Hirose’s new rugged, space-saving BTB power connector

Hirose has designed a board-to-board connector with a highly reliable floating contact mechanism and self-alignment structure that simplifies assembly. Providing +/- 0.6mm floating in the X and Y axis directions, the FX20 Series absorbs mounting misalignment from multiple stacking connectors as well as PCB shrinkage caused by high temperatures.

Ideal for industrial and vehicle applications, the FX20 Series is a new member of Hirose’s FunctionMax family. It has a highly reliable double beam contact structure that provides high shock and vibration resistance. Each contact beam has a different vibration characteristic and a different contact force, which widens the frequency range and reduces resonance. In this unique design, the first beam has a 0.5N contact force, while the second beam has a 0.35N contact force. The FX20 Series is resistant to sulfur dioxide, and operates in environments up to 105 degrees C, with thermal shock protection from -40 degrees C to +85 degrees C for up to 1000 cycles.

The board-to-board connector’s double beam contact structure also provides self-cleaning functionality. The first beam eliminates dust from the contact path, securing an ultra-reliable contact path for second beam. The contacts of both the header and receptacle are also enclosed in the housing, which provides advanced protection against dust. This feature also reduces the risk of dust adhesion due to solder waste and flux during the mounting process. Both the FX20 Series and Hirose’s FX18 Series feature the same stack height variations as well as a floating design, allowing use of both series on the same board in a parallel configuration, providing high speed and high current capability.

The space saving FX20 Series connector has a compact 0.5mm pitch design that delivers a 0.5 Amp current per pin capacity. Using highly conductive contact materials that minimize loss and reduce heat generation, the FX20 Series connector requires only 120 positions to carry 60 Amps versus 200 positions from competing technologies.

“Hirose’s FX20 Series board-to-board connector was developed to provide engineers with unparalleled design flexibility. From the floating mechanism, self-aligning structure and dual beam contact construction to the flexible circuit patterning and level surface for pick-and-place attachment, the FX20 Series simplifies the design and assembly process to provide time and cost savings,” said Rick van Weezel, Vice-President of Sales and Marketing for Hirose Electric USA.

The FX20 Series offers large mating guide pins on the header, which allows for +/- 1.2mm self-alignment producing easy mating. The connector also features a flat, leveled surface that allows for automatic pick-and-place mounting. To save valuable space on the board, the area beneath the FX20 Series connector is available for other PCB circuits and through-hole assemblies.

The connector is offered in a parallel stacking version with stacking heights of 15, 20, 25 and 30mm, as well as a right-angle mating type. Both types are available from 20 to 140 positions, and range from 17.4mm to 47.4mm in width.

The FX20 Series is designed for a wide range of applications including automotive/vehicle, broadcast equipment, base station transceivers, auto navigation/ radio, industrial equipment, measuring instrumentation, medical devices, multifunction printer/copiers, projectors, smart meters and more.