connectors must take up as little PCB surface space as possible.
Board-to-board connectors are also available with protected female and male contacts, in insulating bodies, and in high-speed configurations for applications with those specific requirements (Figure 2). A new board-to-board connector design with a robust, bifurcated (or hermaphroditic) contact system, suitable for high-speed data applications, gives designers even more flexibility. The contacts are recessed slightly into the housing and thus cannot be damaged during mating.
In many applications, robustness and reliability are also key selection criteria. Stress caused by vibrations is unavoidable for equipment used in industrial, transportation, medical, and other rugged applications. Rugged interconnects help systems endure harsh conditions without degradation of signal or performance. The board- to-board connector system must compensate for operating conditions to ensure reliability. For long-term equipment reliability, designers can also select modules that can be replaced in the field. RELIABLE, ROBUST CONNECTION Robust contact systems are needed for demanding industrial applications; simple pin and base strips may not be sufficient to handle the operating conditions and stress placed on the equipment. The new FP 0.8 board-to-board connector design features male and female connector strips with a 0.8 mm pitch and double contacts. Hermaphroditic contacts consisting of both male and female elements enables a vibration-resistant connection in a very tight space. There is also a wipe range that enables flexible PCB spacing within 1.5 mm per component pair (Figure 3).
Figure 2: The FINEPITCH product line from Phoenix Contact includes different types and versions of board-to-board connectors.
Space requirements also play a decisive role. Modern electronic products usually have a high component density. Consequently, miniaturization is the goal, which inevitably extends to the components within the device. To that end, selecting a board-to-board connector in the correct size is key. However, spacing the components in mezzanine PCB arrangements is also relevant. Industrial applications typically have a minimum PCB spacing of around 6 mm. The PCB spacing is much smaller in consumer electronics; with pitch dimensions of less than 1 mm, board-to-board
Figure 3: The ScaleX double contacts are designed to be hermaphroditic and vibration-resistant within a tight space.
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