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Lightning (connector)

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Lightning Connector
Top down view of a Lightning cable, showing the eight-pin connector
Type Data and power connector
Production history
Designer Apple Inc.
Produced 2012-present
Superseded 30-pin dock connector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 as of November 2014 is used by the iPhone 5 onwards, iPod Touch (5th generation), iPad (4th generation) onwards, iPad Mini and iPod Nano (7th generation).

History

The Lightning connector was introduced on September 12, 2012 [1] 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, the 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] On September 20, 2013 Apple released the iPhone 5C and iPhone 5S. On October 22, 2013, Apple released the iPad Mini with Retina Display and the iPad Air. On September 19, 2014 Apple released the iPhone 6 and the iPhone 6 Plus. On October 24, 2014 Apple released the iPad Air 2 and the iPad Mini 3.

On November 25, 2012, Apple acquired the “Lightning” trademark in Europe from Harley-Davidson, which had broad coverage for the mark and retains rights to use it.[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 which allow the Lightning connector to be used with other interfaces, such as 30-pin, USB, HDMI, VGA and SD cards. 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)

Comparisons with Micro-USB

See also: Micro-USB

Apple has not publicly discussed micro-USB, but industry observers believe that Lightning was used for several advantages, such as the power requirements for charging Apple devices, like the iPad, compatibility with docks and speaker systems,[7] the ability to insert the cable in either direction offering user convenience,[8] Apple wielding more control over the ethics of the supply chain of accessories[9] and charing a licensing fee, the structural weakness of USB[8] and the Lightning connector's ability to either charge a device or to allow the device to power accessories. The optional supplement USB On-The-Go allows USB devices to do this.[10]

On April 10, 2015 Apple announced a new line of Macbook that featured USB Type-C, which has many similarities with Lightning, but many more advantages over Micro-USB. Industry insiders have claimed Apple played a very large role in creating the new USB Type-C standard but because of the politics of the USB Forum Group cannot publicly take full credit.[11][12]

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. ^ "Engineer explains why Apple went with Lightning instead of Micro USB". idownloadblog.com. September 14, 2012. Retrieved October 18, 2013.
  8. ^ a b "Hardware comparison: Lightning connector vs MicroUSB connector". pocketables.com. December 20, 2012. Retrieved October 18, 2013.
  9. ^ "Made For iPhone manufacturers may have to comply with Apple's supplier responsibility code". Engadget. Retrieved July 3, 2015.
  10. ^ "c|net: Clever adapter connects USB accessories to your Android device"
  11. ^ "Did Apple invent USB Type-C? Maybe a little bit". 9to5Mac. Retrieved July 3, 2015.
  12. ^ "Daring Fireball: Apple's Role in the Creation of USB-C". daringfireball.net. Retrieved July 3, 2015.

Further reading

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Apple Lightning.
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