Current Developments in High Reliability Connector Systems

The reliability of an electronic connector is more important now than at any time in the past. Not only has system complexity grown but operating environmental conditions are more severe and system speed has made circuits less tolerant of any interference. With “fly by wire” aircraft, and fully computer controlled communications systems, even more demanding performance is required. However system reliability is calculated, whether by MIL‐HDBK‐217B, or latest S.A.E. data, or the more traditional MTBF calculations, it is clear that connections form a key part of the total statistics. As a greater number of components have become interconnected, either by rack, module, panel, backplane, or PCB, pin counts on connectors have slowly increased. A connector which only a few years ago would have 160 ways now has 220 or 330 ways. Finally, as component sizes shrink and on‐chip integration grows there is very significant pressure to reduce the size of connectors whilst at the same time further improving reliability.