: An USB plug that goes both ways

#11

Post by 51Cards » Tue, Jan 25, 2011, 8:54 PM UTC

colanderman wrote: post #9

I've always wondered, why aren't USB connectors designed to be able to be inserted either way? Does having 4 contacts vs 8 really save all that much money?

Agreed, they should just be like a firewire plug that is bidirectional (ie. not tapered at one end) with the 4 pins repeated on each side. Much better design.

Re: An USB plug that goes both ways

#12

Post by bockris » Tue, Jan 25, 2011, 9:03 PM UTC

ghshephard wrote: post #6

Well, after 10+ years of using USB widgets of every shape, size, and color - I just discovered from reading the article that the USB symbol is always on the top side. So, I certainly got my value out of HN today. :-)

Except when the device makers mount them vertically or upside down.

Re: An USB plug that goes both ways

#13

Post by CWIZO » Tue, Jan 25, 2011, 9:07 PM UTC

colanderman wrote: post #9

I've always wondered, why aren't USB connectors designed to be able to be inserted either way? Does having 4 contacts vs 8 really save all that much money?

I also never understood this design decision. I can't count how many times I struggled to plug something in at the back of a PC in a poorly lit room. They should really start making this and it should become the standard.

Re: An USB plug that goes both ways

#14

Post by nitrogen » Tue, Jan 25, 2011, 9:10 PM UTC

51Cards wrote: post #7

Very cool but here's my initial concern. When the set of four contacts are flipped over on top of themselves their order will be reversed and that leads to a potential for a short. The center two pins being data aren't as big of a deal but the outside pins, namely the +5 and ground would be opposite each other and quite close. Since the surface they are mounted on slides, it could potentially also wiggle up and down.…

USB ports are probably current limited, so it's unlikely that a momentary short will burn them out. However, dissipating 2.5-4W (depending on the port's power capability) through a few small components will cause them to heat up over time, which may burn out the port.

Re: An USB plug that goes both ways

#15

Post by efields » Tue, Jan 25, 2011, 9:11 PM UTC

FTFY: A USB plug that goes both ways

A word gets the 'an' article based on pronunciation, not the mere fact that it starts with a vowel. Say it: "a you es bee"

See? It has a consonant sound so 'a' sounds better.

Re: An USB plug that goes both ways

#16

Post by trafficlight » Tue, Jan 25, 2011, 9:16 PM UTC

jorgem wrote: post #8

jmaygarden wrote: post #4

Earlier quoted context omitted.

UltraTek makes something similar: http://www.flipperusb.com/

Maybe the author of the article could be hired to redo the flipperusb site.

I don't know, it's got a nice "As Seen on TV" feel.

Re: An USB plug that goes both ways

#17

Post by akavlie » Tue, Jan 25, 2011, 9:16 PM UTC

Oh wow, this is spectacular. I can't tell you how many times I've done this:

  - USB plug doesn't fit. Must be wrong way. Switch!
  - Still doesn't fit. REALLY doesn't fit. 
    Must have been the other way around. Switch again!
  - Finagle it a bit more than the first try. OK, fits now.

Re: An USB plug that goes both ways

#18

Post by jjcm » Tue, Jan 25, 2011, 9:19 PM UTC

Smart, but I wonder how robust it is. With a sliding mechanism that small that's going to be constantly barraged with fumbling fingers, will it be able to stand the test of time? Something tells me it'll go the way of floppy disks - accidentally mangled springs, which will make the user have to toss it and get a new one. The major difference being that USB cables don't come in packs of 10.

Re: An USB plug that goes both ways

#19

Post by confuzatron » Tue, Jan 25, 2011, 9:24 PM UTC

efields wrote: post #15

FTFY: A USB plug that goes both ways A word gets the 'an' article based on pronunciation, not the mere fact that it starts with a vowel. Say it: "a you es bee" See? It has a consonant sound so 'a' sounds better.

Oh I see, my account's comments dont show up for anyone else. Nice!

Re: An USB plug that goes both ways

#20

Post by jjcm » Tue, Jan 25, 2011, 9:25 PM UTC

dylan62 wrote: post #5

I've always wondered why the USB port is the way it is. It seems such an unbelievably stupid design, but I assume there must be a reason for it. Does anyone have a link, or brief explanation? Incidentally a search for "why is the usb port such a stupid design?" (without the quotes) brings up nothing remotely relevant on any of the major search engines. Strange.

I'd love to see a more natural feeling interface. Why, for instance, can't we have magsafe-esque connector for USB? Or hell, maybe even a TRS connector (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/TRS_connector) with 2 or 3 additional ring contacts? Seems like both would be much more user friendly.