Interconnection


Figure 3: ix connectors are available with two mechanical coding designs to prevent inserting an Ethernet plug into a non-Ethernet socket and vice versa. (Image source: Hirose)


sockets provide mechanical ruggedness and enhances EMC performance. These sockets have five through-hole retention tabs, two on each side and one in the rear between the two sets of signal contacts, while RJ45 connectors have only three tabs. The tabs on ix connector sockets are also more robust compared with the tabs on RJ45 sockets. When soldered to the pc board, the ix socket tabs protect the signal contacts from stress when a plug is mated or unmated. They also increase the ability of the socket to withstand shock and vibration. The soldered tabs connect directly to ground on the pc board, enhancing EMI protection (Figure 2).


The use of modular and reconfigurable systems is changing the expectations for connector performance. Connectors are no longer left in place for the lifetime of an installation. Production stations, tools, and other system components need the ability to be rearranged frequently to support the mass customization that’s a defining characteristic of Industry 4.0. As a result, a connector may be plugged and unplugged hundreds or thousands of times over its lifetime. Hirose’s ix connectors are designed and tested to 5,000 mating cycles and still meet all the performance requirements of IEC 61076-3-124.


Non-Ethernet connections IEC 61076-3-124 supports Ethernet and non-Ethernet connectivity. To prevent misconnections, separate mechanical coding schemes labelled ‘A’ and ‘B’ are used for Ethernet and non-Ethernet ix connectors, respectively (Figure 3): ● ‘A’ type ix connectors are capable of handling transmission rates up to 10 Gbits/s. They can support PoE and PoE+, and are


www.cieonline.co.uk


identifiable by a 45° polarization chamfer on the lower left corner of the socket. ● ‘B’ type ix connectors are designed for use in all non-Ethernet applications, such as signalling and various serial and other industrial communications protocols. They can be identified by a 45° chamfer located on the upper left corner of the socket.


Integration flexibility These connectors also enhance the flexibility of system integration. Cables can be connected to ix connector sockets by soldering or using insulation displacement connections (IDC). Solder connections can speed the production of cable assemblies in a factory environment.


IDC connections are often used to produce cable assemblies in the field and can reduce installation time by up to 50 per cent due to the reduction in wire stripping, twisting, and soldering. There are four corresponding connector families, identified as 30, 31, 32, and 40. The first three support different IDC cable sizes, with the fourth being used for solder connections: ● 30: IDC using wire sizes 26 to 28 American wire gauge (AWG), with an insulator outer diameter ranging from 0.95 to 1.05 mm ● 31: IDC using wire sizes 24 to 25 AWG, with an insulator outer diameter ranging from 1.1 to 1.25 mm ● 32: IDC using 22 AWG wire, with an insulator outer diameter ranging from 1.4 to 1.6 mm ● 40: Hand soldered


Hirose also offers ix connectors with three receptacle configurations and three plug configurations to suit specific application needs (Figure 4). Receptacle configurations include: ● Upright right angle that can be mounted in parallel with a pitch distance of 10 mm to save pc board space in high- density systems ● Vertical type allows the connector to be mated from the top ● The low profile right angle receptacle is 5.7 mm high, less than half the height of an RJ45 connector


Plug configurations include: ● Straight cabling


● Right angle upward cabling ● Right angle downward cabling


ix connector examples


In addition to the configurations and options detailed above, Hirose offers designers a selection of gold plating or palladium-nickel plating plus gold plating on the contact surfaces. Examples of the dozens of ix connectors from Hirose include: ● IX80G-B-10P(01), Type B vertical receptacle with 0.75 micrometers (μm) of palladium-nickel plus 0.05 μm of gold plating ● IX80G-A-10P(01), Type A vertical receptacle with 0.75 μm of palladium-nickel plus 0.05 μm of gold plating ● IX61G-B-10P, Type B upward right-angle receptacle with 0.2 μm gold plating ● IX60G-A-10P, Type A right angle receptacle with 0.2 μm gold plating ● IX31G-A-10S-CV(7.0), Type A straight plug with 0.2 μm gold plating ● IX30G-A-10S-CVL2(7.0), Type A right angle upward plug with 0.2 μm gold plating ● IX30G-B-10S-CVL1(7.0), Type B right angle down plug with 0.2 μm gold plating


Field assembly


High availability is required in industrial Ethernet applications, and field assembly of cabling can be an important consideration. It can speed the installation of equipment, especially in modular architectures to facilitate the rapid replacement of cable assemblies that have become worn or damaged. To address the need for field assembly, Hirose offers


Figure 4: Receptacles are available in three styles; a different style is shown on each of the three circuit boards. Each circuit board includes the three styles of ix connector plugs. (Image source: Hirose)


Components in Electronics February 2023 35


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44  |  Page 45  |  Page 46  |  Page 47  |  Page 48  |  Page 49  |  Page 50  |  Page 51  |  Page 52  |  Page 53  |  Page 54  |  Page 55  |  Page 56  |  Page 57  |  Page 58  |  Page 59  |  Page 60  |  Page 61  |  Page 62