What changes are occurring in your product lines to adapt to an ever-evolving marketplace?

Roger Kauffman and John Garing, Marketing Managers, Molex RF/Microwave Division:

A. Smaller size, this is a combination of device package sizes getting smaller and the need for a higher frequency response from the connectors. One example of an expanding market which is squeezing the same or increased functionality into ever-smaller spaces is wireless 802.11x devices.

Molex, by working closely with the OEM and CEM, has developed a new RF connector series, the SSMCX. This proprietary connector series has been in production for over a year and resolves the size and performance issues of other connectors. By locating the snap mechanism at the mating interface, performance is improved over the MMCX, particularly in dynamic conditions where the cable is flexed. Straight cable connectors to straight PCB mount jacks have been tested to 10GHz. Typical VSWR is 1.24:1 at 6GHz. Also, size is reduced by as much as 30% over the MMCX.

Take a commonplace platform, the notebook PC; almost all have built-in wireless cards and antennae. The radio module is typically near the main system board, and the antenna or antennae are adjacent to the screen. Requirements include the need to be able to replace the screen and to repair the system board, thus removable connectors are utilized. Further requirements imposed by the system design include thinner system packaging and wide format screens. The usable real estate for a removable connector system is continually challenged. Later generation 802.11x devices also operate at higher frequencies. This, coupled with the desire to keep power consumption low, creates a need for a very small, very well performing, economical connector solution. The SSMCX is a product that satisfies this need.

B. Multi-port coax solutions are driven by the need for smaller overall package sizes, ease of manufacture, and ensuring proper mating with multiple interconnects inside of a system during production.

C. IP-rated connectors for outdoor use give a secondary level of protection against water ingress in outdoor systems when the connector is used as the RF I/O port.

Hartmut Gaertner, Managing Director, Telegaertner:

We see quite a lot of changes in the demand for RF products. This is a result of the increase in the need for higher frequency. Commonly used cables (RG-cables) are replaced by low-loss cables, which in consequence results in a growing demand for improved connectors, particularly in the 50 and 75Ω range.

Also, the increase in the material costs leads to a rethinking of the regular way cables are manufactured. The most prominent example here is the change from copper to aluminum. The different mechanical properties of the latter material also demand a revision in the established connector design concepts. Of course, redesigns for connectors are also made to save weight in materials, as well as in gold/silver platings.

Furthermore, we [at Telegaertner] realize a market development going in the direction of highly-reliable, but at the same time, much more serviceable connectors. Our contribution in that area is the development of the innovative quick-lock design, for easier connections where no tools are required.

Editor’s Note: IMS Connector Systems GmbH and Telegaertner signed a QLS licensing agreement during the 2006 electronica trade show. The QLS connector employs a quick-lock mechanism that eliminates the need for installation tools—making installation simpler and faster, even for difficult to access installations points.

Higher packaging densities can be achieved, while damage to the housing is also avoided. In its plugged-in state, QLS angle plugs can be flexibly repositioned. The extraordinarily high connecting pressure at the contact zone, between plug and socket, ensure that QLS connectors offer very high contact security and outstanding electrical properties at levels usually only found with screw-on connections.

IMS Connector Systems and Telegaertner will work together globally to implement this quick-lock standard.

IMS Connector Systems’ main focus to establish product differentiation and innovated products has resulted in new manufacturing methods, new material analysis, better assembly processes, and new product features, like quick-lock systems (described above). Those improvements work in combination with the automization of new intelligent product styles, that are not considered as “simple copy” capable.

Threaded connectors are considered mature connector types, and are under extreme price pressure due to the Chinese capability to create "Chinese copies," of the typical SMA, TNC, and N-type connectors. An exemption to this is the 7/16 connectors for the basestation market. The 7/16 type connectors are mainly for key global players working with high quality connector manufacturers. Chinese manufacturers are mainly used as a cost reduction driver.

David Stonfer, Product Manager, Tyco Electronics’ RF Coax Cable Assemblies:

At Tyco, we see the following trends:

• Smaller connectors and cable assemblies are driven by the development of smaller RF devices.
• There is a drive to develop devices and components that operate at higher frequencies, in order to deliver higher bandwidth.
• There is a need to deliver quality RF coax components, at the same or lower costs.
• And, there is the need to develop custom solutions based on each customer's specific application requirements.

What elements of a photonic system are available?

GaAs, InPh lasers, WDMs, transceivers, connectors, and other components—enough to address high-speed backplane, I/O, and inter-system requirements up to 5 Gb/s—some say as high as 20 Gb/s or more. There are also multiple connector standards, including ST, LC, SC, and LG.

Tyco Electronics has introduced the Ultraminiature Coax Connector and Cable Assembly series of products to help meet some of the product changes noted above. The UMCC series is an ultra low-profile coax interconnect solution that is designed to meet the ever growing demand for miniaturization in next generation wireless applications. UMCC cable assemblies and connectors are available as double-ended jumpers and inter-series assemblies, as well as PCB jack receptacles for board-mount applications.

Tyco Electronics has the ability to solve tough problems with cable assemblies designed and manufactured to meet demanding requirements, and can engineer custom UMCC solutions to meet special requirements.

How are you meeting the needs of the RF customer today?

Roger Kauffman and John Garing, Marketing Managers, Molex RF/Microwave Division:

We provide custom solutions at relatively low minimums out of our U.S. production facility; in addition to high-volume, low-cost manufacturing at our Asian RF location.

We have designed the SSMCX connector interface which addresses the need for a smaller RF connector package size. This is available at the PCB level with associated mating micro cable assemblies.

We have designed a gang of eight SSMCX as a multi-port ganging system. We also address custom requests for ganged solutions using various requested interfaces.

Molex has a full line of bulkhead-mount IP68-rated connectors that are used for the I/O RF ports for outdoor systems, in both 50Ω and 75Ω versions.

Hartmut Gaertner, Managing Director, Telegaertner:

In general, we have always tried to meet customer needs by entering into a technical discussion as early as possible. If we jointly develop the requirements, we can design customized products under all aspects. We are specialized in that, as about 40 percent of our production is made to customer demand. We also see a trend to integrate additional RF functionality directly into the connectors, and thus removing the need for additional passive components. A more recent occurrence is that some of the end-customers do invest a significant amount of time and money into highly-specialized test equipment, previously only available to the specialized suppliers such as in the mobile communication industry. The cable assembly as a whole is scrutinized more and more with respect to passive intermodulation. This in turn, requires a closer collaboration of cable and connector manufacturers.

Richard King, Product Manager, IMS Connector Systems:

IMS Connector Systems meets the needs of its customers with:

• A high degree of quality and reliability in regards to products and services,
• A global presence and efficient key account systems,
• Good communication networking between customers and suppliers,
• High flexibility and short response time,
• Highly-skilled sales engineers for customized projects,
• And, developing exactly the components the customers is requesting for their project.

David Stonfer, Product Manager, Tyco Electronics’ RF Coax Cable Assemblies:

Tyco Electronics meets RF component and assembly customer needs by working closely with customers—getting to know the customer and their business needs extremely well.

What cable assembly services do you provide for your RF client?

Roger Kauffman and John Garing, Marketing Managers, Molex RF/Microwave Division:

Molex has custom and standard configurations in low- and high-volumes. We do 100% continuity and hi-pot on all. We can provide electrical performance testing per customers needs. We can do bundled assemblies, ganged assemblies, and individual assemblies that can include custom cable markers and testing. The assemblies are standard coaxial lines, as well as triaxial cables.

Hartmut Gaertner, Managing Director, Telegaertner:

We do all RF cable assemblies, from the smallest size up to 1/2" corrugated cable, as well as semi-rigid or hybrid cables. The market more and more demands a fast and extremely flexible assembly as a critical success factor.

Richard King, Product Manager, IMS Connector Systems:

With our new interactive cable assembly creator, IMS Connector Systems can help its website visitors to create individual RF cable assemblies, simply and quickly. The selection for the configuration contains RF connectors from a selection of 15 product families, such as SMA, SMB, MMCX, FME, N, 7/16, QLS, and over 30 different RF standard cabling options, such as RG 174, RG 178, RG 316, and RG 58. After the cable drawing is created, a quotation will follow in less than one day.

IMS Connector Systems focuses on a high degree of automization and testing, which are based on the automotive quality expectations.

David Stonfer, Product Manager, Tyco Electronics’ RF Coax Cable Assemblies:

Tyco has custom-solution design, engineering, and testing services that provide a precise match between cable, connector, and application. Tyco Electronics approaches each cable assembly requirement individually, using resources and knowledge gained from years of experience generating custom solutions.

For more information on RF products and RF cable assemblies, visit:

• www.imscs.com
• Molex website or Molex microsite
• www.telegaertner.com
• Tyco Electronics or Tyco Electronics gateway