[HW MOD] Proprietary LG G2 USB 3.0 connector - G2 General

Discussion forum for the new proprietary USB 3.0 connector (with additional hidden pins inside the standard micro USB 2.0 port) on some of our LG G2's.​
Yes, many of us have this brilliantly designed, very unique, 11 pin micro USB connector on the LG G2. Take a look inside of the connector on your own G2, do you see extra gold pins set back further inside? Some are saying yes, some no. This connector is NOT the hideous dual-head connector that we have seen on the note 3, the G2's is much more compact and discrete. On the surface it looks just like a regular micro USB 2.0 port, and yet it is 100% backward compatible with micro USB 2.0 connectors, which is why it has gone unnoticed!
UPDATE (2014-05-27):
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WHAT WE DO KNOW
This is not the first time the micro USB 3.0 connector has been brought up,
Link to dead discussion: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2441955
The G2's Snapdragon 800 chipset supports USB3.0 natively
Design: The new connector looks just like a regular micro USB 2.0 port, but hidden inside the connector are an additional set of pins (3 pins on left, standard 5 pins in center, and 3 pins on right), which would require a slightly modified micro USB connector to mate with them. In all, this new connector is an 11-pin connector, is 100% micro USB 2.0 backward compatible, and yet is capable of providing USB 3.0 connectivity.
Models that have the 11-pin connector:
D800 (AT&T): 1 of 1
D801 (T-MOBILE): 1 of 1
D802 (GLOBAL): 6 of 8
D803 (CANADA): 1 of 1
D805 (LATIN AMERICA): 1 of 1
LS980 (SPRINT): 1 of 1
VZ980 (VERIZON): 1 of 1
F320 (KOREAN): NA
Models that have the 11-pin connector, and also have the signal data filter chips installed:
Chances are, if you have the chips, then you have a working USB 3.0 interface.
(remove back cover, and look for two larger 6-pin chips just behind USB connector)
D800 (AT&T): NA
D801 (T-MOBILE): NA
D802 (GLOBAL): NA
D803 (CANADA): NA
D805 (LATIN AMERICA): NA
LS980 (SPRINT): 1 of 1
VZ980 (VERIZON): NA
F320 (KOREAN): NA
The new proprietary 11-pin Samsung MHL connector does not have the same pin layout as the G2's 11-pin connector, and the MHL video-out adapter standard is not compatible with the G2.
The SlimPort video-out adapter standard is compatible with the G2, but does not have the 11-pin connector.
WHAT WE DO NOT KNOW
How many devices/models have the new connector- list is growing
Is the internal circuitry present to connect at USB 3.0 using this new connector
(RESPONSE LEGEND: CONNECTOR-CIRCUITRY:STATS)
D800 (AT&T): NA
D801 (T-MOBILE): NA
D802 (GLOBAL): (NA-NO: 1 of 1)
D803 (CANADA): NA
D805 (LATIN AMERICA): NA
LS980 (SPRINT): ] NA
VZ980 (VERIZON): NA
F320 (KOREAN): NA
Who makes the mate, and where can it be purchased?
Has anyone hardwired the 3.0 connection and tested whether the kernel is ready
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Below is a hand drawing of this new micro USB 3.0 connector, compared to the standard micro USB 2.0 connector. I have plans to update the drawing in time, since I later discovered that there is only one notch in the new design, as opposed to the drawing showing two notches passing through the new connector.
I have yet to forge an adapter to test the functionality, but if we get confirmation that the circuitry is there, I will do my best to klooge one together soon, since I cannot find any data on where to find/purchase a matching mate online.
Nevertheless, the new connector is on some of the G2's, and is worth updating this post with your findings and results.
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Best picture I can get
First photo:
Top phone shows standard micro usb from a motorola, bottom phone is LG G2 showing 11 pin connector.
Second + photo's:
This is what the connector looks like...

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What kind of LG G2 you have. Because mine is a LG G2 D802 with a standard micro usb 5 pins ....

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roboticienfr said:
What kind of LG G2 you have. Because mine is a LG G2 D802 with a standard micro usb 5 pins ....
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I have the LS980 Sprint model. I would bet that you have the same connector, it is really hard to notice the rear pins, because on the surface, the usb connector looks like a standard 2.0 micro usb.
The easiest thing to look for in the connector is stopping block inside the connector. First you will see the standard 5-pin mezzanine (or thin plastic tongue with 5 pins on it) inside the hole, then right behind it a stopping block (or wall to prevent a standard usb 2.0 cable from going in any further). In a normal micro USB 2.0 connector, this rear wall covers the whole portion of the inside rear of the connector, but on the G2, this wall has an additional depth stopping point. So, look right behind the 5-pin mezzanine and hopefully you will see the stop block end just before the edges of the mezzanine and then it will go back further into the connector on both sides of the block. On both sides of this mezzanine, if you have really good eyes and a flash light, you will see a total of two additional 3-gold pin mezzanines. All totaling 11 pins.
Keep me posted!

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I have just checked with a microscope and there is only 5 pins in mine. Maybe because these are 2 different models :s

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roboticienfr said:
I have just checked with a microscope and there is only 5 pins in mine. Maybe because these are 2 different models :s
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I checked stellatech website (phone parts) and the d802 circuit has a picture that claims to show the same 11 pin connector on it as well. Could be the wrong pic, or for some reason your unit doesn't have it. Can anyone else confirm?

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On my d802 I can see what look like extra pins set a fair bit further back?
Sent from my LG-D802 using Tapatalk

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ephumuris said:
On my d802 I can see what look like extra pins set a fair bit further back?
Sent from my LG-D802 using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yeah D802 and nothing there... except those pins/locks/holes or what that is, that hold the connector...

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m8 shave your micro usb

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My Verizon G2 has the USB 3.0 USB port
In fact, it only likes to FAST charge off that cable. Other cables will barely charge it.

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from what I've read somewhere the g2 has the circuitry for usb 3 but not the chipset. maybe this is how they enabled fast charging? is that why Windows prompts me my device could perform faster if plugged into a usb3 port? (it doesn't)
Sent from Tapatalk using my xposed VZW G2

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somnambulator said:
from what I've read somewhere the g2 has the circuitry for usb 3 but not the chipset. maybe this is how they enabled fast charging? is that why Windows prompts me my device could perform faster if plugged into a usb3 port? (it doesn't)
Sent from Tapatalk using my xposed VZW G2
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The opposite really.
G2 has the Chipset support. Snapdragon 800 supports USB3 natively. But there is no circuitry inside my D802.
That feature is deliberately cut back to save costs and announce it in the future as an incremental upgrade.

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bender_007 said:
m8 shave your micro usb
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It's scratches wouldn't know they are there without the picture....
Sent from my LG-D802 using Tapatalk

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Ah, so this is why Samsung's dock won't fit. I thought Samsung is the one that use proprietary connectors..
Sent from my LG-D802 using Tapatalk

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sanke1 said:
The opposite really.
G2 has the Chipset support. Snapdragon 800 supports USB3 natively. But there is no circuitry inside my D802.
That feature is deliberately cut back to save costs and announce it in the future as an incremental upgrade.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
So with that said, I assume your d802 unit does not have the modified proprietary micro usb connector? If it does not have it, then that may explain the missing circuitry. Although, if you do have the new connector and yet no circuitry, then it seems that we have a no-win situation. I do not plan to disassemble my G2 anytime soon, so hopefully someone will be able to confirm soon.
As for "incremental upgrade" comment, that crossed my mind as well, maybe they wanted to secretly test the USB connectors ruggedness, since it likely has a new SMT circuit pattern; to verify that it would hold up when they announced the new usb 3.0 connector. Maybe they thought it would be better if they tested out it's ruggedness, even small scale like "sprint only" phones, before officially announcing the new connector on their newest flagship product.

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farhanito said:
Ah, so this is why Samsung's dock won't fit. I thought Samsung is the one that use proprietary connectors..
Sent from my LG-D802 using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm certain the new connector has nothing to do with the dock compatibility, by design, the new micro usb 3.0 connector it is 100% backward compatible with standard micro usb 2.0 plugs.

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1branchonthevine said:
So with that said, I assume your d802 unit does not have the modified proprietary micro usb connector? If it does not have it, then that may explain the missing circuitry. Although, if you do have the new connector and yet no circuitry, then it seems that we have a no-win situation. I do not plan to disassemble my G2 anytime soon, so hopefully someone will be able to confirm soon.
As for "incremental upgrade" comment, that crossed my mind as well, maybe they wanted to secretly test the USB connectors ruggedness, since it likely has a new SMT circuit pattern; to verify that it would hold up when they announced the new usb 3.0 connector. Maybe they thought it would be better if they tested out it's ruggedness, even small scale like "sprint only" phones, before officially announcing the new connector on their newest flagship product.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Our best bet would be to wait out current gen phones and upgrade to newer phones when they have a proper USB3 upport which transfers to and fro fast.

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I thought the extra pins were for Slimport.

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diamond12 said:
I thought the extra pins were for Slimport.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Diamond... what model do you have?
Actually the Slimport adapter (and MHL both) use the same standard micro usb 2.0 connector. Also there is no notch on the slimport usb port, so it becomes quickly apparent that they do not use the 10-pin connector.
If you are interested in reading, there is a good description on Anandtech summarizing what makes SlimPort different from MHL:
"SlimPort is a new video output standard which works over microUSB, and is effectively an MHL alternative based on the DisplayPort standard administered by VESA. SlimPort is offered both license and royalty free, and supports up to 1080p60 or 1080p30 with 3D content over HDMI 1.4 (up to 5.4 Gbps of bandwidth), in addition to support for DVI, VGA (up to 1366x768 and 720p at 60 Hz), and DisplayPort."

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Guyz pinout from service manual is :
L1, L2, L3, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, L4, L5, L6
L1 goes to USB_SS_RX_M (USB_3.0_RX-)
L2 goes to USB_SS_RX_P (USB_3.0_RX+)
L3 goes to VCC
1 to 5 is normal uUSB connector
1 goes to VCC
2 goes to USB_HS1_DM_SLIM1 (D- or RX)
3 goes to USB_HS1_DP_SLIM1 (D+ or TX)
4 goes to USB_ID
5 goes to GND
L4 goes to GND
L5 goes to USB_SS_TX_M (USB_3.0_TX-)
L6 goes to USB_SS_TX_P (USB_3.0_TX+)
All USB 3.0 pins goes to USB ReDriver.