Downers Grove, IL. Hirose announced it has developed a rugged I/O connector that combines a small robust design with high-speed data transmission capabilities that enables industrial equipment advancements in smart manufacturing. The IX Series connector reduces installation space by up to 75% compared to RJ45 solutions, and up to 28% compared to competing snap-in I/O connectors, the company said. Supporting CAT5e and CAT6a (10G) cabling, the IX Series I/O connector features an optimized EMI/ESD shielding design for safe and secure data transmission up to 10 Gb/s.
Offered in upright right angle and horizontal right angle versions, the IX Series I/O has maximum dimensions of 22.9 mm x 8.4 mm x 14.3 mm. The upright right-angle connector receptacles can be mounted in parallel with a pitch distance of only 10 mm. The narrow width of the receptacle is particularly beneficial when multiple connectors are positioned on a single PCB side-by-side.
Featuring a rugged and reliable design, the snap-in I/O connector has a positive metal lock with a preload spring mechanism that provides a clear tactile click and ensures complete, secure mating. The preloaded springs are designed to prevent unintended cable removal, and to extend the operating life to more than 5,000 mating/unmating cycles.
“The importance of reliable communication and data exchange between industrial equipment has increased with Industry 4.0. Developed for use in industrial automation and manufacturing environments, the rugged IX Series combines high-speed performance and a compact design with high reliability and design flexibility,” said Bill Kysiak, product marketing manager for Hirose Electric USA. “With an innovative design that is ideal for daisy-chaining applications, the space-saving IX Series connector can facilitate a significant size reduction of industrial machine-vision modules.”
The receptacle shell is mounted on the PCB via a through-hole solder legs to enhance PCB retention and to resist the wrenching of the cable assembly, protecting the SMT leads. The wire-termination unit and cable clamp are integrated into a single plug shell, which prevents the connecting part of the cable assembly from being affected by the load on the cable.
Because the IX Series connector’s receptacle supports THR soldering as a substitute for manual soldering, the receptacle can be mounted on the PCB containing both THT and SMT components in a single SMT process. This also contributes to the high PCB retention force.
The IX Series I/O connector has a rated current of 0.5 A (all pins), 1 A (any 2 pins), and 2 A (pin No. 1 and No. 8 only). With an operating temperature range of -40°C to +80°C, the IX Series connector has a rated voltage of 30 VAC.