VARIOUS CABLE, PORTS AND CONNECTORS

INTRODUCTION AND IDENTIFICATION OF VARIOUS , PORTS AND CONNECTORS

There are various type of connectors and interfaces which are used to connect the outer peripheral as well as internal hardware components of a computer. Some important interfaces are explained below:-

USB PORTS

Universal Serial Bus (USB) is a serial bus standard to interface devices to a host computer. USB allows many peripherals to be connected using a single standardized interface socket and to improve plug 'n' play capabilities by allowing hot swapping, that is, by allowing devices to be connected and disconnected without rebooting the computer or turning off the device. Other convenient features include providing power to low-consumption devices without the need for an external power supply and allowing many devices to be used without requiring manufacturer specific, individual device drivers to be installed.USB interface allows 127 devices to be connected per host controller and maximum transfer speed is 480 Mbit/s.

IEEE 1394

The IEEE 1394 interface is a serial bus interface standard for high-speed communications and isochronous real-time data transfer, frequently used by personal computers, as well as in digital audio, digital video applications. The interface is also known by the brand name of FireWire (Apple Inc.).

IEEE 1394 has been adopted as the High Definition Audio-Video Network Alliance (HANA) standard connection interface for A/V (audio/visual) component communication and control. It is the primary transfer mechanism for almost all high end professional audio and video equipment. It allows 63 devices to be connected with transfer speed 400-3200 Mbit/s and are hot pluggable.

RS-232

RS-232 (Recommended Standard 232) is a standard for serial binary data signals connecting between a DTE (Data Terminal Equipment) and a DCE (Data Circuit-terminating Equipment). It is commonly used in computer serial ports.

RS 232 interface permits maximum cable length of 15 mtrs. Most standard serial ports have a maximum transfer rate of 115 Kbps , high speed serial ports, such as Enhanced Serial Port (ESP) and Super Enhanced Serial Port (Super ESP), can reach data transfer rates of 460 Kbps. The standard recommended but did not make mandatory the D-subminiature 25 pin connector. The voltage swing is -12V to +12 volts for Mark/Space (or Logic ‘1’ and logic ‘0’).

COMPOSITE VIDEO

Composite video is the most common type of video interface for sending or receiving an analog video signal to or from a television set. A Composite video interface might connect a VHS tape player, DVD player or game console to a television. Composite video is a yellow, female RCA jack, normally found next to two audio jacks, one red, the other white. The three jacks together provide an interface for audiovisual connections. The red RCA jack connects the right channel of a stereo system, while the

white RCA jack connects the left. The yellow Composite video jack rounds out the set.

MIDI (MUSICAL INSTRUMENT DIGITAL INTERFACE)

MIDI, is an industry-standard protocol defined in 1982 that enables electronic musical instruments such as keyboard controllers, computers, and other electronic equipment to communicate, control, and synchronize with each other. MIDI allows computers, synthesizers, MIDI controllers, sound cards, samplers and drum machines to control one another, and to exchange system data. MIDI uses the 15 pin DB 15 connector provided on the motherboard.

VIDEO GRAPHIC ADAPTOR

A VGA connector is a three-row 15 pin DE-15. The common 15-pin VGA connector found on most video cards, computer monitors, high definition televisions which support VGA connections, and other

devices, is almost universally called "HD-15". HD stands for "high-density", which distinguishes it from connectors having the same form factor but only 2 rows of pins. "VGA connectors" and their associated cabling are always used solely to carry analog component RGBHV (red - green - blue - horizontal sync - vertical sync) video signals along with digital clock and data.

LINE IN

Line in is the jack provided at rear panel of the motherboard for audio in from auxiliary device to be recorded in the computer.

3.5 mm JACK AND CONNECTOR

It is the most common jack used for connection of audio devices headphone or the speakers to a computer. It may either be mono or stereo having two and three pins respectively. It is the miniaturized

version of original 6.3 mm TRS (tip, ring, sleeve) connector. This type of jacks are widely used for audio and known as audio jack, phone plug, jack plug, stereo plug, mini-jack, or mini-stereo.

ATX POWER CONNECTOR

A special type of connector that allows the motherboard to be connected to the power supply to receive

power is known as power connectors. Typically, there are either one or two plugs that connect into this motherboard connector. If there are two 6-pins connectors, they are usually labeled P8 and P9 (AT) and the other type is 20-pins ATX connector.

IDE CONNECTORS

IDE connectors are 40 pin connector found on motherboard for connection of IDE drives such as CD-ROM and Hard disk drive.Generally there are 2 IDE connectors marked as IDE 1 and IDE 2 and each one of them can connect two devices one as master as and another as slave. A standard IDE cable is a flat ribbon cable, normally gray in color, with a (usually red) stripe running down the edge. The cable has 40 wire connectors in it, and usually has three identical female connectors: one is intended for the IDE controller (or motherboard header for PCs) and the other two are for the master and slave devices on the interface.

FDD CONNECTOR

It is a 34 pin socket provided on the motherboard for interfacing Floppy Disk Drive .The ribbon cable running from motherboard to the FDD has a twist in it towards the FDD side to distinguish it easily from an IDE connector.

COM PORT

It is the serial port provided on almost every computer. They are easily identified because they have either a DB-9 male or DB-25 male port. Standard serial ports have a maximum data transmission speed of 115 Kbps and maximum cable length of 50 feet. Some PC may also have two COM ports marked as COM 1and COM 2. This port is used to connect any serial devices such as MODEM, serial mouse or game consoles etc.

KEYBOARD AND MOUSE CONNECTORS

The most important input device for a PC is the keyboard. All the PC motherboards contain a connector that allows a keyboard to be connected directly to the motherboard through the case. There are two main types of keyboard connector: AT and PS/2. The AT connector is round, about ½” in diameter, and has a 5 sockets in the DIN-5 configuration. AT connectors were found in older version and not used in new versions.

The second style, the PS/2 connector, is smaller and is more ubiquitous than the AT connector. Most new PCs today contain a PS/2 keyboard connector on the motherboard.

Another input device mouse is also connected in PS/2 interface. The difference between the PS/2 connectors of KB and Mouse is in their colour, the KB connector comes in purple colour whereas that of mouse is green in colour.

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