The trend is moving towards custom solutions optimized for specific requirements. This is where the concept of mini backplanes comes in, offering maximum performance, minimal space requirements, and a high level of reliability. High-performance fine-pitch connectors, such as ERNI Electronics' SMC and MicroSpeed components, enable the design of compact systems with high data transmission speeds.
SMC connectors with a 1.27 mm pitch have been successfully established in the market for approximately 20 years and have undergone robust development. These connectors are frequently used in numerous locations within a system, whether for mezzanine, flat cable, or coplanar configurations. Unshielded SMC connectors for applications without special high-speed requirements have been used in millions of units in applications such as programmable logic controllers (PLCs). Furthermore, SMC connectors are also available with highly reliable press-fit technology, making them ideal for passive backplanes.
For more demanding applications, the high-speed MicroSpeed connectors with a 1.0 mm pitch and their corresponding power modules are the ideal choice. They can also be adapted for high-speed serial interconnects such as PCI Express 1/2/3, Rapid IO, SATA 1 and 2, Fibre Channel, USB 3, and 10 Gigabit Ethernet (10GBASE-T or KR). Like shielded connectors, MicroSpeed components are also ideal for applications with open EMC enclosures or those meeting particularly stringent EMC performance requirements.
Along with the SMC-based demonstrators for mini backplanes presented earlier, ERNI Electronics has also developed corresponding MicroSpeed-based systems in order to highlight the many different options offered by these connector families.
