I know a fair bit about USB, but for some reasons I am not able to answer this question myself.
Does the USB Host port (let's say USB 2.0) always supply 5V on the VBUS pin? If not, how does it detect device connection?
For device (bus-powered case) it is easy to detect host by sensing the VBUS pin, but for this to work USB Host should always provide 5V on the VBUS pin, which results in me asking this question.
One thing I can think of is it can provide 5V, 100mA by default, and more only after successful enumeration. But as far as I have observed, the USB ports on laptop have 5V VBUS enabled by default and not limited to 100mA, so I just want to understand from USB standard point of view.
Any reply will be much appreciated.
Best Answer
A standard classic USB host must always provide VBUS (+5V +- 10%) to a downstream port, so a device can initiate the connect sequence (pull D+ or D- high). The port must provide at least 500 mA (2.0 version) or 900 mA (3.0 version), regardless of whether there is any communication or attachment or else. These are "at least" requirements for classic USB 2.0 and USB 3.0 "high-power ports" and powered hubs, so they can supply more if they wish. The requirements are listed in Section 7.2 of USB 2.0 Specifications. Small battery-powered might have an exception.
--
--
The 500 mA is a requirement for USB HOST. This supply number is frequently confused with a requirement for a USB DEVICE as consumer. A USB device SHOULD NOT draw more than 100 mA upon initial connect stage, and can draw full power only when it gets enumerated and receives "set_configuration ()" command. USB devices report their power requirements in device descriptor, during this inital "100mA" session. If the host has exhausted its power budget, it can stop the enumeration, effectively rejecting the device.
--
In short, the 500 mA and 100 mA are requirements for different USB entities, one for hosts and hubs, and another for devices, again as described in Section 7.2.1. This is how it works from USB standard point of view.
Now things are a bit different with introduction of Type-C connector. Type-C devices (both hosts and peripherals) are prohibited to output VBUS, initially. So, instead of boldly having VBUS power on a Type-C port, the host must turn on VBUS source only if the port logic detects the presence of cable/device. It does this by sensing voltage level on "CC" (Communication Channel) pin. A Type-C host has a pull-up on both CC pins. A device (or legacy cable assembly) must have 5.1k pull-down. When device/cable is plugged in, the host detects that 5.k drags its pull-up down, and at this point the host has rights to engage VBUS power, and USB communication begins.