TE News: Connectors for high-speed data transmission

TE Connectivity (TE), a world leader in connectivity and sensors, has unveiled its new industrial mini I/O connector system, a compact, wire-to-wire, and wire-to-board solution for reliable serial, bus, and Ethernet connections in industrial applications. The new connectors are 75 percent smaller than conventional RJ45 plugs, providing critical space savings on increasingly compact circuit boards.

Target applications for the new connectors include DIN rail equipment, motor drives, robotics, and other products operating in environments prone to shock and vibration, especially where space is at a premium.

“At close to 25 percent of the size of a traditional RJ45, our new industrial mini I/O solution is small but tough,” says Ruud van den Brink, TE product manager. “The reduced height allows design engineers to develop more compact modules for DIN rail systems.”

Van den Brink says mini I/O field-installable connectors can be installed quickly and easily in the field, with a significantly reduced risk of error, almost without the need for tools and extensive wire length preparation.

“They have just two parts, the termination unit, and a rugged diecast outer housing,” he says. “The connector automatically cuts off the wire at the optimal length during contacting, which provides for excellent (CAT5e/CAT6a) transmission performance.” 

The use of an insulation displacement crimp (IDC) termination means that the time needed to terminate the wires is much shorter than with soldering.

Key benefits of the new industrial mini I/O connector system include:

• Prevents mismating — Two interfaces (Type 1 and Type 2) prevent mismating. 
• Reduces accidental pull-out — High retention of the board connectors, combined with a compact metal-latching mechanism, significantly reduces accidental pull-out. 
• Retention force — Cable retention force is 100N.
• Signal path design — Signal integrity is optimized by the signal path design, while 360-degree shielding provides CAT6a performance.