Thunderbolt Official Compliance Testing & Logo Certification Programs

GRL was the first certification lab in the world qualified by Intel Corp. We offer full testing services including Thunderbolt electrical validation test and functional validation test on system, dock, monitor…

GRL is the worldwide 1st Thunderbolt™ Certified Lab by Intel and Apple since 2012.  Thunderbolt 4 can tunnel DisplayPort, PCI Express, USB 3.2 with its transfer data rate up to 40Gbps (20Gbps x2) through USB-C with the PD capability.

Thunderbolt™ 4 Systems and Devices Compliance Test and debug.

Tests include the following:

  • Thunderbolt Transmitter & Receiver & Return Loss Electrical Test
  • USB 3.2 Electrical Test
  • DisplayPort Electrical Test
  • PCI Express Electrical Test
  • Thunderbolt Function Interoperability Test
    • For Thunderbolt Device Certification, it should get certified for both Windows and macOS at the same time.

Contact GRL for more details

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Thunderbolt™ Test

Thunderbolt™ certification test is one of GRL's key services. The GRL laboratory has cooperated with Intel® and Apple since 2011, and in 2012 became the world's first authorized Thunderbolt certification laboratory by Intel and Apple. From Thunderbolt 2 (TBT2), and Thunderbolt 3 (TBT3), to the latest Thunderbolt 4 (TBT4), we have accumulated massive amounts of testing and debugging experience, as well as professional test capacity. GRL performs all tests required for Thunderbolt certification & pre-certification.

 

Thunderbolt™

Thunderbolt™ is a high-speed interface technology developed by Intel. It uses a USB Type-C® connector, combined with PCI Express, DisplayPort™, and USB Power Delivery. It integrates data, audio, video, and power transmission functions. It transmits speeds up to 40 Gbps and is versatile.  There is a wide range of products using the Thunderbolt interface, from desktops, monitors, external graphics cards, external hard drives, and network storage devices. More about Thunderbolt™ technology, visit https://thunderbolttechnology.net/

 

Intel

Intel is one of the top semiconductor companies in the world, and its well-known invention is the processor. However, Intel's integration capabilities are even more amazing. From chip design and development to manufacturing capabilities, they are internationally renowned in the technology industry.
If you want to know more information about Intel, please refer to Intel's official website: https://www.intel.com.tw/

 

The latest version of Thunderbolt™ Specification

Thunderbolt™ Interconnect Specification Revision 1.5, Draft 0.8, October 2017

 

Certification Area

TBT-certified-products-samples

Thunderbolt™ 4 Test

The GRL laboratory is the authorized lab by Intel® to perform TBT 4 certification testing services for Host and Device products. The professional testing team can efficiently assist major factories to complete Electrical Validation (EV) and Functional (FV) tests. project.

 

Thunderbolt™ 4

Following the Thunderbolt™ 3 technology, Intel launched Thunderbolt™ 4, which is integrated into the new notebook CPU. The Thunderbolt™ 4 technology architecture and the USB4® protocol specification are essentially one family. Both are based on the Thunderbolt™ 3 architecture. Both have a maximum transfer rate of 40Gbps (20G x2) and support Thunderbolt™ 3 and USB4®. The main purpose is to combine multiple protocols into the same channel, including protocol signals such as USB 3.2, DisplayPort, and PCIe, which can be used for simultaneous audio-visual and data transmission through a USB Type-C cable. Also, in the Thunderbolt™ 4 Functional Test Specification, the USB4® device has been added to the test project and related test methods have been updated.

Thunderbolt compliance testing_pre-certification_USB4 protocol_video and data transfer

(Source: https://www.usb.org/)

 

Thunderbolt™ 4 Logo

Currently, only TBT cables are marked with 3 or 4, which represent TBT3 and TBT4 cables. The logo on the USB Type-C interface or the box of the TBT computer (Host) and device (Device) is still indicated with the Thunderbolt icon (without number).

Thunderbolt compliance testing_logo certification_icon_port_cable_table

 

Thunderbolt™ 4 features

  • One USB-C connector with multi-function:
    • A single USB Type-C interface can support PCIe, USB3 data, and DisplayPort at the same time
  • Faster speed:
    • Support 40Gbps bandwidth
    • PCIe Gen3 x4 with data transmission up to 32Gbps
    • Can read high-speed hard disk speed up to 3000MB/s
    • Support two 4K screens or one 8K screen
  • TBT4 docking station:
    • Supports docking stations with up to 4 TBT ports
    • It can charge the computer up to 100W at the same time
    • When the computer is connected to the TBT docking station, the computer can be woken up from hibernation by touching the keyboard or mouse
  • Intel VT-d DMA protection function, which can protect the computer from physical DMA attacks

 

Compare TBT3, TBT4 and USB4®

The difference between Thunderbolt™ 4 & USB4

Thunderbolt™ 4 and USB4® are functionally complementary and compatible; Thunderbolt™ 4 focuses on PC and their peripheral applications. In addition to PCs, USB4® functions are also used in mobile phones or other embedded USB host systems (Embedded Host) Wait.

The following figure takes a PC as an example and lists the minimum requirements that Thunderbolt™ 4 and USB4® must support.

The most obvious difference is the many functions listed as basic standard in Thunderbolt™ 4, which are only optional in the USB4® specification :

Thunderbolt Standards Services_Comparison table between TBT3, TBT4, and USB4

＊USB4® products can choose whether to support Thunderbolt Compatible (10.3125G & 20.625G)

 

Differences in Thunderbolt™ 4 & Thunderbolt™ 3 certification test items

You can see TBT4 is "TBT3 with USB4-supporting".

The following takes the Host's TBT EV test as an example to sort out the different certification test items for TBT4, TBT3 and USB4:

  1. CIO Electrical (High-speed signal, 10G: 10.3124G / 20G: 20.625G): All follow the same USB4 Electrical CTS test specification
  2. Power Delivery: All must comply with the USB PD 3.1 specification
  3. The main difference is the power requirement. When Vbus & Vconn are pulled at the same time, it must meet the Vbus & Vconn voltage requirements, as shown in the following table:

    ＊2-Ports Host Power Min. Requirement example

    Table 1 1-Port Host Power Min. Requirement example-01

    ＊Device Power Min. Requirement example
    Table 2 Device Power Min. Requirement example-01

 

Thunderbolt™ 4 Certification Test Items

Thunderbolt compliance testing_certification_test items list

 

Recently, more and more developers have encountered problems in the TBT FV test, and want to know more about TBT FV test items. To this end, we have made a more detailed introduction to the FV certification test items of TBT4 Host and Device, hoping to help you better understand the test types and purposes of TBT FV. For details, please refer to <Thunderbolt™ Test Items & Instrument>.

 

Thunderbolt 4 related FAQ

1. Is there a difference between the Electrical Test test items and test specifications of Thunderbolt™ 4 & USB4®?

  • As far as the electrical test (Electrical Test) is concerned, it is the same. At present, Thunderbolt™ 3, Thunderbolt™ 4 and USB4 electrical tests are conducted in accordance with the same test specification ( USB4 Electrical CTS ).
    • Thunderbolt™ 4 test needs to include Data Rates 10.0G, 20.0G, 10.3125G, and 20.625G
    • The USB4 test needs to include Data Rate 10.0G & 20.0G. If the product is compatible with Thunderbolt™ 3, the 10.3125G and 20.625G items need to be tested
  • In the part of VBus/Vconn power supply, Thunderbolt™ 4 and USB4 have different requirements.

 

2. In addition to the Electrical Test, what are the differences between Thunderbolt™ 3 & USB4® tests?

The only test item for Thunderbolt™ 4 and USB4 is the Electrical Test. The rest of the test items are slightly different as follows, please follow the product declaration to support Thunderbolt™ 4 or USB4 for certification testing.

  • Thunderbolt™ 4 certification test : Electrical + Functional/IOP test
  • USB4® certification test: Electrical + Functional/IOP + Protocol + Logical Layer + TMU + Tunneling test supported. For the USB4 certification test, please refer to <USB4 Test>.

 

3. Do USB4® products need to be compatible with TBT3 need to obtain Thunderbolt™ 4 & USB4® certification at the same time?

No need.

USB4 products compatible with Thunderbolt™ 3 only need to obtain USB4 certification in accordance with the requirements of the USB Association. Only need to add Thunderbolt™ 3  related test items.

Thunderbolt™ Certification Process

 

Thunderbolt™ Certification Process

The Thunderbolt certification process for the Host and Device is slightly different.

Below are the two test processes:

  • Thunderbolt Host certification process
  • Thunderbolt Device certification process

 

Thunderbolt Host certification process

TBT Non-intel platform (1)

(Click the picture on the TBT website)
– There is FCP (Fast Certification) process for Thunderbolt Host. Please contact us to get more detail.
– There is a subsidy project for Thunderbolt Host. Please contact us to get more detail.

 

Thunderbolt Device certification process

TBT Non-intel platform

(Click the picture on the TBT website)

– There is FCP (Fast Certification) process for Thunderbolt Devices. Please contact us for more details.

 

(1) Product Information

Before the test starts, please fill out the following form to provide product basic information to speed up the test process.
– Download:

 

(2) Test Samples

Please send the samples required for testing to GRL according to the quantity below.

  • Certification test: Please refer to the above flow chart.
  • Pre-certification or FCP:
    • Host: 2~3 sets of samples
    • Device: 4 sets of samples

(3) The most suitable Preset value

Intel provides a reference preset value with better signal quality to link up. But with different DUT PCB route designs, the signal attenuation is different. It needs to find the optimized preset for the platform. Before testing the Thunderbolt™ Transmitter, GRL will help you find the optimized preset value for your DUT. The customer is required to provide the updated NVM, and subsequent Thunderbolt™ Transmitter tests need to be tested based on this optimized Preset value.

Thunderbolt™ Certification Test Items and Instruments Used

Thunderbolt™ Test Includes Electrical Validation (EV) & Functional Validation (FV)

  • EV verifies signal integrity
  • FV verifies product compatibility

 

Thunderbolt™ EV Certification Test Items

Thunderbolt certification compliance testing service_EV certification test items_table

* If your Thunderbolt product supports PCIe, SD Card (UHS-I/UHS-II), SATA 3G/6G TSG, and Ethernet, you must submit the relevant electrical test report (Pre-EV Report) before certification.

 

Thunderbolt™ FV Certification Test Items

In order to simulate different scenarios that the user normally does, the most important thing for functional verification (FV testing) is to ensure product compatibility and take into the account user experience. Besides the TBT4 system and devices for testing, it is also necessary to test the backward compatibility with TBT3 and tested with various types of interfaces (USB 2.0/USB 3.2 Gen1/USB 3.2 Gen2/DP1.2/DP1.4) and various types of TBT, DisplayPort Cable, and its combination to verify the compatibility.

 

- Host FV Certification Test Items

The Host FV test can be summarized into the following 6 types:

  1. Basic functions (plug, switch, sleep, Host docking test)
  2. Display function (image, sound, multi-screen display, external graphics card test)
  3. System test (PCIe & DP tunnel transmission, system, and device firmware update, a complex connection of multiple devices, read and write performance test)
  4. Connect expansion port (quick sleep recovery, USB Hub connection device, system charging test)
  5. Device RTD3 test (TBT3/4, USB3 device, and screen RTD3 support test)
  6. Compatibility test (TBT/TBT2 device compatibility test)

thunderbolt certification compliance testing service_Host FV Certification Test Items_list

 

- Device FV Certification Test Items

thunderbolt certification compliance testing service_device FV certification test items_table

 


Thunderbolt™ EV Test Instrument

Thunderbolt Return Loss Test:

  • Keysight E5071C

Thunderbolt Tx/Rx Test:

  • Keysight DSOV334A
  • Anritsu MP1800A/MP1900A

USB 2.0 Electrical Test:

  • Keysight MSOS254A 2.5GHz

USB 3.1 Gen1 & Gen2 Electrical Test:

  • Keysight DSOV334A 33GHz
  • Keysight M8020A
  • Anritsu MP1800A/MP1900A
  • Tektronix DPO72004C 20 GHz

DisplayPort Electrical Test:

  • Tektronix BERTScope12500
  • Tek DPO72004C 20GHz
  • Artek CLE-1000-A2-V1 Variable ISI Channel
  • RIGOL DSG815 Signal generator
  • Keysight M8020A
  • Keysight DSOV334A 33GHz
  • Unigraf, DPT-200
  • Anritsu MP1900A

USB Power Delivery Tests:

  • GRL USB-PD-C1
  • GRL USB-PD-C2
 
Thunderbolt™ FV test instrument

Thunderbolt™ FV test has to use Thunderbolt™ certified products by Intel.
 

USB4®, USB, USB-C®, USB Type-C®, and USB-IF are registered trademarks of USB Implementers Forum

Intel, Thunderbolt™ 3 and Thunderbolt™ 4 are registered trademarks and R&D products of Intel

Disclaimer
This information is provided for reference only. This information is not and should not be regarded as an official communication of the USB Implementers Forum (USB-IF). The official communication of USB-IF can be obtained from its website  usb.org or directly from USB-IF.
 

Thunderbolt™ FAQ

Before Testing

1. What is the Thunderbolt™ certification process?

For the certification process, and membership application, please refer to the Thunderbolt™ Certification Test Process.

2. Do Thunderbolt™ products need to use a certified connector?

Yes.

Thunderbolt™ products need to use certified USB4 Type-C connectors. Please log in to your TBT account and find the certified connector list here:

https://thunderbolttechnology.net/developers/cable-contacts

3. What is required before Thunderbolt™ certification test?

Please provide:

  • Test sample (Host: 2~3 sets; Device 4 sets)
  • Information File
4. Setting and precautions before the Thunderbolt™ test?
  1. Please confirm the DUT’s basic functions are normal, basic function includes booting on, entering OS, connecting a Thunderbolt device or host to have Thunderbolt function, and recognizing type-C device properly.
  2. If the DUT is TBT3, please make sure that it needs to be Force Power on and Force Power off (to be able to force the Thunderbolt™ function.

Testing

1. Why do I need to modify the Preset value for Thunderbolt™ testing? Can I not use the preset NVM provided by Intel？

Intel provides a default preset value, but the DUT has different PCB placement, and different connectors are used, the signal attenuation will be different. It needs to be tested to select a set of the most suitable Preset values. Before testing the Thunderbolt™ Transmitter, GRL will help you find the Preset value for your test and select the most suitable DUT. Customers are required to provide the updated NVM, and subsequent Thunderbolt™ Transmitter tests need to be tested according to this Preset value.

2. My product has a Family Model, do all models need to be re-tested?

Please contact the Intel PAE responsible for your company and provide the product block diagram for Intel’s reference. Intel will determine whether your product needs to be retested.

After Testing

1. After the product has been certified, can I find it on Intel’s website?

Yes.

You can find the certified Thunderbolt products here: https://thunderbolttechnology.net/products.

2. After getting the Thunderbolt certification, can the test sample be returned?

Yes.

After the sample is certified, it needs to be kept in the laboratory for 6 months and then can be returned.

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