The connector, as the name implies, is an electromechanical component that connects a conductor with an appropriate counterpart component to realize the connection and disconnection of the circuit.
The connector is a component that our electronic engineering and technical personnel often contact. Its function is very simple: to build a bridge of communication between blocked or isolated circuits in the circuit, so that the current can flow, and the circuit can realize the predetermined function. Connectors are an indispensable part of electronic equipment. Observing along the path of current flow, you will always find one or more connectors. Connector forms and structures are ever-changing. There are various types of connectors with different application objects, frequencies, power, and application environments. For example, the connectors for lighting on the court and the connectors for hard drives, and the connectors for igniting rockets are quite different. But no matter what kind of connector, it is necessary to ensure that the current flows smoothly, continuously and reliably. In general terms, what the connector is connected to is not limited to current. In today's rapid development of optoelectronic technology, the carrier of the signal transmission is light in the optical fiber system. Glass and plastic replace the wires in the ordinary circuit, but the optical signal Connectors are also used in the pathways, and their functions are the same as circuit connectors.
The basic performance of connectors can be divided into three categories: mechanical performance, electrical performance and environmental performance. Another important mechanical property is the mechanical life of the connector. Mechanical life is actually an indicator of durability (durability). It takes a cycle of engagement and separation as a cycle, and judges whether the connector can normally complete its connection function after the specified engagement and separation cycle.
1. Mechanical performance As far as the connection function is concerned, the insertion and extraction force is an important mechanical performance. Insertion and extraction force is divided into insertion force and extraction force (extraction force is also called separation force), the requirements of the two are different. There are provisions for maximum insertion force and minimum separation force in the relevant standards, which shows that from the perspective of use, the insertion force should be small (there are low insertion force LIF and no insertion force ZIF structure), and if the separation force is too small, It will affect the reliability of the contact. The insertion and extraction force and mechanical life of the connector are related to the contact structure (positive pressure), the coating quality (sliding friction coefficient) of the contact part, and the dimensional accuracy of the contact arrangement (alignment).
2. Electrical performance The main electrical performance of the connector includes contact resistance, insulation resistance and dielectric strength.
3. Environmental performance Common environmental performance includes resistance to temperature, humidity, salt spray, vibration, and shock. With the rapid growth of consumer electronics, automotive electronics, and communication terminal markets and the continuous transfer of global connector production capacity to Asia and China, Asia has become the most promising place for the connector market, and China will become the world’s fastest growing connector And the market with the largest capacity. It is estimated that the growth rate of China's connector market in the future will continue to exceed the global average. In the next 5 years, the average annual growth rate of China's connector market will reach 15%. By 2010, China's connector market capacity will reach 257 100 million yuan.
The main supporting fields of electrical connectors are transportation, communication, network, IT, medical treatment, home appliances, etc. The rapid development of product technology in supporting fields and the rapid growth of the market have strongly driven the development of connector technology. So far, the connector has developed into a series and professional product with complete product categories, rich varieties and specifications, diverse structure types, subdivision of professional directions, obvious industry characteristics, and standard system specifications.
On the whole, the development of connector technology presents the following characteristics: high-speed and digitization of signal transmission, integration of various signal transmissions, miniaturization and miniaturization of product volume, low-cost products, and contact termination methods. Pasting, modular combination, convenient plug-in and so on. The above technology represents the development direction of connector technology, but it needs to be explained: the above technology is not necessary for all connectors, and different configurations.
The requirements for the above technology are completely different for the connectors in the field and different use environments.
Industry insiders are optimistic that in the next five years, although the rate of capacity transfer in the more price-sensitive computer and peripherals, consumer electronics and other markets will slow down, due to the increase in domestic demand, the Chinese connector market will maintain rapid growth. It is estimated that the compound growth rate of China's connector market can still reach about 15%. We look forward to the rapid development of the electronic connector industry, thereby promoting the steady progress of the world economy!
