The development of technology in the field of precision electronics is associated with the need to handle many power and communication lines. This is a significant challenge for engineers designing modular devices. Often, the application requires the use of board-to-board connectors that support dozens (or even hundreds) of lines while maintaining compact dimensions, allowing for the miniaturization of the final product. The TME catalog contains many sockets that meet such requirements. Below, we focus on the offer of the Samtec brand, which includes solutions with wide electrical parameters, characterized by high contact density and low profile housing.
Board-to-board connectors from Samtec »
In this article, we discuss topics such as:
- Diversity and applications of pin connectors
- Classic goldpin connectors with 2.54mm pitch
- Board-to-board sockets for power connections
- Pin connectors with high contact density
- PCIe standard and compatible edge connectors
- Compact sockets with 0.5mm pitch
- Mechanical specifics of hermaphroditic connectors
- Solutions for IT interface support
Pin Connectors
Pin sockets, also known as “goldpin,” are some of the most popular connectors used in electronics. They have a simple construction, are easy to install, and adaptable to the needs of various applications. Their pin pitch always has typical densities, most commonly 2.54mm or 1.27mm. It should also be emphasized that they are one of the cheapest solutions in the field of signal connectors. Samtec offers these products in many formats.
2.54mm Pitch
Pin connectors with a 2.54mm pitch are mainly used in through-hole technology circuits (THT), but to ensure compatibility, such sockets are also available in SMT versions. Samtec offers over 300 models of these connectors. They contain from 1 to 64 pins in a 1- or 2-row layout. Special variants have angled orientation (90°, with contacts parallel to the PCB surface). The manufacturer also offers versions suitable for machine mounting (pick and place) and with rolled contacts (round in cross-section).
Female connectors are available in versions with different profile heights (as low as 3.66mm for SMT elements). Male sockets may have pins with total lengths from 7.63mm to 21.08mm, allowing their use as spacers and adjusting the connection to devices of various sizes.
Pin connectors with 2.54mm pitch »
miniMATE and POWERMATE Connectors
In some cases, pin sockets are used to conduct high currents, primarily in power circuits. For the miniMATE (2.54mm pitch) and POWERMATE (4.19mm) series, maximum currents are 5.3A and 10.3A. The connector design prevents reverse polarity of the connection. Both series are available in angled versions. Their housings include locking latches, protecting the connectors against vibrations and shocks. The sockets can also be used to connect wires.
Compact Versions
The most compact pin connector in Samtec’s offer has a 1.27mm pitch. It contains from 4 to 80 gold-plated contacts in a dual-row arrangement. The lowest SMT versions have a profile height as low as 2.29mm. Although most sockets with such contact density are surface-mounted, through-hole models are also available. Connectors of selected series have alignment pins and housings that enforce proper connection orientation.
PCIe Standard and Edge Connectors
Edge connectors are mainly known from personal computers, where they have served as ports for expansion cards for decades. In fact, this type of socket is also widely used in other modular devices. Currently, a popular standard for edge connectors is PCIe (Peripheral Component Interconnect Express) originating from computer science. Samtec’s offer includes female PCIe sockets (i.e., for mounting PCBs with contact pads on the edge) available in x1, x4, x8, and x16 versions, having – respectively – 36, 64, 98, and 164 contacts.
PCIe connectors have contacts arranged with a 1mm pitch. They can carry currents up to 2.4A and handle voltages of 215V AC and 204V DC. An important feature of these sockets is also a wide thermal tolerance range from -55°C to 125°C.
PCB-PCB Sockets
The design assumptions of pin and edge connectors introduce certain limitations, primarily concerning contact density and socket height. Samtec provides many alternative solutions tailored to the needs of compact electronic devices, which require minimal distances between connected PCBs. Examples of such sockets are ERF8/ERM8 and ERF5/ERM5 products (where F/M letters refer to female/male connector types).
Products these series are designed for quick and frequently disconnected connections with high contact number requirements. They contain from 20 to 150 pins arranged in a 0.5mm or 0.8mm pitch. In addition to signal lines, they can also deliver power (up to 1.5A).
Hermaphroditic Connectors
The housing shape allows hermaphroditic connectors to pair only in one orientation.
Hermaphroditic connectors have only one type, connected in pairs by rotating 180° relative to each other. Samtec products have an audible latch at the moment of pairing, which additionally strengthens the connection (according to the manufacturer’s data, disconnection requires a force about 6-8 times greater than comparable board-to-board sockets). These solutions belong to LSEM, LSHM, and LSS series with a 0.5mm pitch, containing from 20 to 100 contacts with a current capacity of up to 2A. Depending on the model, the connection has a height of 5mm, 8mm, or 12mm.
Other PCB Connectors
Samtec’s assortment also includes many other solutions for specific applications, e.g., SIB/SIBF connectors used to connect batteries, where spring-loaded contacts press against output pads. They support currents up to 2.5A.
The highest contact density is achieved in QTH/QSH series (up to 240 pins) and SEAM/SEAF (up to 500 pins). They can be used for interfaces such as Ethernet or PCI Express, i.e., signals of very high frequencies used in computers and servers. In SEAM/SEAF sockets, contacts are arranged multi-row and require through-hole mounting – due to the connection density, they are typically placed on multilayer PCBs.
