Introduction to USB 3.1 and USB 3.2 (Part 1)
The USB Implementers Forum has upgraded USB 3.0 to USB 3.1. FLIR has updated its product descriptions to reflect this change. This page will introduce USB 3.1 and the differences between the first and second generations of USB 3.1, as well as the practical benefits these versions can bring to machine vision developers. The USB Implementers Forum has also released relevant specifications for the USB 3.2 standard, which doubles the throughput of USB 3.1.
USB3 Vision
What is USB 3.1?
What does USB 3.1 bring to machine vision? The updated version number indicates the addition of a 10 Gbps transmission rate (optional). USB 3.1 has two versions:
The first generation – “SuperSpeed USB” and the second generation – “SuperSpeed USB 10 Gbps”.
All USB 3.1 devices are backward compatible with USB 3.0 and USB 2.0. USB 3.1 refers to the transmission rate of USB products; it does not include Type-C connectors or USB power output. The USB3 Vision standard is not affected by this USB specification update. Common related products on the market include USB 3.1 Gen 2, USB3.1 10Gbps, and gen2 usb 3.1, etc.
USB 3.1 Generation 1
Figure 1. The SuperSpeed USB logo of the first generation of USB 3.1 host, cable and device certified by USB-IF.
For machine vision developers, there is no actual difference between the first-generation USB 3.1 and USB 3.0. The first-generation USB 3.1 products and USB 3.1 products operate at the same speed (5 GBit/s), use the same connectors, and provide the same amount of power. The first-generation USB 3.1 hosts, cables, and devices certified by USB-IF continue to use the same SuperSpeed USB product names and logos as USB 3.0. Common cable types such as usb3 1 gen2 cable.
USB 3.1 Generation 2
Figure 2. The SuperSpeed USB 10 Gbps logo of the second-generation USB 3.1 host, cable and device certified by USB-IF.
The upgraded USB 3.1 standard adds a 10 Gbit/s transmission rate (optional) to the second-generation USB 3.1 products. For example, superspeed usb 10 gbps, USB C 10Gbps, type c 10gbps and 10gbps usb c cable. Currently, the maximum length of the second-generation USB 3.1 cables is 1 meter. The second-generation USB 3.1 hosts and devices certified by USB-IF will use the updated SuperSpeed USB 10 Gbps logo. These devices usually have USB C Gen 2 E Mark or are called usb c3 1 gen 2.
The second-generation USB 3.1 is highly likely to enable machine vision. FLIR currently does not offer the second-generation USB 3.1 machine vision camera, but please keep visiting our website and reading the updates as we may introduce this camera at any time.
Post time: Aug-22-2025
