Orthogonal direct connector system delivers up to 25Gb/s data rates

The Impact system features options of 3 through 6 pair, while the technology supports high speed 25Gb/s data rates. According to Molex, it substantially eliminates airflow, cross talk and capacitance constraints in high speed channels that can be introduced through current backplane/midplane laminates. Pete Soupir, new product development manager at Molex, said: "The direct connector solution benefits from the density, signal integrity and high speed of Impact technology, without added cost and press fit assembly. The space saving combination of the direct right angle male connector and daughtercard simplifies component management for our manufacturing customers and enhances performance in data, telecommunications, medical, networking and other high speed devices." The Impact orthogonal direct connectors feature two compliant pin attach options and 18 to 72 differential pairs per orthogonal node. The 3 through 6 pair configurations include a range of options for the pcb and mating interface. According to Molex, the system takes advantage of the Impact mating interface, which it claims offers the lowest mating force in the backplane industry, and patented compliant pin technology. The system is designed to meet IEEE 10GBASE-KR and Optical Internetworking Forum (OIF) Stat Eye Compliant channel performance requirements. Featuring shorter line cards and switch module signal paths, the 2.15 x 1.35mm grid on both the Impact backplane and daughtercard are designed to reduce pcb routing complexity and costs. "Customers gain additional electrical margin in their high performance systems to run 25Gb/s+ more cleanly and mitigate the potential for bit error rates," added Soupir. "The broad edge coupled differential pair Impact orthogonal direct architecture improves airflow and delivers more robust signal across all high speed channels compared to typical routed backplane connections." The system is backward compatible with previously released Molex Impact orthogonal midplane daughtercard receptacles.