USB Implementers Forum

The USB Implementers Forum (USB-IF) is a nonprofit organization created to promote and maintain USB (Universal Serial Bus), a set of specifications and transmission procedures for a type of cable connection that has since become used widely for electronic equipment. Its main activities are currently the promotion and marketing of USB, Wireless USB, USB On-The-Go, and the maintenance of standards and specifications for the related devices, as well as a compliance program.

USB Implementers Forum
AbbreviationUSB-IF
Founded1995 (1995)[1]
93-1296452[2]
Legal status501(c)(6) professional association[2]
HeadquartersBeaverton, Oregon, U.S.[2]
Coordinates45.492060°N 122.832878°W / 45.492060; -122.832878
Jeff Ravencraft[3]
Revenue (2015)
$4,789,113[2]
Expenses (2015)$4,579,090[2]
Employees (2015)
0[2]
Volunteers (2015)
57[2]
Websitewww.usb.org/about

The USB-IF was initiated in 1995[1] by the group of companies that was developing USB, which was made available first during 1996. The founding companies of USB-IF were Compaq, Digital Equipment Corporation, IBM, Intel, Microsoft, NEC and Nortel. Notable current members include HP, NEC, Microsoft, Apple Inc., Intel, and Agere Systems.

The working committees within USB-IF are:

  • Device Working Group
  • Compliance Committee
  • Marketing Committee

The USB-IF web caters to developers who may register freely for the developer web-forums and access documentation. To be part of a working group, however, a person has to work for a member company or register as a member. The developer forums regulate the development of the USB connector, of other USB hardware, and of USB software; they are not end-user forums.

In 2014, the USB-IF announced the availability of USB-C designs. USB-C connectors can transfer data with rates as much as 10 Gbit/s and provides as much as 100 watts of power.[4]

In 2015, the seven-person board of directors, with Jeff Ravencraft as USB-IF President and Chief Operating Officer, consisted of representatives of Apple Inc., HP Inc., Intel Corporation, Microsoft Corporation, Renesas Electronics, STMicroelectronics, and Texas Instruments.[2]

In 2020, USB-IF announced updated USB Device Class Definition for MIDI Devices, Version 2.0, for MIDI 2.0 devices. According to The Valdosta Daily Times, "The standard represents an industry-wide effort by the USB-IF, MIDI Manufacturers Association (MMA), and Association of Musical Electronics Industry (AMEI) to provide MIDI users with an expanded MIDI environment connected by USB." USB-IF President and COO Jeff Ravencraft said, "USB-IF is proud to support the MMA and AMEI by publishing an updated USB Device Class Specification for next-generation MIDI devices. USB has been an integral part of the MIDI environment over the past 20 years, and we look forward to seeing innovative new devices that are enabled by this updated specification."[5]

Obtaining a vendor ID

A vendor identification is necessary for obtaining a certification of compliance from the USB-IF. The USB-IF is responsible for issuing USB vendor identification numbers to product manufacturers. The cost for issuing this number is US$5,000 per year. Additionally, the use of a trademarked USB logo to identify certified devices requires a license fee of US$3,500 for a 2-year term.[6] Some microcontroller manufacturers offer a free or low cost sublicense of their vendor ID for development/testing and limited production (generally less than 10,000 units). Vendors offering this free service include:

Alternatively, many members of the open source community promote the use of USB VID 0xF055 (visually similar to FOSS) for open-source hardware projects. Although this VID is not registered to any company (as of October 2015), the USB-IF have not released any confirmation about reserving it for this particular purpose.[16][17]

See also

References
  1. "Members". USB.org. USB Implementers Forum, Inc. Retrieved 13 July 2018.
  2. "Form 990: Return of Organization Exempt from Income Tax". USB Implementers Forum. Guidestar. December 31, 2015.
  3. "About". USB Implementers Forum. Retrieved February 5, 2018.
  4. "USB 3.0 Promoter Group Announces USB Type-C Connector Ready for Production" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 27 May 2017.
  5. "USB-IF Publishes USB Device Class Specification for MIDI Devices v2.0". Valdosta Daily Times. Retrieved 3 August 2020.
  6. How to get a vendor ID from the USB-IF
  7. Dream S.A.S. USB Vendor ID Application
  8. Energy Micro Application for USB PID Sublicense Archived 16 October 2012 at the Wayback Machine
  9. "FTDI USB Vendor ID Application" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 13 January 2010. Retrieved 13 May 2011.
  10. Luminary Micro (now part of Texas Instruments) USB Vendor ID Application
  11. Application for Sub-License to Microchip Universal Serial Bus Vendor ID
  12. NXP to offer global USB Vendor ID program
  13. Silicon Labs USB Vendor ID Application
  14. STMicroelectronics USB Vendor ID Application
  15. Texas Instruments USB Vendor ID Application
  16. USB IMPLEMENTERS FORUM SAYS NO TO OPEN SOURCE
  17. By (3 April 2015). "USB PIDs For All". Hackaday. Retrieved 2 May 2023.
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