Cover story


Figure 2: The Chip-in- Connector USB-to-serial family is available in 1.8V, 3.3V and 5V variants. It comes with a high-quality USB-C data cable


PCB itself as the connection point. The Chip-in-Connector fits the same pattern, eliminating a physical connector and reducing the footprint on the PCB. Sherman doesn’t see the Chip-in-Connector as a


replacement for everything that came before it. “There’s nothing wrong with the traditional cables


attached to programmers and debuggers if they work for you,” he said. “We’ve sold millions of cables for this application. This isn’t about that being wrong. It’s about simplifying use and improving signal integrity – and eliminating the USB box in the middle.”


www.Tag-Connect.com w


ABOUT TAG-CONNECT’S NEW CHIP-IN-CONNECTOR FAMILY


Q: Is this a new innovation from Tag-Connect? A: Yes, the Chip-in-Connector family was developed in-house and is a USA-manufactured product.


The project illustrated how mechanical design,


manufacturing processes and electrical performance become inseparable at the very small scale. Sherman believes the same approach has even broader


potential. By locating the interface electronics close to the target, the same concept can support higher-speed protocols and simplify board bring-up activities. “The FT232H version of our Chip-in-Connector supports all the protocols, including SPI and I2C – even JTAG,” said Sherman. “It is a really handy part.” Sherman also sees advantages for FPGA configuration and early-stage hardware development, where moving data quickly and reliably onto a board is important, while avoiding additional interface components on the target design. More broadly, it reflects a growing shift in how many engineers think about debug and test access. Development interfaces are increasingly treated as


temporary engineering tools rather than permanent features of the finished product. Instead of allocating valuable PCB area to connectors that are only used during manufacturing or firmware development, designers increasingly favour compact connections that disappear from the final assembly. Tag-Connect has followed this approach for many years


through its Plug-of-Nails connector, which saves cost and space on every board by eliminating the traditional programming header, replacing it with just a footprint of pads and holes in the board, into which the Plug-of-Nails connects. More recently, Edge-Connect has taken the concept even further by using the literal side edge of the


Q: Will the FT232H version have the same capabilities as a conventional FTDI cable? A: The TC2030-CIC-FT232H Adapter features plug-and-play installation, robust data transfer rates, diagnostic utilities, and advanced protocol support. It enables engineers to use a single USB-C connection for a wider range of embedded development tasks. The 6-pin version supports the most commonly used signals, such as Tx/Rx and CTS/RTS. DTR variants of each Vcc option are also available. A 10-pin version, which is slated for a release later this year, will function as a full-capability FTDI cable replacement and JTAG debugger. For both versions, bit-banging is supported, allowing you to easily emulate interfaces using the provided drivers. Supported protocols are UART (USB-to- Serial), SPI, and I2C communications.


Q: What is the story behind the commemorative product labels? A: The commemorative labels started as a way to honor members of our Okinawa team who play an important role in a sub-assembly of Tag-Connect connectors. Each label features an original illustrated portrait of a team member and their name, as a tribute to the people whose skills support our products. The artwork was inspired by Japanese illustration styles in recognition of the team’s heritage. “Traditionally our Tag-Connect part numbers look quite similar, sometimes leading to ordering mistakes. This is a way of identifying a specifi c part more obviously,” said Neil Sherman, President of Tag-Connect.


www.electronicsworld.co.uk July/August 2026 07


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