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Lightning (connector)

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Lightning
Top down view of a Lightning cable, showing the eight-pin connector
Type Data and power connector
Production history
Designer Apple Inc.
Produced 2012 (introduced)
Superseded 30-pin dock connector
General specifications
Pins 8
Pinout
Pin out
Pin out
Receptacle View
Pin 1 GND ground
Pin 2 L0p lane 0 positive
Pin 3 L0n lane 0 negative
Pin 4 ID0 identification/control 0
Pin 5 PWR power (charger or battery)
Pin 6 L1n lane 1 negative
Pin 7 L1p lane 1 positive
Pin 8 ID1 identification/control 1
Two differential pair lanes (L0p/n and L1p/n) may swap in IC of device connector (lanes don't swap if accessory identification chip connect to ID0 pin)

Lightning is a proprietary computer bus and power connector created by Apple Inc. to replace its previous proprietary 30-pin dock connector, used to connect Apple mobile devices like iPhones, iPads and iPods to host computers, external monitors, cameras, USB battery chargers and other peripherals. Using eight pins instead of thirty, Lightning is significantly more compact than the 30-pin dock connector and can be inserted with either side facing up. However, it is incompatible with cables and peripherals designed for its predecessor, unless used with an adapter. It was introduced in 2012, and is used by the iPhone 5, iPhone 5S, iPhone 5C, 5th generation iPod Touch, 7th generation iPod Nano, all iPad Minis, the 4th generation iPad and the iPad Air.

History

The Lightning connector was introduced on September 12, 2012.[1] The connector was introduced as a replacement for the 30-pin dock connector for all new hardware that was announced at the same event. The first compatible devices were the iPhone 5, iPod Touch (5th generation), and the iPod nano (7th generation).[2] The iPad (4th generation) and the iPad Mini (1st generation) were added as Lightning devices in October 2012[3][4] and in 2013 Apple released the Lightning-equipped iPhone 5C, iPhone 5S, iPad Mini with retina display and the iPad Air.

On November 25, 2012, Apple acquired the “Lightning” licensing trademark from Harley-Davidson.[5]

Technology

Lightning is an eight-pin connector which carries a digital signal. It is non-directional and can be inserted into the device with either side facing up or down. Apple offers various adapters between the Lightning and other interfaces such as Lightning to Apple proprietary 30 pin, Lightning to universal serial bus (USB) as well as accessories to interface with high-definition televisions, VGA monitors, Secure Digital (SD) cards and SD card reader. The Lightning to 30-pin adapter supports only a limited subset of the available 30 pin signals: USB data, USB charging, and analog audio output. Official Lightning connectors contain an authentication chip that makes it difficult for third-party manufacturers to produce compatible accessories without being approved by Apple.[6]

Apple Lightning to USB Cable (MD818)

Advantages over Micro-USB

Lightning (left), USB 3.0 micro-B, USB (2.0) micro-B, and USB mini-B (right) plugs
Lightning Dock for Apple Products
See also: Micro-USB

Micro-USB and Lightning have different licensing terms, both designed to boost adoption by users and peripheral makers. Despite differences, both have equal availability.[7]

Apple has not publicly discussed micro-USB, but experts believe Lightning was used for the following advantages:

  • Durability and reversibility The Lightning connector is made primarily from solid metal, while USB's thin metal and plastic make it structurally weaker.[8] [9] The ability of a Lightning plug to be inserted in either direction reduces wear from attempts to insert the plug upside down, and offers user convenience.[10][11]
  • Power capacity Lightning improves on Micro-USB's limit of 9 watts, allowing at least 12 watts to accommodate the iPad.[12]
  • Forward compatibility Lightning may be forward compatible with future versions of USB, meaning devices will not become obsolete. [13]
  • Bidirectional The Lightning port can either charge a device, or allow the device to power accessories. The optional supplement USB On-The-Go allows USB devices to do this.[14]
  • Quality control and ethical concerns Apple prevents low quality or dangerous items from being sold.[15][11] Third-parties may have to follow Apple's supplier responsibility code regarding worker treatment and the environment.[16]

In December, 2013, the USB 3.0 Promoter Group announced a new USB Type-C specification, "expected to be published by the middle of 2014"[17][18] As listed by the Promoter Group, the key characteristics of USB Type-C are similar to many Lightning features, including power capacity and reversibility. [19]

Lighting accessories must be made in factories that pass Apple's ethical and environmental guidelines, which may also keep prices higher, a point of criticism for some.[20][21]

Charging port regulation in Europe

Although Apple smartphones are compatible with "chargers" that conform to the European common External Power Supply (EPS) standard, Apple does not include a micro-USB charging port on their mobile phones.[22][23][24] A micro-USB-to-Lightning adapter or the supplied USB-to-Lightning cable is required to connect Apple's iPhones with a common EPS or to any other USB port/charger/power supply. In a 2013 amendment to a "Proposal for a Directive of the European Parliament … relating to ... radio equipment" the European Committee on the Internal Market and Consumer Protection included a recommendation for "…A renewed effort to develop a common charger...". The amendment does not specify if the "common charger" being proposed would be the same as the current European common EPS or something new or different. (Such a "common charger" would apply to smartphones as well as many other types of "radio equipment"). The proposal also does not indicate whether - like the common EPS standard - the use of connector adapters would be accepted for compliance. Some observers believe adapters would not be acceptable - requiring Apple to provide phones in Europe with a charging port different from the current Lightning port.[25][26][27][28] The European Parliament is expected to sign the proposal into law in March, 2014. Once signed into EU law, member states will then have two years to transpose the new regulations into national laws and manufacturers will have an additional year after that to comply.[29][30]

See also

References

  1. ^ Pollicino, Joe (September 12, 2012). "Apple's September 12th event roundup: iPhone 5, new iPods, iOS 6, Lightning and everything else". Engadget. Retrieved October 5, 2012.
  2. ^ Dillet, Romain (September 12, 2012). "The iPhone 5 Comes With The New "Lightning" Connector". TechCrunch. Retrieved September 27, 2012.
  3. ^ Schultz, Marianne (October 23, 2012). "Apple Announces Fourth-Generation iPad with Lightning Connector, New A6X Chip". MacRumors. Retrieved December 2, 2012.
  4. ^ "iPad mini Technical Specifications". Apple Inc. December 2, 2012. Retrieved October 23, 2012.
  5. ^ Goldman, David (November 26, 2012). "Apple bought Lightning trademark from Harley-Davidson". CNNMoney.com. Retrieved November 29, 2012.
  6. ^ Foresman, Chris (October 3, 2012). "Apple revising MFi program to limit third-party Lightning accessories". Ars Technica. Retrieved October 3, 2012.
  7. ^ http://www.bestbuy.com/site/searchpage.jsp?_dyncharset=UTF-8&_dynSessConf=&id=pcat17071&type=page&sc=Global&cp=1&nrp=15&sp=&qp=&list=n&iht=y&usc=All+Categories&ks=960&fs=saas&saas=saas&keys=keys&st=stereo+docking+connector
  8. ^ Perlow, Jason (November 3, 2012). "Oh Apple Lightning connector, how do I love thee?". ZDNet. Retrieved April 11, 2013.
  9. ^ "Hardware comparison: Lightning connector vs MicroUSB connector". www.pocketables.com, Retrieved December 20, 2012
  10. ^ "Hardware comparison: Lightning connector vs MicroUSB connector". pocketables.com. December 20, 2012. Retrieved October 18, 2013.
  11. ^ a b "Engineer explains why Apple went with Lightning instead of Micro USB". idownloadblog.com. September 14, 2012. Retrieved October 18, 2013.
  12. ^ "Battery Charging Specification, Revision 1.2". USB Implementers Forum, Inc. December 2010.
  13. ^ Buster, Hein. "Apple Might Speed Up Lightning Transfers By Offering Full USB 3.0 Support On iOS Devices". Retrieved April 22, 2014.
  14. ^ "c|net: Clever adapter connects USB accessories to your Android device"
  15. ^ "Why Apple Couldn't Go to Micro USB Charging". techpinions.com. September 16, 2012. Retrieved October 18, 2013.
  16. ^ Rose, Michael. "Made For iPhone manufacturers may have to comply with Apple's supplier responsibility code". TUAW. Retrieved April 22, 2014.
  17. ^ "New USB Type-C connector is smaller, reversible, supports USB 3.1". arstechnica.com. December 4, 2013. Retrieved December 31, 2013.
  18. ^ "With new USB connector, no more wrong-way-up cables". cnet.com. December 4, 2013. Retrieved December 31, 2013.
  19. ^ "Next Generation USB Connection Definition Underway" (PDF). usb.org. December 3, 2013. Retrieved December 31, 2013.
  20. ^ "Apple tightens MFi rules, stalls 3rd-party Lightning add-ons". ilounge.com. October 3, 2012. Retrieved January 4, 2014.
  21. ^ "Made For iPhone manufacturers may have to comply with Apple's supplier responsibility code". tuaw.com. November 8, 2012. Retrieved January 4, 2014.
  22. ^ "Tajani: Common charger for small electronic devices". EC Enterprise & Industry Magazine. April 25, 2013. Retrieved September 28, 2013.
  23. ^ "Answer given by Mr Tajani on behalf of the Commission". European Parliament. March 13, 2013. Retrieved September 29, 2013.
  24. ^ "Answer given by Mr Tajani on behalf of the Commission". European Parliament. August 21, 2013. Retrieved September 28, 2013.
  25. ^ "Radio equipment: harmonisation of the laws of the Member States relating to the making available on the market". European Parliament / Legislative Observatory. Retrieved September 30, 2013.
  26. ^ "Opinion of the European Economic and Social Committee on the 'Proposal for a directive of the European Parliament and of the Council on the harmonisation of the laws of the Member States relating to the making available on the market of radio equipment'…". Eur-Lex.europa.eu. May 9, 2013. Retrieved September 29, 2013.
  27. ^ "Apple may be forced to drop Lightning connector for MicroUSB". macworld.uk. September 30, 2013. Retrieved October 3, 2013.
  28. ^ "Unia zmusza do ujednolicenia ładowarek. Apple idzie pod prąd" (in Template:Pl icon). Wyborcza.biz. Retrieved January 15, 2014.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unrecognized language (link)
  29. ^ Lewis, Barbara (December 19, 2013). "Europe reaches deal on common mobile phone battery charger". reuters.com. Retrieved December 28, 2013.
  30. ^ "Common charger for all mobile phones on the way". europaparl.europa.eu. December 19, 2013. Retrieved December 28, 2013.

Further reading

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Apple Lightning.
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