功能丰富的智能移动设备推动连接器技术小型化

Rich Smart Mobile Devices Drive Miniaturization of Connector Technology

Molex公司  Joe Falcone

 

智能电话和其它无线移动设备就像是消费电子行业的一只800磅重的大猩猩，如今移动设备市场占据接近36%的电信市场份额，而且其销售量继续高速增长。自2010年7月以来，移动设备用户已突破50亿大关，全球市场渗透率约为73%。从统计的角度来看，今天世界上拥有移动电话的人数已超过了获得电力供应的人数。

Smartphones and other wireless mobile devices are the 800-pound gorilla of the consumer electronics industry. The mobile device market today accounts for approximately 36 percent of the telecom market, and sales continue to soar. Since July 2010, the number of subscribers has passed the five billion mark, reaching a global penetration of about 73 percent. To put these statistics in perspective, more people in the world today have a mobile phone than have electricity!

消费者购买智能电话、平板电脑和其它智能移动设备时，通常以其可用的内容来做决定。以苹果产品为例，现在有超过25万个可用的应用(易于使用的应用)，并且每天新增约300个应用，有超过5万家软件开发商积极地为这个流行平台开发软件。虽然其它大众智能电话操作系统目前可能只有很少的应用，但随着3G/4G联网设备用户数量增长，这些操作系统也同样趋于快速增长。

Buyers of smartphones, tablet computers, and other smart mobile devices typically make their purchasing decisions based on the content available. Take Apple devices, for example: There are now over 250,000 apps (user-friendly applications) available, with about 300 new apps being added every day by over 50,000 software publishers actively working on apps for this popular platform. Other popular smartphone operating systems may have a smaller number of apps so far, but their proliferation is also trending rapidly upwards as the number of users of 3G/4G networked devices increases.

无线用户要求无线设备具备更大的便利性和多功能性。此外，他们希望设备便携和易读，从而让他们可以在“任何时候”都能够随时接入信息和娱乐。不管是从手机上发送度假照片到微博、在路上寻找餐馆和地图方向、收看喜爱的高清电视连续剧视频，还是在会议期间快速瞄一眼足球比赛，他们要求手中拿着的智能移动设备能够立即实现。

Wireless users are demanding greater convenience and versatility in wireless devices. And, they want it in a portable, readable form to increase their “anytime” access to information and entertainment. Whether it’s the ability to send vacation photos from their phone to their Facebook page, find a restaurant and map directions when on the road, watch a high-def video of a favorite TV series, or take a quick peek at a ballgame during a meeting, they want it instantly on whatever smart mobile device they’re carrying.

很明显，我们看到内容和需求的融合已经改变了消费者与其电脑和移动设备的互动方式；而融合也在影响人们对多功能的性能与快速获得信息及娱乐内容的需求。新的智能电话将带有下一代超高速存储卡连接器，可让用户从高速无线网络下载应用或视频，并将视频内容从互联网上保存、存储，或下载到移动设备上，以及从他们的移动设备上传至其家庭网络。

Clearly, we are seeing a convergence of content and demand that has changed the way consumers interact with their PCs and mobile devices. Convergence is also influencing how people are now demanding multi-functional performance coupled with speedy information and entertainment content delivery. New smartphones will feature next-generation ultra-high-speed memory card connectors enabling users to download apps or video from high-speed wireless networks and to save, store, or upload video from the Internet to their mobile devices, and from their mobile devices to their home network.

连接器供应商的挑战

The Challenge for Connector Suppliers

那么，这些融合趋势将会如何影响智能电话、手持式产品和平板电脑等产品中嵌入式连接器系统的供应商呢？随着处理器越来越强大，而所需处理的内容和交易几乎无穷无尽，连接器供应商面对的压力是为移动设备制造商和其设计工程师提供小型和微小型连接器产品，能够满足更大容量、更快速数据速度，并保证信号的完整性和可靠性。

So how does this convergence trend impact suppliers of the connector systems embedded in smartphones, handheld, and tablet computers? With more powerful processors and a nearly limitless abundance of content and transactions to contend with, the pressure is on connector suppliers to provide mobile device makers and their design engineers with miniature and micro-miniature product offerings capable of enabling greater capacity, faster data speeds, and bulletproof signal integrity and reliability.

这些要求促使领先的连接器制造商开发各种不同类型的微小型连接器，提供极端紧凑的尺寸、低成本、高性能和灵活性，成为用于无线手持式设备的理想产品。以下将简介某些现今可用的微小型连接器解决方案，是专为处理智能电话和其它紧凑型无线设备中的典型40路信号应用而开发的。

This has spurred leading connector manufacturers to develop several different types of micro-miniature connectors offering extremely compact size, low cost, high performance, and flexibility—making them a perfect fit for wireless handheld devices. Following is a snapshot of some micro-miniature solutions available today and developed specifically to handle typical 40-circuit signal applications in smartphones and other compact wireless devices.

 

微型同轴线对板连接器解决方案

Micro Coax Wire-to-Board Connector Solutions

由于必须在紧密封装移动设备中处理大量数据，因此人们对多针脚微型同轴线对板连接系统的需求很庞大。

Given the massive data transactions that occur in tightly packaged mobile devices, the multi-pin micro coaxial wire-to-board connection system is in high demand.

 

图1  微型同轴线对板连接器解决方案

 

柔性印制线路(FPC)已经用于连接高分辨率LCD显示屏至翻盖式手机的主键盘。然而，这些柔性方案也存在问题，如电磁干扰(EMI)和机械耐用性及灵活性的不足。举例来说，最新的转屏手机要求在任何方向上以接近360度转动LCD屏幕，但柔性线路却无法处理这种过度转动。为了吸收杂散EMI，在信号迹线路之间需设置接地和屏蔽。然而，额外的接地迹线会占用更多的空间，阻碍了手持式设备的小型化趋势。若使用带屏蔽的柔性线路板，就会降低使用翻转或旋转铰链的设备的灵活性和耐用性。

Flexible printed circuitries have been used to connect high-resolution LCD units to the main keypad of flip-style mobile phones. However, these flex solutions have issues, such as electromagnetic interference (EMI) and insufficient mechanical durability and flexibility. For example, the LCD screens of the latest swivel phones are required to rotate almost 360 degrees in any direction, and flex circuitries cannot handle the abuse of this movement. In order to absorb stray EMI, a ground or shield can be placed between signal traces. However, extra traces for ground take up more space, which goes against the miniaturization trend of handheld devices. If shielded FPCs are used, flexibility and durability are compromised if the device has a flip or swivel hinge.

带有全屏蔽、0.40mm或0.30mm间距的多针脚、超薄42AWG或44AWG同轴电线的微型同轴电缆系统，能够提供针对所有这些问题的解决方案。虽然这一解决方案比柔性方案贵一些，但是，当设计人员要求更好的性能和附加功能性时，微型同轴电缆是更合适的选择。微型同轴线对板连接器系统特别适合应用于移动电话的旋转铰链/颈部、数字视频摄像机、笔记本电脑、智能电话和IP网络摄像头。

Fully shielded and available in multi-pin 0.40 or 0.30mm pitch with super thin 42 or 44 AWG coaxial wires, a micro coax system can provide solutions to all these problems. Although it is more expensive than flex solutions in general, micro coax is more suitable when designers are looking for better performance and added functionality. A micro coax wire-to-board system is especially suited for applications such as the rotating hinge/neck area of mobile phones, digital video cameras, notebook PCs, smartphones, and IP network cameras.

微间距柔性印刷电路对板连接器解决方案

FPC-to-Board Connector Solutions

微间距柔性印制电路连接器(FPC)提供了许多特性，对于在紧密封装应用里的使用是非常重要的，其紧凑的尺寸提供了所需的空间节省，例如在PCB板和LCD模块之间的空间。

Fine pitch flexible printed circuitry (FPC) connectors offer many features that are critical for use in tight packaging applications. Their compact size provides the space savings required, for example, between PC boards and LCD modules.

另外，FPC连接器也提供了零插入力致动器，能够以最小磨损反复循环使用。这些微型连接器带有各种各样的微细间距选择，包括滑盖式和翻盖式致动器，这些都是预组装的，包含了FPC和连接器端子之间的连接保护。

In addition, FPC connectors feature a zero insertion force actuator, which allows for repeat cycling with minimum wear. These mini-connectors come in various fine-pitch options, including push-pull and flip-type actuators, which are pre-assembled covers that secure the connection between the FPC and the connector terminals.

某些连接器采用双接触点设计，这样那些因为电缆配置需要而要求一块板采用顶接触类型、而另一块板上采用底部接触类型的应用就无需订购两种不同类型的FPC连接器。某些产品提供独特的FPC锁定，有助于提供定位和电缆保持力，而同时保持电缆到位以方便接插。

Some connectors are offered with dual-contact design, eliminating the need to order two different types of FPC connectors for applications that require a top-contact style on one board and a bottom contact on the other board due to cable-configuration needs. Some products offer a unique FPC lock that helps provide positioning and cable retention, while keeping the cable in place to facilitate insertion.

 

总的来说，FPC连接器在板设计和紧密封装两个方面提供了灵活性，通过提供单件式解决方案，省去了插配连接器如线对板或板对板连接器，从而降低了成本。

Overall, FPC connectors offer flexibility both in board design and tight packaging. They also save costs by offering a one-piece solution that does not require a mating connector, such as wire-to-board or board-to-board connectors.

微型板对板连接器解决方案

Micro Board-to-Board Connector Solutions

正如大家所说的在房地产行业，最重要的三个因素是位置、位置还是位置。在PCB“房地产”市场，对于微小型板对板连接器而言，尺寸就是真正重要的。由于消费娱乐装置、智能电话和其它手持式设备的尺寸缩小而功能性增多，因此在设计连接两个小型PCB的PCB时，有四个最重要的尺寸，它们是：

As they say in the real estate industry, the three most important factors are location, location, and location. In the PCB “real estate” market for micro-miniature board-to-board connectors, size is what really counts. As consumer entertainment devices, smartphones, and other handheld devices have shrunk in size while increasing in functionality, there are four dimensions that matter most when designing PCBs to connect two small PCBs together. These are:

 

l          低侧高，堆叠高度(H)小于1.00mm

l          Small profile, stack height (H) of less than 1.00mm

l          浅深度，连接器的窄宽小于3.00mm

l          Small depth, narrow width connectors of less than 3.00mm

l          小占位面积，连接器端对端尺寸(随电路大小而不同)

l          Small footprint, end-to-end dimension of the connector (varies by circuit size)

l          小间距，中心对中心接触点间距为0.40mm或更小

l          Small pitch, center–to-center contact spacing of 0.40mm or less

 

图2  这些微型的表面安装连接器可适用于紧密封装应用，如手机、数码相机或便携式音频设备

 

发展趋势指向何方

Where the Trend is Heading

 

由于智能电话和其它消费设备的尺寸不断缩小，设计工程师面对要最大化PCB空间和功率效率的压力也越来越大。这些设备的新特性增加了所需信号的数量并提高了信号性能的质量。领先的连接器制造商必须具备创造力，提供创新的技术和产品，以便在更小的PCB占位面积上增强电气和机械性能。

As smartphones and other consumer devices shrink, there is greater stress on design engineers to maximize PCB space and power efficiencies. New features to these devices increase the quantity of signals required, as well as the quality of signal performance. Leading connector manufacturers must be creative in coming up with innovative technologies and products designed to increase electrical and mechanical performance within a smaller PCB footprint.

今天，OEM市场上的3G/4G智能电话需要比以前更小的连接器，而这种趋势将会一直延续。设计工程师现在已有可用的连接器，不单具有很低的侧高(H=0.70mm)、极浅的深度(W=2.60mm)以及非常细微的0.40mm间距；而且还带有独特设计的在塑料座下的安装钉，以便实现封装面积最小化和设计灵活性最大化。例如，40路超低侧高(H=0.70mm)微型板对板连接器仅仅占用小于28mm的PCB面积。

The 3G/4G smartphones on the OEM market today require connectors to be smaller than ever, and this trend will continue. Design engineers now have available connectors with a very low profile (H=0.70mm), ultra-narrow depth (W=2.60mm), and very fine pitch of 0.40mm, with fitting nails uniquely designed under the plastic housing to minimize the footprint and maximize the design flexibility. For example, a 40-circuit ultra low profile (H=0.70mm) micro board-to-board connector will consume less than 28mm of PCB real estate.

为解决其它有关PCB组件太“嘈杂”和引起的信号完整性问题或干扰，某些微型板对板连接器提供外接金属屏蔽以提高性能。设计工程师考虑到电子器件在高振动应用环境工作，可以利用微细间距的微型板对板连接器，以达到非常高的保持力或提供能够通过跌落试验的永久插配解决方法。

To address concerns about other PCB components being too “noisy” and causing signal integrity issues or interference, some micro board-to-board connectors offer external metal shielding to improve performance. Design engineers concerned about electronic devices working in high vibration applications can leverage fine pitch micro board-to-board connectors that achieve very high retention forces or provide permanent-mate solutions to withstand drop tests.

PCB板的成本大约为每毫米0.015美分，这些微小型连接器在多种连接方面为设计人员提供了有力的支持，包括将LCD显示屏、键盘、薄膜开关、A/V或RF板、调制解调器，或GPS卡连接至主PCB。而且，由于市场持续增长，世界领先的连接器供应商必将继续突破技术极限，提供具有价格竞争力的最佳解决方案。

The cost of PCB real estate is approximately $0.015 cents per millimeter. These tiny connectors pack a powerful punch for designers who must connect LCD displays, keypads, membrane switches, A/V or RF boards, modems, or GPS cards to main PCBs. And, as the market continues to grow, world-leading connector suppliers will surely continue to push the technology envelope to deliver optimal solutions at competitive pricing.