Harwin’s Datamate hi-rel connector system suitable for USB 2.0 applications

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. Comments Trimerix Test Engineer, Nigel Gaylard: “I was impressed by the performance of the connector at well above 1GHz. The impedance of the connector was stable at 105Ω 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.