Thanks to work by open-source Intel software engineers over the past few months, the upcoming Linux 6.18 kernel is expected to add support for Embedded USB2 Version 2.0 “eUSB2V2” for supporting next-generation, higher-resolution laptop web cameras.
Intel engineers have been leading the effort on plumbing Linux for eUSB2V2 support for that updated USB2 specification intended for delivering higher data rates over conventional USB 2.0 while also maintaining the low-voltage electrical interface. The eUSB2V2 spec was finalized in 2024 and can allow up to 4.8Gb/s data rates and designed for embedded uses — so far it seems predominantly for embedded web cameras in future laptops to allow higher resolutions / video quality.
After those eUSB2V2 Linux patches were in development the past few months, they have now been merged into the USB subsystem’s “usb-next” Git branch. With those eUSB2V2 patches in USB-next, they are expected to be submitted for the upcoming Linux 6.18 kernel cycle.
“This series enables support for eUSB2 Double Isochronous IN Bandwidth UVC devices specified in ‘USB 2.0 Double Isochronous IN Bandwidth’ ECN. In short, it adds support for new integrated USB2 webcams that can send twice the data compared to conventional USB2 webcams.
These devices are identified by the device descriptor bcdUSB 0x0220 value. They have an additional eUSB2 Isochronous Endpoint Companion Descriptor, and a zero max packet size in regular isoc endpoint descriptor. Support for parsing that new descriptor was added in commit
c749f058b437 (“USB: core: Add eUSB2 descriptor and parsing in USB core”)
This series adds support to UVC, USB core, and xHCI to identify eUSB2 double isoc devices, and allow and set proper max packet, iso frame desc sizes, bytes per interval, and other values in URBs and xHCI endpoint contexts needed to support the double data rates for eUSB2 double isoc devices.”
All of that related eUSB2 code is now ready to go and waiting for the Linux 6.18 merge window opening in a few weeks. Kudos to Intel for getting the code upstreamed prior to laptops hitting the market with eUSB2V2 web cams.
