Dock connector

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Dock connector on a 2011's HP EliteBook laptop HP EliteBook 8460p bottom.jpg
Dock connector on a 2011's HP EliteBook laptop

A dock connector is an electrical connector used to attach a mobile device simultaneously to multiple external resources. The dock connector will typically carry a variety of signals and power, through a single connector, to simplify the process of docking the device. A dock connector may be embedded in a mechanical fixture used to support or align the mobile device or may be at the end of a cable.

Contents

The dock connector was originally associated with laptops, but other mobile devices use the concept.

Laptops

2003's Dell Latitude laptop with dock connector (parallel to top edge) Dell Latitude D600 base.jpg
2003's Dell Latitude laptop with dock connector (parallel to top edge)

Classic docking connectors for laptop computers are usually embedded into a mechanical docking station and port replicator devices that supports and aligns the laptop and sports various single-function ports and a power source that are aggregated into the docking connector. Docking connectors would carry interfaces such as keyboard, serial, parallel, and video ports from the laptop and supply power to it.

Current docking connection options usually can be defined as a USB-C port with optional additional functionality. [1]

Mobile devices

Many mobile devices feature a dock connector.

Dock connectors can be used to interface with accessories such as external speakers, including stereo systems and clock radios. Automotive accessories for mobile devices include charging cradles, FM transmitters for playing audio through the car's speakers, and GPS receivers. There are dock connector cables that offer additional capabilities such as direct integration with the car's audio system and controls.

Apple dock connectors

30-pin dock connector

Apple 30-pin dock connector
Apple Dock Connector.jpg
30-pin connector
Type Data and power connector
Production history
Designer Apple Inc.
Designed 2003
Manufacturer Apple Inc.
Produced 2003 – 2014 (2016 for India) [2]
Superseded by Lightning (September 12, 2012)
General specifications
Pins 30

Apple's proprietary 30-pin connector was common to most Apple mobile devices (iPhone (1st generation), 3G, 3GS, 4, 4S), 1st through 4th generation iPod Touch, iPad, iPad 2, and iPad (3rd generation)) from its introduction with the 3rd generation iPod classic in 2003 until the Lightning connector was released in late 2012. Originally, the Apple dock connector carried USB, FireWire, some controls and line-level audio outputs. [3] [4] As the iPod changed, so did the signals in the dock connector. Video was added to the connector. FireWire was phased out of the iPods, which led to a discontinuity in usage of the dock connector.

As a result of the popularity of Apple's iPod and iPhone devices using the connector, a cottage industry was created of third-party devices that could connect to the interface. [5] With the discontinuation of the sixth-generation 160 GB iPod Classic and the iPhone 4S, the last Apple products to feature the original 30-pin connector, the connector was discontinued in September 2014 but the production of 30-pin connectors in India and developing markets still continued until February 2016. [2] [6] However, Apple does continue to sell and produce a 30-pin-to-USB cable, [7] as well as a 30-pin VGA adapter compatible with the iPhone 4, 4S, 4th generation iPod Touch, and the first three iPads. [8]

Lightning connector

Apple Lightning connector
Lightning connector.svg
Lightning connector
Type Data and power connector
Production history
Designer Apple Inc.
Designed 2012
Manufacturer Apple Inc.
Produced 2012–2022
Superseded by USB-C (November 7, 2018)
General specifications
Pins 8
Pinout
Pin out Lightning pins.png
Pin out
Pins on Lightning connector
For pinout details, see Lightning (connector).

Apple introduced an 8-pin dock connector, named Lightning, on September 12, 2012, as replacement of the 30-pin dock connector. The iPhone 5 to iPhone 14 series, the fifth- to seventh-generation iPod touch, seventh-generation iPod nano, first- to fifth-generation iPad mini, the fourth- to ninth-generation iPad, the first- to third-generation iPad Air, and the first- and second-generations of the iPad Pro used the Lightning connector, as do some Apple accessories. Apple Lightning connector pins can be accessed from both sides of the connector allowing reversibility. [9]

Since the release of the 3rd generation of iPad Pro, the Lightning connector is being phased out in favor of the more universal USB-C. The transition was complete for all latest models of iPads since March 18, 2022 and iPhones since September 22, 2023. [10]

Samsung 30-pin dock connector

Samsung 30-pin dock connector
Type Data and power connector
Production history
Designer Samsung
General specifications
Pins 30

The Samsung Galaxy Tab and Galaxy Note 30-pin dock/charging connector is very similar to – although not identical with – the non-proprietary PDMI connector. It is unrelated to the Apple 30-pin connector. [11]

Korean standard cellular phone 24-pin and 20-pin dock connectors

Korean standard cellular phone dock connector (TTAS.KO-06.0028)
Type Data and power connector
Production history
Designer Korean Telecommunications Technology Association (TTA)
Produced 2001
General specifications
Pins 20 (24 pre-2007)

The 2001 Korean Telecommunications Technology Association (TTA) "Standard on I/O Connection Interface of Digital Cellular Phone" defined a 24-pin electromechanical interface specifications for cellular phone charging, wired data communication, analog audio, etc. [12] The 2007 updated version has only 20 pins but added composite video output support among other changes. [13]

Portable Digital Media Interface (PDMI)

Portable Digital Media Interface (PDMI)
Production history
Designer CEA
Designed February 2010
General specifications
Length 22 mm
Width 2.5 mm
Hot pluggable Yes
External Yes
Audio signal Analog stereo, digital DisplayPort (1–8 channels, 16 or 24-bit linear PCM; 32 to 192 kHz sampling rate)
Video signal Digital 2-lane DisplayPort 1.1, 4.32 Gbit/s data rate
Pins 30 pins
Data
Data signal USB 3.0 SuperSpeed + 1 Mbit/s for the DisplayPort auxiliary channel
For pinout details, see PDMI (Portable Digital Media Interface).

The Portable Digital Media Interface (PDMI) is a 30-pin interconnection standard for portable media players. It was developed by the Consumer Electronics Association as ANSI/CEA-2017-A, Common Interconnection for Portable Media Players in February 2010. The standard was developed with the input or support of over fifty consumer electronics companies worldwide. [14]

Sony WM-PORT

WM-PORT
WM-PORT.jpg
Type Data and power connector
Production history
Designer Sony
Designed 2006
General specifications
Pins 22

The WM-PORT is a 22-pin dock connector from Sony, used for the majority of Walkman digital media players since 2006. It provides a data and power connection including to peripherals.

Supported iPhones

Other dock connectors

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Docking station</span> Computer connection

In computing, a docking station or port replicator (hub) or dock provides a simplified way to plug-in a mobile device, such as connect common peripherals to a laptop, or charge a smartphone. Because a wide range of dockable devices—from mobile phones to wireless mouse—have different connectors, power signaling, and uses, docks are unstandardized and are therefore often designed for a specific type of device.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nokia Pop-Port</span>

The Pop-Port interface was a proprietary plug-in port for accessories and data synchronisation, available with many Nokia mobile phones. The port consists of one metal pin on either end, and a plastic tab containing thirteen contacts. Pop-Port-like interfaces first appeared in Nokia phones since circa 1996, but the Pop-Port was standardised as a single interface in 2002.

iPod Touch Series of mobile devices by Apple (2007–2022)

The iPod Touch is a discontinued line of iOS-based mobile devices designed and formerly marketed by Apple Inc. with a touchscreen-controlled user interface. As with other iPod models, the iPod Touch can be used as a portable media player and a handheld gaming device, but can also be used as a digital camera, a web browser, for email and messaging. It is nearly identical in design to the iPhone, and can run most iPhone third-party apps from the App Store, but it connects to the Internet only through Wi-Fi and uses no cellular network data, as it lacks a cellular modem.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">PDMI</span> Interconnection standard

PDMI is an interconnection standard for portable media players. It has been developed by CEA as ANSI/CEA-2017-A standard Common Interconnection for Portable Media Players in February 2010. Chaired by David McLauchlan from Microsoft, the standard was developed with the input or support of over fifty consumer electronics companies worldwide.

Audio connectors and video connectors are electrical or optical connectors for carrying audio or video signals. Audio interfaces or video interfaces define physical parameters and interpretation of signals. For digital audio and digital video, this can be thought of as defining the physical layer, data link layer, and most or all of the application layer. For analog audio and analog video these functions are all represented in a single signal specification like NTSC or the direct speaker-driving signal of analog audio.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Universal charger</span>

Universal charger or common charger refers to various projects to standardize the connectors of power supplies, particularly for battery-powered devices.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Apple headphones</span> Lineup of products manufactured by Apple, Inc.

Apple Inc. has produced and sold headphones since 2001, available for standalone purchase and bundled with iPhone and iPod products. Apple's current product line consists of EarPods, AirPods and AirPods Pro, and AirPods Max.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">FastPort</span>

The FastPort was a proprietary polyconnection interface used on all Sony Ericsson cellphones between 2005 and 2010. Designed in response to Nokia's proprietary Pop-Port, FastPort provided data transfer, charging, headset and speaker connections through a common interface. It was discontinued in 2010 and replaced with a micro-USB for charging and data, and a TRRS connection for audio (headphones).

iPad 2 Tablet computer made by Apple (2011–2014)

The iPad 2 is a tablet designed, developed and marketed by Apple Inc. Compared to the first iPad, as the second model in the iPad line, it gained a faster dual core A5 processor, a lighter build structure with a flat, rather than curved, back, and was the first iPad to feature VGA front-facing and 720p rear-facing cameras designed for FaceTime video calling.

iPhone 5 Smartphone made by Apple (2012–2013)

The iPhone 5 is a smartphone that was designed, developed, and marketed by Apple Inc. It is the 6th generation iPhone, succeeding both the iPhone 4 and iPhone 4S, and preceding both the iPhone 5S and 5C. It was formally unveiled as part of a press event on September 12, 2012, and subsequently released on September 21, 2012. The iPhone 5 was the first iPhone to be announced in September, and setting a trend for subsequent iPhone releases, the first iPhone to be completely developed under the guidance of Tim Cook and the last iPhone to be overseen by Steve Jobs. The iPhone 5's design was used three times, first with the iPhone 5 itself in 2012, then with the 5S in 2013, and finally with the first-generation iPhone SE in 2016.

iPad (3rd generation) Tablet computer made by Apple (2012)

The iPad is a tablet computer, developed and marketed by Apple Inc. It is the third device in the iPad line of tablets. It added a Retina Display, the new Apple A5X chip with a quad-core graphics processor, a 5-megapixel camera, HD 1080p video recording, voice dictation, and support for LTE networks in North America. It shipped with iOS 5, which provides a platform for audio-visual media, including electronic books, periodicals, films, music, computer games, presentations and web browsing.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lightning (connector)</span> Proprietary computer bus and power connector by Apple Inc.

Lightning is a proprietary computer bus and power connector, created and designed by Apple Inc. It was introduced on September 12, 2012, in conjunction with the iPhone 5, to replace its predecessor, the 30-pin dock connector. The Lightning connector is used to connect Apple mobile devices like iPhones, iPads, and iPods to host computers, external monitors, cameras, USB battery chargers, and other peripherals. Using 8 pins instead of 30, Lightning is much smaller than its predecessor. The Lightning connector is reversible. The plug is indented on each side to match up with corresponding points inside the receptacle to retain the connection.

iPad (4th generation) Tablet computer made by Apple (2012–2014)

The iPad is a tablet computer produced and marketed by Apple Inc. Compared to its predecessor, the third-generation iPad, the fourth-generation iPad maintained the Retina Display but featured new and upgraded components such as the Apple A6X chip and the Lightning connector, which was introduced on September 12, 2012. It shipped with iOS 6, which provides a platform for audio-visual media, including electronic books, periodicals, films, music, computer games, presentations and web content. Like the third-generation iPad it replaced, it was supported by five major iOS releases, in this case iOS 6, 7, 8, 9, and 10.

iPad (1st generation) 2010 Apple tablet computer

The first-generation iPad is a tablet computer designed and marketed by Apple Inc. as the first device in the iPad lineup of tablet computers. The device features an Apple A4 SoC, a 9.7 in (250 mm) touchscreen display, and, on certain variants, the capability of accessing cellular networks. Using the iOS operating system, the iPad can play music, send and receive email and browse the web. Other functions, which include the ability to play games and access references, GPS navigation software and social network services can be enabled by downloading apps.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">USB-C</span> 24-pin USB connector system

USB-C, or USB Type-C, is a 24-pin connector that supersedes previous USB connectors and can carry audio, video and other data, e.g., to drive multiple displays or to store a backup to an external drive. It can also provide and receive power, such as powering a laptop or a mobile phone. It is applied not only by USB technology, but also by other protocols, including Thunderbolt, PCIe, HDMI, DisplayPort, and others. It is extensible to support future standards.

iPod Touch (5th generation) 5th version of iPod Touch by Apple Inc.

The fifth generation iPod Touch was unveiled at Apple's media event alongside the iPhone 5 on September 12, 2012, and was released on October 11, 2012. A mobile device designed and marketed by Apple Inc. with a touchscreen-based user interface, it succeeded the 4th-generation iPod Touch. It is compatible with up to iOS 9.3.5, which was released on August 25, 2016.

iPod Touch (4th generation) 4th version of iPod Touch by Apple Inc.

The fourth generation iPod Touch is a multi-touch mobile device designed and marketed by Apple Inc. with a touchscreen-based user interface. The successor to the 3rd-generation iPod Touch, it was unveiled at Apple's media event on September 1, 2010, and was released on September 12, 2010. It is compatible with up to iOS 6.1.6, which was released on February 21, 2014.

iPad Pro Line of Apple tablet computers (2015–present)

The iPad Pro is a series of tablet computers, positioned as a premium model of Apple's iPad tablet computer. It runs iPadOS, a tablet-optimized version of the iOS operating system.

The initial versions of the USB standard specified connectors that were easy to use and that would have acceptable life spans; revisions of the standard added smaller connectors useful for compact portable devices. Higher-speed development of the USB standard gave rise to another family of connectors to permit additional data paths. All versions of USB specify cable properties; version 3.x cables include additional data paths. The USB standard included power supply to peripheral devices; modern versions of the standard extend the power delivery limits for battery charging and devices requiring up to 240 watts. USB has been selected as the standard charging format for many mobile phones, reducing the proliferation of proprietary chargers.

The iPhone's hardware is designed by Apple Inc. Apple directly sub-contracts hardware production to external OEM companies, maintaining a high degree of control over the end product.

References

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  3. Tan, Darell (2012-06-25). "The Apple 30-pin Dock Connector". irq5.io. Retrieved 2018-11-28.
  4. "Apple iPod, iPhone (original and 3G), iPad Dock connector pinout diagram @ pinouts.ru". pinouts.ru. Retrieved 2016-04-14.
  5. Gideon, Tim (2008-01-07). "Altec Lansing Unleashes First Certified iPhone Dock". PCMAG. Retrieved 2018-11-28.
  6. Apple iPhone 4s discontinued, iPhone 5c becomes cheapest option
  7. "Apple 30-pin to VGA Adapter - iPad Accessories". Apple. Retrieved 2023-12-01.
  8. "Apple 30-pin to VGA Adapter - iPad Accessories". Apple. Retrieved 2023-12-01.
  9. "iPhone". Apple. Retrieved 2018-11-28.
  10. "Apple unveils new iPads, Macs and Mac Minis at event in New York". NewsComAu. October 30, 2018.
  11. "Samsung Galaxy Tab Connector pinout".
  12. "Standard on I/O Connection Interface of Digital Cellular Phone" TTAS.KO-06.0028 released in March 2001. Later updated in 2002 (/R2), and in 2007 (/R4)
  13. TTA certifies first 20-pin battery charger for mobiles, Telecompaper.com, 2008-07-25
  14. "CEA-2017, Common Inerconnection for Portable Media Players". Consumer Electronics Association. Archived from the original on 2012-03-07.