Connector system suitable for USB 2.0 applications
1 min read
Harwin, the hi-rel connector and SMT board hardware manufacturer, has revealed that independent tests confirm that the company's Datamate connector family – a 2mm pitch board-to-board and wire-to-board product range suited to high-reliability applications – performs at high speed to make it suitable for many USB 2.0 designs.
This means that for a wide range of applications that must function in rugged environments, Datamate can be used to carry USB 2.0 information while guaranteeing high reliability – even under conditions of extreme shock, vibration, humidity or temperature change.
The tests were undertaken by independent test house, Trimerix. The company tested the Datamate connector series for rf and high speed digital performance against the EIA-364-108 standard to determine both the insertion loss and characteristic impedance.
Trimerix test engineer, Nigel Gaylard, said: "I was impressed by the performance of the connector at well above 1GHz. The impedance of the connector was stable at 105O which makes it suitable for a number of differential signalling applications, and - although marginally outside the spec for USB 2.0 – the performance of the connector is without doubt quite sufficient for most USB applications."
These results open up a whole new range of markets for Datamate – and potentially for USB 2.0. Whereas, previously if designers had wanted a hi-rel USB 2.0 connection they would have needed to tool special fixtures or housings and maybe select a custom connector, now they can use the appropriate Datamate device – potentially even running power, fibre optic or coax signals through the same device – while guaranteeing secure data transmission in the most extreme of operating conditions.
