Introduction to the properties of the connectorUnfortunately, connectors can cause unacceptably high product failure rates. One reason for this is that connectors are generally of low priority during the initial design phase of the system. If the correct connector design is not considered early in the design process, this may result in the design engineer being limited to a limited connector space and access range. Connectors are increasingly strict on the system, especially for higher speed, faster rise time and higher density requirements. After selecting a connector and designing it into the system, it is often difficult to change due to space constraints and access.
All real connectors are a compromise for the ideal product, with thousands of options available. The goal is to select the best connector for a given application. So how do you start it? Initially, the responsible engineer needs to determine and document the design specifications of the product. The specification can be defined as a description of the physical and functional properties of the connector and the required costs. Ideally, requirements should be numerical in the appropriate units and appropriate restrictions. Essentially, the specs are a declaration of the connector properties that the user wants to buy.
The specification has two basic functions: one is to communicate with potential suppliers. Another purpose is to provide standards so that connectors can be compared across manufacturers. The requirements of these specifications can come from a variety of sources, including, but not limited to, the following sources: sales, marketing, standards, safety approval bodies, and system function requirements.
Sales and marketing departments often provide input on connector aesthetics, including textures, colors, sizes, and more. These attributes are mainly related to the products visible to the user at level 5 and higher. Sales and marketing teams should also provide startup and production forecasts for the coming years, which will determine whether the new custom product is financially sound or has to be off-the-shelf connectors.
Product standard requirements are also generally applicable to level 5 and higher and have been put in place to ensure interchangeability of the various connector supplier products. Three of many standard interfaces are USB, RS-232 and RJ-45. These documents need to be reviewed to ensure compliance. Safety accreditation bodies specify requirements for connectors, such as spacing between charged and charged metal parts of different polarities; flammability requirements; maintaining housing contact; insulation resistance between contacts; such institutions include the insurer's laboratory (UL) of the Canadian Standards Institute (CSA) and the European Standard VDE.
There are identifiable interconnection levels (LOI), and each level may have specific unique requirements. Level Zero to Level 4 is the level within the device, usually paired and paired by skilled manufacturers who are familiar with the connectors and are better at handling smaller and sometimes fragile connectors. Experience has shown that the center-line spacing of the inner connector is getting smaller and smaller. At level 5 and higher, these interconnections are usually handled by users who are less familiar with the connector, so robustness is a required feature. These products require excellent polarization, retention, import, and stress removal capabilities.
Once the design specification is established, it is necessary to obtain quotes for specific connectors and fully understand the design objectives and limitations in order to make the best, most reliable choice. Assuming that connectors are often the cause of the highest system failure rate, this person should be very aware of the connector type and the various connector suppliers. The person should be an industry expert.
Individuals acting as component engineers must be involved in the specification and selection process. Over the past few decades, component engineers have become more common in the industry, mainly in large companies. Seems to have lost the function and delegated more to generalists with many hats than to the experts needed for the activity.
Component engineers supervise the connector selection process, fully understand the design specifications, and ensure that the product meets or exceeds the requirements. This person knows the suppliers in the industry and knows the strengths and weaknesses of each manufacturer. The Engineer will not approve the use of the connector in the system until all specification requirements are met or exceeded, and the person shall be fully responsible for the performance and reliability of the product.
In short, the connector is usually the only cause of system failure, and all connectors are a different compromise from the perfect product. The component engineer shall begin his participation in connector selection activities early in the design process. Connector industry expertise shall be responsible for the selection of interconnected products that meet the product application requirements.
