Floating connectors enable design flexibility

Capable of withstanding up to ±0.5mm misalignment in both the X and Y axes, these fine-pitch, high-pin-count board-to-board connectors offer perfect alignment, high-speed data transmission, mixed signal and power options, high contact reliability and multiple mounting options.

The Flecto floating connector is a board-to-board electromechanical interconnect for data and/or power, unlike traditional connectors, floating connectors features a spring-like mechanism to provide elasticity and take the stress off both the solder joints and contact pins allowing them to absorb misalignments and small movements in multiple axes.

Growth of automated manufacturing has driven demand for solutions compatible with high-speed placement of board-to-board connectors.

However, when engineers have connectors mating the same two PCBs, the tolerance of the product location (whether from PCB manufacture, paste location, pick and place accuracy or a combination of these) can mean that one or both connectors will encounter additional side-loading and risk of damage that can halt production or lead to quality issues.

The Flecto connectors are ideal for use in situations where two or more board-to-board connectors need to be used on a PCB, the flexibility allowed by the floating design of the connector means tolerances can be much more forgiving without compromising connection density or reliability.

The mating area of the male connector can move by up to ±0.5mm from the centreline. This compensates for positional misalignment across multiple connectors.

It also eases any stresses from misaligned connections, helping maintain the contact force over time. The connectors utilise Gull-wing SMT terminations on the signal contacts allowing for easy solder inspection, the additional SMT hold-downs on the signal-only connectors give increased peel strength on the PCB.

Location pegs or through board power pins provide an additional assembly aid for PCB placement.

The Flecto range is offered in up to 160 contacts in a symmetrical double-row layout with a wide range of board-to-board heights catered for from 7.2mm to 29.9mm, an additional horizontal option is offered for 90° daughterboards.

There is a choice of three miniature pitches: 0.5mm (.0197”), 0.635mm (.025”) and 0.8mm (0.0315”).

Additional power pins with a current rating of 3A are also offered in the 0.5mm pitch range.

The connectors are constructed using high temperature LCP material for the housings, which are suitable for reflow soldering, and copper alloy for contacts with gold finish on the contact area and gold or tin finish on the terminations. The connectors are flame retardant to UL94V-0 standard and have an operating temperature range from -55°C to +105°C (signal + power) or -40°C to +105°C (signal only).

Mechanical durability is up to 100 operations, maximum voltage rating is 250V AC/DC with data rates up to 8Gb/s (0.5mm pitch), 12Gb/s (0.635mm pitch) and 5Gb/s (0.80mm pitch).

The Flecto 0.5mm pitch range are offered in signal only (F10/F12 series) or signal + power (F11 series) options, the 2 power contacts are located at each end of the connector and can handle up to 3A of current.

The Flecto 0.635mm (F20 series) and 0.8mm (F30 series) pitch range are offered in signal only configuration.

These connectors are suitable for a wide range of applications including Factory Automation equipment, Test & Instrumentation, Electric Vehicles, EV Chargers, LED Signage, Security Cameras, Communications and other portable electronic devices where multiple PCB’s need to be interfaced together.

Anglia are offering customers free samples of the Flecto board-to-board floating connectors from Harwin