PCB Interconnects and Socket Technology

[mhoulroyd]

The goal of any design engineer is to minimize the use of connectors, as connectors are typically the most expensive component on their PCB. Connectors present headaches; they require thicker solder paste, connectors typically come in pairs: a male pin header and a female socket. A spring pin connector and its target connector mate.
Connectors also take up a lot of PCB real-estate. But no matter how engineers try to design out connector hardware like with RFID, this dinosaur will evolve into something else. Back in the early 1990's when SMT replaced through-hole design, screw machine sockets evolved into SMT termination types. In fact, the latest evolution of the connector sees the elimination of the pin to socket being replaced by compression spring pin technology. Nope, this dinosaur is not going away anytime soon.

 

[barry]

Sooooo, what's your point? That there are connectors?

 

[mhoulroyd]

Hi Barry,
Thank you for reading my post. The point is that no matter how much engineers want to "design out" physical hardware (pins, sockets, spring pins....etc) with new wireless technologies like RFID, they can't completely get away from them. It may be a case where they need the hardware for redundancy, safety factors, power capability, etc. The connector hardware industry keeps evolving too, like incorporating shielding and strip-line construction for high-speed signal transmission. Look at a Samtec, they keep developing new high-density, high-speed connector hardware. Thanks again for your comments. Kind Regards, Marty