I'm looking into using a USB 3.1 type-A port (ref: 632121300001) and its male counterpart that comes with a "PD DETECT" pin. I'm looking to make a USB-A to USB-C cable.
I might be missing something really obvious but I cannot find anything in the USB-C specs about this. Those only ever mention 8-core cable assemblies for USB-A to USB-C.
At first glance, I thought this might just be a PD DETECT <> CC line, but the more I look around and the less it looks like it. Now I'm wondering if it's exclusively used for E-markers for PD. This would still make it a CC-related pin but would make it meaningless to connect it to an actual CC line for pullup/pulldown resistors.
What is the PD DETECT pin used for and how does it connect to a USB-C connector (if at all?)?
Best Answer
That's an Type A socket with support for USB-PD. The sockets and plugs are slighly different to mark that they support USB-PD, i.e. can pass higher current.
It just has two extra features. It has a pin to detect if it has a plug inserted, and it can detect if a USB-PD A plug is inserted.
The plug insert detect pins 11 and 12 connect together when any plug is inserted, and pins 10 and 13 connect together if it is a PD plug.
Type-A PD plugs have slightly longer metal shells.
So it has nothing to do with USB-C and does not connect to any USB-C pin.