High-speed edge card connector provides flexible stacking heights

Hirose has developed a 0.8 mm pitch board-to-board connector that allows for flexible stacking heights. The high-speed card edge FX27 series connector allows for varying board stack heights by simply changing the length the printed circuit board (PCB) interposer, eliminating the need for different height connectors.

Additionally, the FX27 series features an increased XY axis floating range compared to previous high-speed FunctionMax family connectors. Now supporting a floating range of ±1.2 mm in both the X and Y directions, the FX27 series board-to-board connector absorbs stress from misalignment while tightening screws and PCB shrinkage caused by high temperatures

This high-speed card edge connector also has a wide self-alignment range of ±0.7 mm in both the X and Y directions. The floating contact and self-alignment design eases the assembly process providing time and cost savings – especially when mating multiple connectors on the same board.

The FX27 series is designed for industrial and vehicle applications. A friction lock on one side ensures the interposer board is retained on the desired connector when unmating.

Supporting PCI Express Gen 1 interface standard, it offers data transmission speeds up to 2.5 Gbps. When used as a stacking connector, the FX27 series stacking height, wiring and component mounting are customizable. A conductor to transmit power with flexible height adjustment is also available.

“The newest member of Hirose’s high-speed FunctionMax family, the FX27 series connector’s flexible stacking height capability, floating contact and self-alignment features simplify both the design and assembly process,” said Bill Kysiak, Product Marketing Manager for Hirose Electric USA. “Most board-to-board connectors require two connectors that are a specific length. So changing the board-to-board spacing requires changing to a different connector. If the desired height is not available, it could require tooling a new connector height. The FX27 series unique design allows for varying heights by simply changing the PCB interposer length.”

The board-to-board connector’s double beam contact design offers self-cleaning functionality. The first beam eliminates dust from the contact path, securing an ultra-reliable contact path for second beam. The contacts on both receptacles are enclosed in a housing, which provides advanced protection against dust. This feature also reduces the risk of dust adhesion due to solder waste and flux during the mounting process.

The FX27 series operates in environments from –55° to 105° C, including the temperature rising by current flow and delivers a 0.5 A current per pin capacity. Recommended PCB layout is 60 positions for mounting, interposer and cut out designs.

In addition to industrial and automotive environments, the FX27 series is designed for a wide range of applications including base station, servo drive, server, servo motor, cash register, ultrasonic diagnosis equipment, PLC and more.

Hirose Electric Co. Ltd.
www.hirose.com