USB-IF Compliance Program

The Universal Serial Bus (USB) specification defines the product design targets at the level of interfaces and mechanisms. To complement the specification and enable measurement of compliance in real products, the USB-IF has instituted a Compliance Program that provides reasonable measures of acceptability. Products that pass this level of acceptability are added to the Integrators List and have the right to license the USB-IF Logo. Information about how you can get your product on the Integrators List is provided below. Please reference the Compliance FAQ section if you have further questions.

Please refer to the Product Test Requirements matrix below for specific test requirements of the USB-IF Compliance Program. There are also a number of whitepapers that describe testing techniques. These documents can help in understanding how to accomplish USB product testing, but do not precisely describe the USB-IF Compliance Program testing requirements. 

• The Integrators List is available to all USB-IF members.
  
  
• To use the USB-IF Logo in conjunction with a product, that product must pass compliance testing and be on the Integrators List. Find out more.
  
  
• Please review the USB-IF Compliance Updates webpage frequently and subscribe to the news feed for the latest information regarding the USB-IF Compliance Program.
  

Product Test Requirements

Each type of USB product requires specific testing to get on the Integrators List. The links below describe the testing required for each class of USB product listed.  Vendors are encouraged to pre-test their products in their own labs prior to submitting them for testing at a Compliance Workshop or certified test facility.  Please note that it is necessary for silicon building block suppliers to construct a final product based on their silicon building block and test that product as anyone using their building blocks would do.  Additional information can be found on the testing requirements page for Silicon Building Blocks linked below. 

Product Test Methods

There are two mechanisms for testing products to get them on the Integrators list. You can participate in the USB-IF Sponsored Compliance Workshops or contact one of the Independent Test Labs.

USB-IF Sponsored Compliance Workshops

USB-IF Compliance Workshops are members only events held regularly to promote USB product development, validate product compliance with the USB specification, help foster communication between USB product manufacturers and ensure that USB Peripherals operate together. Our goal is to eliminate interoperability problems by ensuring proper implementation of USB products.

Compliance Workshops are held about once a quarter at hotels in various locations and typically run for five days. The USB-IF provides special test teams who perform the tests developed for the Compliance Program. Private test sessions are also scheduled between System vendors and Peripheral vendors. During these test sessions, the vendors validate that their products work well together.

Results of these test sessions are rolled up as part of the Demonstrated Operation portion of USB compliance. This kind of testing is unique to the Compliance Workshops and cannot really be reproduced outside of a open attendance type of forum like this one. A signed copy of the checklist must be filed with USB-IF in order for your product to qualify for the Integrators List. You can mail it to the USB-IF, file the form electronically or hand it in at the workshop. There is additional feedback to a vendor available from this kind of testing and there is that advantage of no fee for Compliance Workshop testing, both of which are offset by the fact that demonstrated operation testing is an additional requirement that must be met to become qualified at a compliance Workshop that is not present at an Independent test lab.

Learn more about logo usage.

Learn more about Wireless USB compliance.

Learn more about SuperSpeed USB compliance.

Qualification by Similarity

When products are very similar, testing of one product may allow the other similar products to be added to the Integrators List without re-testing. If any "significant differences" exist between products, testing of each is required. The definition of "significant differences" is sometimes debatable and the final judgment is the responsibility of the compliance review board (CRB), which reports to the USB-IF Board of Directors. As decisions are made on what are "significant differences," the rules of thumb will be listed here. The ultimate responsibility for making sure that various production product models do not have "significant differences" from the product samples tested lies with each vendor. Audits by USB-IF that reveal discrepancies between shipping product and samples tested may be cause for required re-test, revocation of certification, and/or legal action. Companies' rights to use the USB-IF Logo are covered in the standard logo license agreement.

The Qualification by Similarity policy and procedures are outlined once you have logged into the website and proceed to the Qualification by Similarity application area in the My Account Tools area.

Guidelines for "Significant Differences"

Retest required:

• Microcontroller design change (new architecture, or new product family)
• Connector footprint on PCB
• Any change to the silicon requires retest even if no change is made to the Wireless USB MAC, PHY, and USB controller or associated logic.
  *Silicon changes can increase noise thresholds, cross-talk, power consumption, etc. which can adversely impact USB performance.
• Any change to the PCB requires retest.
• Any change to the RF hardware (including RF product packaging changes) requires retest.

Retest not required:

• Product packaging changes (color, shape, etc.)
• Microcontroller vendor change (no board layout change, no firmware change). Retest not required only if new Microcontroller is on Integrators List
• Microcontroller firmware change (changes in fully modular code not associated with USB functions).
• Connector color and esthetics
• Connector vendor or model number change (no board layout change) as long as the new connector is on the Integrators List. .

If retest is not required, your company can submit an online Qualification by Similarity request for consideration by the USB-IF by following the instructions provided.

Requirements for Retest

If any changes are made that would create "significant differences" between the production product and the product samples tested, retesting is required. The definition of "significant differences" is sometimes debatable and the final judgment is the responsibility of the compliance review board which reports to the USB-IF Board of Directors. As decisions are made on what are "significant differences", guidelines will be listed here. The ultimate responsibility for making sure that production product matches the product samples submitted for compliance testing lies with each vendor. Audits by USB-IF that reveal discrepancies between shipping product and samples tested may be cause for required re-test, revocation of certification, and/or legal action.

OEM Arrangements

If your company is purchasing and reselling under your company name products currently on the Integrators List under your supplier’s company name, it is possible to have these products added to the Integrators List under your company’s name without retesting. To do so, your supplier must submit the online confirmation of product identity form for your OEM arrangement. Instructions for submitting the form are available for download here. If you do not know who the USB-IF representative for your supplier is, you can find their name in the member search. Please remember the requirements for a company to display the USB logo in conjunction with its products are:

1. The products must be listed on the Integrators List under that company's name.
2. The company must execute the USB-IF Trademark License Agreement.

Both these requirements must be met before your company may use the logo in conjunction with your products.