Higher cost may a prohibiting factor to use a USB-C plug interface/port which is designed more for phones & tablets with data transfer + charging. As in the lantern its just a charging port (no data) its not really worth the point of using a more expensive USB-C interface for just a charging port. The only advantage it would have in this case would be the ambidextrous plug, (can plug in to the port in ant direction) I can not find any power charging circuit that has the USB-C yet.
Interested depending on cost! Would love to have an option for 5000k.
I just found out I haven’t yet showed my interest on this project, how come?
I’d be in for one. If it shares the tube/interface with the Q8 it might get me to buy the set
I see talk about brightness in the 500 lumen range, but with a configurable ceiling I think having the option to go all out would be cool too
I would love to help fulfill the project. Please check your message.
Barry
Reading the message now 
I liked miniUSB too. Unfortunately it has been abandoned around 2010.
Can’t the USB-C plug be used exactly like an microUSB plug, with the only difference it’s a few cent more expensive to buy?
Advantage would be lontime cable compatibility without the need for adapters. And of course when using in dark/unlit places, plugging in the cable will be more convenient
I agree. I’d support USB Type C as it’s the next big thing. Also it’s more durable.
Interested in one!
USB-C has more charging-profiles and can deliver much more power on higher voltages.
It can be used as Input and output, but I would use it only for charging the Latern.
Interested too. Good concept
I’m also interested in one depending on cost.
For me it doesn’t really matter if the lantern will be with usb type C or micro-usb. But that depends on costs. If the costs are about the same (a slight increase in cost wouldn’t be a problem either) than definitely go for type C for the ease of use and long-term compatibility.
If I recall correctly the usb header pcb will be seperated from the main driver. So if in a few years micro usb is as obsolete as mini usb you can mod it to usb type c without too much difficulties. Or just leave it as is of course
For me the ability to charge or discharge through USB C is the main draw of that aspect. If it’ll be cost prohibitive then I’d definitely vote for micro USB.
We would need someone to develop a Charging/USB power bank circuit to do that form the same port, which i doubt is possible & would drive the price of the lantern far higher than intended. The USB micro port is not going anywhere anytime soon or being replaced anytime soon by USB-C, ( at least the port interface will not be. ) I can;t say of a cost or possibility as technical USB circuitry is out of my range of ability to design, and will need a team member who has that ability. Right now i plan on the second generation prototype to have the TP4056 micro USB module same as the 1st prototype has, because i can work that circuit board to work with any driver including the Q8 driver.
Please put me on the list for one.
Yes, and PCB designs are already available for the TP4056 circuit, so if you know how to integrate it already (that’s the hard part) then drawing a new PCB that includes both the charge circuit and the driver circuit should be easy (for someone who knows how to use Eagle or Diptrace).
I disagree, I suspect it is not the “next big thing” except for slimline devices that make good use of the data connection. In my experience it is a very weak connector, weaker than even USB micro, possibly designed intentionally so.
These two are supposed to have sacrificial cable connectors, that should wear out before the host connector, but IME they don’t, as many cables don’t seem to be made with the softer metals, correct dimensions and gold finishes that seemed to work OK in the labs.
Beyond maybe 500 or 750 insertion/extractions they start failing (that would be perhaps 18 months or two years for a mobile ’phone)
The gold standard is the Nokia charging connector, the big one or the little one. After that, a standard laptop co-ax connector (I forget the dimensions, there are many). All of these are rugged.
May I suggest a look at the TP5100 buck charging circuit instead of the TP4560. It can charge at 2A, and accept input voltages up to 18V, i.e. you could plug it straight in to a car 12V socket. I have no experience with this one, but I think it is worth a look.
[quote=angerdan]
I liked miniUSB too. Unfortunately it has been abandoned around 2010.
Not really, Nikon, and other DSLRs still use it because it is reliable, they don’t need the hassle of warranty returns or dis-gruntled customers, who expect their cameras to just work, for many years.
Even my LED dog collar, bought this year, uses it.
Edit: sorry failed to quote properly, but you get the gist.
Type C must have some kind of headway as flashlights are starting to implement it. Manker and If I’m not mistaken, Astrolux is using it too.
This is where I found out about type c durability. Yes it’s not exactly a micro USB as it is the Micro USB 3.0 connector but I imagine it’s the same princeable to compare it to.
USB-C is new enough that we don’t really know if it’ll get big or not. The reversible connector is nice, though only one out of three USB-C devices I’ve had actually worked with the cable reversed. I’m also a bit wary of its durability, since it has 24 pins in such a small space… compared to just 4 pins for older USB. This also increases cost for the ports, cables, and circuitry.
At this point, USB-C seems like a bit of a gamble.