Circular Connector’s Added Contacts Increase Functionality

A new micro-circular plastic connector is capable of handling between 12 and 19 contacts. With the additional contact positions, designers can optimize the I/O efficiency of the system they are designing. The low-cost design claims to have excellent performance and is suitable for appli- cations in medical equipment, instrumentation and industrial equipment. Different versions of the CPC connectors include wire-to-wire, wire-to-board or wire-to-panel. Two contact systems can be used. A spring-probe contact arrangement is effective for high-reliability applications such as medical equipment, high-cycle instrumentation and test and measurement equipment. Spring probe contacts are screw machined and achieve a redundant current path. They are rated for up to 5,000 mating cycles. For lower mating cycles, a precision screw machined pin and socket contact system can be used. Pricing for the size 13.5 micro CPC connector with 19 spring probe contacts is $18 per mated pair. TYCO ELECTRONICS, Harrisburg, PA. (800) 522-6752.