934 Connectors, Interconnects

USB Connectors

Universal Serial Bus (USB) connectors are the most widely used interface for connecting peripheral devices and are the current industry standard for low- to mid-speed data transfer. USB cables come in a variety of applications, with the most commonly used being USB A-type and USB B-type. USB A-type connectors are commonly referred to as “male” and form the main connection to a host, such as a computer, while USB B-type connectors are generally referred to as “female” and are typically used to connect devices, such as digital cameras or thumb drives.

USB connectors are usually used for data transfer purposes, but can also be used for power. USB cables can be plugged into a USB hub to enable multiple USB devices to be connected at the same time. USB cables come in different lengths, ranging from a few centimeters to several meters, and are often color-coded to indicate their data transfer speeds.

DVI Connectors

Digital Visual Interface (DVI) connectors are used to transmit digital signals between components, such as a computer monitor and a video card. DVI connectors are found on many modern video cards, as well as most flat-panel monitors and TVs. The main types of DVI connectors are the DVI-A, DVI-D, and DVI-I.

DVI-A connectors are used to transmit analog signals, while DVI-D connectors are used for digital signal transmission. DVI-I connectors are a combination of the two and can be used to transmit both digital and analog signals. All DVI connectors are typically color-coded and have a single row of pins that connect into a port on the back of a monitor or video card.

HDMI Connectors

High-Definition Multimedia Interface (HDMI) connectors are the current industry standard for the transmission of audio and video data. HDMI connectors are used to connect source devices, such as Blu-ray players or game consoles, to a display. HDMI cables come in a variety of different lengths and can be found on most digital TVs, as well as a variety of other devices.

HDMI connectors use a single plug to transmit both video and audio data. HDMI cables feature small pins which connect into a rectangular HDMI port on the back of a display. HDMI cables are often marked with a different color to distinguish them from other types of cables, such as component or composite cables.