Complete Guide To Selecting Board-to-Board Connectors

Anyone who’s ever looked inside an previous desktop computer and unplugged a ribbon cable is accustomed to the humble pin header. This connector is a straightforward however effective way to connect two boards collectively in a stacked association. In actual fact, it’s so fashionable that it’s been used to construct add-on shield boards for well-liked platforms like Arduino and Raspberry Pi, each of which have seen success outdoors the maker area. In a recent engagement with a client, I was shocked to see how they'd stacked up a number of Raspberry Pi boards to run some important equipment, which reveals the significance of board-to-board connectors in a lot of these modular methods. Even though pin headers are easy, it doesn’t mean they aren’t helpful. However, they aren’t the only choice, and there are many board-to-board connector options for high velocity/high frequency techniques, or for prime voltage/high power programs. These connectors discover their method into systems as diverse as military tools to medical equipment. If you’re taking a modular design method to your next hardware platform and you'll want to hyperlink multiple boards together easily, consider board-to-board connectors instead of cables.


There are many price-efficient choices in the marketplace that can guarantee sign integrity and rugged design in a range of methods. Board-to-board connectors come in quite a lot of styles and sizes to give a modular feel to a multi-board High-density PCB connector system. Pin headers: Most designers are familiar with the 1-row or 2-row pin header arrangement with 1 mm pitch. There are variations on this style, together with stacked pin headers. Pin headers can be shrouded and keyed (even multi-keyed) to ensure pinouts match when boards are connected. Mezzanine connectors: This type of board-to-board connector joins two parallel printed circuit boards in a stacked configuration. There are various mezzanine connector styles. Note that a pin header can be used as a mezzanine connector. Edge card connectors: This model connector is most commonly identified for its use in RAM sticks and COMs/SoMs. Really, it can be utilized for any board-to-board connection alongside a board edge, whether with a customized or standardized pinout.


Backplane connectors: The sort of connector deserves its personal category, both as a result of its must accommodate excessive knowledge rates and very rugged development. Standardized connectors: Some connectors could also be developed to meet very specific trade requirements beyond edge connector styles for add-in playing cards. Standards organizations that have defined specific connector styles include VITA (for backplanes), PCI-SIG (PCIe cards), IEEE (e. Here is more info about SMT High-density PCB connector connector (Suggested Internet site) stop by our page. g., 1386 customary for mezzanine), JTAG, Pc/104 (square-publish pin headers), and others. There are numerous other connectors that don’t fall into one of the above categories. The picture below shows an example of some typical products that fall inside these classes. The picture above is only a subset of all the completely different board-to-board connectors available on the market. Obviously, there are lots of variations on these connectors with totally different pin/pad counts, key/shroud kinds, mounting styles (SMD vs. When you’re trying by means of a vendor’s website or filtering by means of a elements search engine, there are a couple of other ways vendors will categorize their parts.


Within these several types of board-to-board connectors, they could also be categorized as ruggedized, excessive pace, excessive frequency, excessive present/high energy, or another designation. This is essentially marketing converse as there isn't any common definition of a excessive speed connector, high power connector, etc. One necessary exception is backplane connectors, that are strictly defined in the ANSI/VITA requirements, where particular styles pair with completely different media (copper, fiber, or coaxial cable). Another highly standardized connector fashion is the IEEE 1386 mezzanine connector. As is the case with many other elements, vendors will goal specific industries with their products and will strive to target particular applications in these industries. Consequently, you’ll see styles of board-to-board connectors that is likely to be highly ruggedized with onerous plastic shielding as they target areas like automotive, aerospace, industrial systems, or power merchandise. Generally, you'll be able to usually discover a ruggedized model of a standard connector that has the same pinout, mounting type, and pitch as its much less rugged variant.