Niche Players

The specific nature of these connectors is in some ways very similar to and in other ways in direct contrast to devices developed to meet industry standards (although at least one does meet an industry standard). Since they address totally different applications, the form factors and performance all vary considerably. These products address the special requirements of connections in systems that move data through high-performance computers, servers, hard disk drives, HDTV, aircraft, radio frequency, and home fiber optic transmission lines as well providing protection for semiconductor-based image sensors.

HIGH SPEED HARD DISK DRIVE CONNECTORS

FCI has several 22-position, vertical backplane receptacle connectors intended for the new high-speed, Serial ATA (SATA) hard disk drive (HDD) interface. Designed for blind mating and hot plugging HDDs, the new SATA backplane receptacle connector addresses the extension of low-cost, high-capacity SATA drives to low-end enterprise storage applications. The backplane receptacle is intended to block a serial-attached SCSI (SAS) drive installation, support differential signaling, and provide mechanical power for robust pc board attachment. Using 15 contacts, the receptacle's power segment provides options for 3.3, 5, or 12V. Through-hole solder, press fit, or surface-mount terminations provide flexibility for backplane design and manufacturing. For more information on FCI's SATA HDD interface, go tohttp://rbi.ims.ca/4416-558.

COMPACTPCI CONNECTOR

Conec developed these connectors to meet the requirements of PICMG Consortium's Compact PCI bus structure. The Peripheral Component Interconnect, or PCI, standard has been developed and adapted by many computer system manufacturers. Conec's 38- and 47-pin plug and socket designs combine power and signal terminals with various connection and contact styles. Design options include press-fit, through-hole, and high-power contacts. The press-fit socket contacts developed specifically for these connectors utilize high reliability screw-machine components combined with stamped and formed press-fit units. The polarized connectors have premating contacts in selective positions. For more information on Conec CompactPCI Connectors, go tohttp://rbi.ims.ca/4416-557.

IMAGE SENSOR SOCKET

Advanced Interconnections' line of image sensor sockets protects image sensors from damage during pc board assembly and processing. Target applications include scanners, security systems, and satellite imaging. The unit's design uses high quality screw-machined terminals and multi-fingered contacts for long-term durability. Standard versions include FR-4 insulators in thru-hole and surface mount designs with options for molded or Peel-A-Way insulators and lead-free designs. Available in standard, footprint-specific, and custom configurations, the units eliminate the potential for damage to expensive sensors from exposure to heat and solder flux during board assembly. For more information on Advanced Interconnections' image sensor sockets, go to http://rbi.ims.ca/4416-559.

HIGH DENSITY BACKPLANE CONNECTOR

Designed for servers and storage devices, FCI's AirMax VS 3-pair, like other products in their AirMax VS family, uses air as the dielectric between adjacent conductors instead of metal shields that consume space and increase cost. The backplane connector contains fewer pins per column than other connectors in the family and has a slot spacing of only 16.7 mm allowing more airflow and greater system cooling. The air dielectric and electromagnetic inference optimization in the connector design allows users to mix differential pair, single-ended signals, and power in one connector. In addition, the AirMax VS design allows for different allocation of signals within one connector to easily increase from 2.5 to 25 Gbits/sec without requiring redesign of the basic platform. For more information on FCI AirMax connectors, go tohttp://rbi.ims.ca/4416-560.

MODULAR JACKS FOR POWER-OVER-ETHERNET

ERNI designed its new line of Integrated Magnetic Modular Jacks for Power-over-Ethernet (PoE) applications. The Modular Jacks with integrated magnetics can transfer up to 15W of power. Units come with either hubs or circuitry for DTE's (Data Terminal Equipments) that can accept power over either data pairs or unused pairs. The hubs provide 48V dc at up to 350 mA and the voltage can be converted to 5 or 3.3V to power the PHY and DTE or circuits. Designed for wireless base stations, VoIP phones, remote cameras, and more, the units have the capability of providing power and the data on the CAT5 cable up to 100m. For more information on ERNI's modular jacks for Power-over-Ethernet, go tohttp://rbi.ims.ca/4416-561.

IEEE 1394 PLASTIC OPTICAL FIBER CONNECTOR

Molex just introduced this new IEEE 1394 Small Multimedia Interface (SMI) Plastic Optical Fiber (POF) connector and transceiver system. Designed for industrial and home networking for low costs high-speed data transmission, the SMI POF connector system can operate at S200 (250 Mbps) speeds for up to 50m today and S400 (500 Mbps) in the future. The connector system meets 1394b HDTV and digital audio bandwidth requirements and real-time applications that run concurrently, such as security. The unit's low insertion loss provides good signal integrity and no electromagnetic interference. For more information on Molex' POF 1394 connectors, go tohttp://rbi.ims.ca/4416-562.

AIRCRAFT DATA NETWORK CONTACTS

Tyco Electronics' ARINC Size 8 Quadrax is a multi-signal contact system employing two differential pairs (matched impedance) used with quad-axial cables for databus applications. The contacts are intended for 100BASE-T and 1000BASE TX applications on commercial aircraft per ARINC 600, 664 and 763. Additional uses include military communication and multi-gigabit applications, such as Gigabit Ethernet IEEE 802.3Z and Fibre Channel XT11.2. The device consists of four size 24 AWG, screw-machined contacts in connectors with a size 8 shell with pc board mount pins or crimp-style pin and socket termination. A one-piece dielectric design simplifies the termination process. The contact fits ARINC 600, ARINC 404, MIL-C-38999, and BACC65/EPX used in aerospace and military connectors and can be integrated with custom connector housing designs. For more info on Tyco's Quadrax connectors, go tohttp://rbi.ims.ca/4416-564.

HDTV CAMERA CONNECTOR

The Fischer 1053HDTV Camera Connector allows camera manufacturers, mobile facility providers, production centers, and broadcast studios to use the fiber optic camera connector. This easily installed cable termination (typically 15-30 minutes from start to finish) simplifies the transition to HDTV and significantly decreases assembly labor costs. Using an industry-standard 1.25 mm diameter ceramic ferrule, these units have reflectance of -50 dB typical, and insertion loss of 0.5 dB typical, per IEC 874-1. The durability changes less than 0.3 dB after 500 matings, when tested to the Fiber Optic Association's FOTP-21specification (Mating Durability for Fiber Optic Interconnecting Devices). Other ruggedness factors include temperature cycling capability with less than 0.2 dB change, from -20 to +60C, and shock attenuation of less than 0.2 db, per IEC 874-1 methods. For more information on Fischer's HDTV camera connectors, go tohttp://rbi.ims.ca/4416-563.

MINIATURE BNC CONNECTORS

Bomar Interconnect Products, Inc. added a Miniature BNC connector to its line of V-Bite RF edgeboard connectors. The new units target pc board applications in telecommunications, video broadcast, and audio. Bomar's V-Bite design provides anti-rotation abilities, reliability, and stability as connectors snap and lock in place. Manufactured from machined brass with a straight-through contact design, the units provide a low reflection factor with a return loss of -40 dB at 2.3 GHz. A Teflon dielectric allows the units to survive reflow soldering. Units are available with 50Ù termination rated for operation up to 500 MHz and 75Ù version for low signal distortion through 3 GHz. For more information on Bomar'sV-Bite connectors, go tohttp://rbi.ims.ca/4416-565.