With the development of miniaturization and integration of industrial equipment, more and more RF modules and board designs are beginning to use board-mounted RF connectors. However, board connectors are significantly different from traditional bulkhead and surface-mount connectors, and their mounting position at the edge of the board makes mounting firmness and continuous connectivity even more concerning. In order to maintain the effectiveness of installation and use, board end connectors are generally fixed by soldering and crimping. So, in practice, and then at the beginning of the design phase, you can choose the right approach? This needs to be considered in combination with specific application scenarios, process conditions and performance requirements, first of all, let’s look at soldered installation.
Solder-type connector characteristics and application scenarios
•Advantage:
o High mechanical strength: The PCB circuit and the connector metal parts are fused through solder to form an integrated structure, which has stronger resistance to tension and vibration.
o Good signal stability: soldering can reduce contact resistance and signal loss, especially suitable for high-frequency and high-power RF transmission scenarios.
o Long-term reliability: Solder joints are not susceptible to performance degradation due to environmental changes (such as temperature fluctuations, oxidation), and are suitable for fixed installation and no frequent plugging and unplugging.
•Inferior position:
o High process complexity: professional soldering tools and operation skills are required, and improper operation can easily lead to virtual welding or thermal damage.
o Difficult maintenance: Once the soldering is completed, the solder joints need to be reheated to remove or replace, which may affect other components of the PCB board.
It can be seen that solder connectors have stable electrical connectivity, but the installation process is complex, and they are not easy to replace and maintain, so they are not suitable for application scenarios that require frequent plugging and unplugging, such as test and measurement equipment. In addition, with the development of industrial technology, the RF frequency continues to increase, and the value of the device on the entire RF equipment also increases, even in fixed application scenarios, the need for replacement and repair of individual devices is becoming increasingly prominent. In this case, the advantages of the soldered connection method become a disadvantage that hinders replacement and maintenance. However, without welding, the firmness of the connection and electrical connectivity cannot be guaranteed. In response to these issues, Cinch has developed a series of board end connectors that are secured using screw-assisted crimping.
Features of Cinch Crimp Board End RF Connectors:
• Benefits:
o Easy installation: The connector is fixed on the PCB through screws and nuts, which is stronger than traditional soldering and effectively resists external force and vibration.
o Signal stability: The center conductor is tightly attached to the PCB circuit to maintain effective electrical connectivity.
o Easy maintenance: The solder-free design makes it possible to quickly disassemble in the field, and the replacement and repair operation is convenient without damaging the circuit board and other components.
o Reusability: The product can be reused after disassembly
o Wide range of applications; The high redundancy of the nut fixtures allows for different PCB thicknesses
• Applicable Scenarios:
o Test & Measurement Systems
o Test equipment fixtures
o Board module optimization
o 5G and communication equipment
In line with the development trend of equipment miniaturization, Cinch has developed a series of products with different heights and sizes, and applied them to SMA, 2.92mm, 2.4mm, 1.85mm, 1.0mm and other mid-to-high-frequency bands. At the same time, these crimping products also support soldering operations on the surface of the PCB to cope with some extreme application scenarios.
The above is a basic introduction and comparison of the two products, and users can make a reasonable choice according to the actual application scenario. You can also log on to the official website of Cinch to check the product details.
Cinch official site: Search RF & Microwave Connectors - Cinch Connectivity Solutions