Is there a layout yet or is it just a schematic? From what I understand USB 3.0 is so crazy fast it requires quite a bit of RF magic/knowledge to even just route from the connector to a chip on a board.
Yep, not to mention the manufacturing technologies required to meet the length matching and impedance targets. It's probably not realistic for hobbyist projects. I think this is mostly useful as a reference for making other types of adapters that might only need to use USB 2.0, but still need the microcontroller to negotiate the Type C stuff.
edit: There are two other open source Type C projects (and they stick with the Hostess snack theme):
I agree that it isn't suitable for hobbyists. For what it is worth, length matching is a function of the layout. Impedance matching doesn't require any crazy manufacturing technique, just choosing the correct pre-preg type/thickness by manufacturer. I've never known a board house who couldn't do it.
As for USB 2.0 conversion those pins are directly on the connector [1]. No need for anything beyond routing out those pins to a different connector. USB Type-C is essentially a USB 3.0 connector, but changed to be symmetrical and the SuperSpeed pins are used for other things like DP or other highspeed serial busses.
While not usually meant for carrying high-speed signals, there are optical isolators[0] that are used to communicate between circuits that are not connected electrically.
I'd guess that fiber optics is only a net win over large enough distances that you make up the latency from converting electrics signals to optical and back.
I know optical on-chip networks have been the subject of research for many years, and I've heard rumblings of optical interconnects between chips. I don't know their current status, nor whether they look to be useful in practice. Hence my question.
If you mean directly from an IC then there is a long way to go on that. They are still trying to figure out how to make lasers on an IC in the same CMOS process as normal ICs.
Please note that this adapter does NOT use USB3.0 signalling. The only USB signalling going on is USB2.0 to the STM32 micro which seems to configure the actual Display-Port to HDMI-Bridge chip.
The "High Speed Lanes" (on which normally USB3.0 data is transferred) is re-purposed as a displayport connection.
(in the block diagram ML(0…3)± are the differential display-port "lanes", they are connected to the USB "C" plug SSD(p/n)(1…4) shielded differential pairs)
Anyone who wants to actually build the board. USB 3.0 is a whole new ball game and has lots of gotchas with board layout & design. Check out Jared Boon's Daisho talk for some good background on USB 3.0 challenges: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eTDBFpLYcGA&t=1059
