usbusb-c
As the heading states, I would like to semi-passively detect the orientation of both ends of a USB-C connection. I understand that it is possible for the UFP and DFP devices to infer their own plug orientations, but how would the UFP device itself infer the overall cable arrangement?
I'd like to avoid having to introduce or use a high level protocol (ie USB 2.0 or something else). Low level manipulation of the CC pins or some other method would be acceptable.
You're confused. USB Mini-A, Mini-B, Micro-A, and Micro-B plugs -- as well as the ports they plug into -- all have five pins, including one ID pin. They are all electrically identical.
The only difference between Micro-B and Micro-AB is the physical shape of the port -- a USB Micro-A connector cannot be inserted into a Micro-B port. As Micro-A (as well as Mini-A) connectors are almost never seen, this has no effect in practice.
I would look at the "HD3SS3220 DFP Dongle Evaluation Module" from TI. http://www.ti.com/tool/3220dfp-dglevm
It seems to do everything you want. Here is a block diagram of the components.
Best Answer
The CC pins are used for this but you can only know the state of the connector nearest to the device you have, not the total orientation of the cable.
Source: https://www.silabs.com/community/mcu/8-bit/knowledge-base.entry.html/2016/09/26/what_s_the_role_ofc-kQYe
You won't be able to determine both sides of the configuration with passive methods, without some communication between the DFP and UFP, because the USB C connection is made to be symmetrical The devices can determine if they are flipped or not with the CC pins. But because of the symmetry the UFP can only determine if the cable on the UFP end is flipped or not. Likewise the DFP can only determine if the DFP is flipped or not.
With a controller however, the DFP can be determined from the UFP, but you'll have to get the configuration from the controller through the USB interface.
Source: https://www.richtek.com/assets/product_file/RT1730/DS1730-01.pdf