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Mixed Reality Glasses Connectors

Connectors are essential in enhancing mixed reality glasses functionality and durability, enabling engineers to achieve the next level of immersive experiences. Explore how Molex's advanced connector solutions help design engineers tackle the challenges of mixed reality glasses, from compact integration and efficient power management to maintaining signal integrity and data transfer speed. Molex innovative connector designs provide reliable performance, helping to ensure crisp visuals, clear audio and responsive controls.  

Mastering MR Glasses Design: Trends, Challenges, and Molex Solutions


Designers of mixed reality (MR) glasses are at the forefront of blurring the lines between the digital and physical worlds. Their designs integrate advanced sensors and displays to overlay digital content onto the physical world, transforming how people perceive and interact with their surroundings. For design engineers, miniaturization stands as a pivotal trend, allowing devices to be both compact and lightweight while delivering cutting-edge functionality. Electrical connectors are at the heart of this evolution, enabling the integration of high-speed data transmission, efficient power management and diverse functionally within significantly limited space. Designers face the challenge of ensuring reliable performance in varied environmental conditions while maintaining signal integrity to deliver immersive user experiences. Effective thermal management and durable designs are essential to mitigate overheating and withstand the rigors of daily use, ensuring that MR glasses meet consumer expectations.

To overcome these challenges, engineers require connectors that not only support miniaturization but also maintain exceptional data rate and power efficiency. It is crucial for connectors to ensure superior thermal management and reliability. High-speed, versatile connectivity options are essential for integrating multiple features and ensuring seamless interfacing with other technologies. Additionally, durability and ergonomic placement of connectors are fundamental to sustaining comfort and usability in MR glasses, making them suitable for extended wear.

Molex provides innovative solutions that empower engineers to navigate the complexities of MR glasses design. Our range of miniaturized connectors, including Quad-Row, SlimStack and FFC/FPC Connectors, enables the creation of compact designs without sacrificing performance. These advanced connectors facilitate high-speed data transmission and efficient power management, crucial for optimizing performance and battery life. Molex's RF connectors ensure impeccable signal integrity and 5G connectivity, setting the stage for the next generation of MR experiences. Designed for reliability and durability, Molex connectors provide the robustness needed for everyday use, helping engineers create next-generation mixed reality experiences.


Display Connectors for MR Glasses


Engineers designing mixed reality glasses face the ongoing challenge of integrating connectivity solutions within the device's ultra-compact form factor that provide a best-in-class display experience for their users. Molex addresses this with its Quad-Row staggered-circuit layout, providing an innovative solution that offers 30% space savings. This breakthrough design allows engineers to maximize functionality in a sleek package, ensuring that space constraints do not limit performance or creativity in advanced mixed reality applications.

  Configuration Pitch  Circuits  Current (Max.)
Quad-Row Connectors Board-to-board 0.175mm 20, 32, 36, 64 0.3A
SlimStack Connectors Board-to-board 0.35 to 1.25mm 6 to 240 18.0A
FFC / FPC Connectors  Wire-to-board 
0.20 to 2.00mm 2 to 120 2.0A

Power Management Connectors for MR Glasses


Improving battery life within the tight confines of MR glasses is a key challenge for design engineers. Molex power and battery connectors deliver up to 15.0A of power and maintain electrical reliability in an ultra-compact design, enabling engineers to enhance power efficiency and extend battery life while preserving the sleek aesthetics crucial to cutting-edge mixed reality devices.

Battery Connectors

  Configuration Pitch Circuits Current (Max.)
SlimStack GCB7X Battery Connectors Board-to-board 0.35 to 1.25mm 6 to 240 18.0A
FFC / FPC Connectors Wire-to-board 0.20 to 2.00mm 2 to 120 2.0A

Charging Connectors

  Configuration Pitch Circuits Durability (Min.)
Micro-USB Connectors Wire-to-board 1.0A (signal), 1.8A (power) 30V 10,000 cycles
USB Type-C Connectors Wire-to-board 6.0A 48V 10,000 cycles

RF Connectors for MR Glasses


Integrating 5G into the compact space of MR glasses is a challenge for design engineers, particularly in maintaining strong signal integrity in compact space constraints. The connectors include a center shield-in contact that isolates each row, boosting signal stability and meeting strict 5G connectivity requirements essential for high-performance mixed reality applications.

  Configuration Pitch Intermediate
5G mmWave RF Flex-to-Board Connectors Signal: 2 to 4, Ground: 4 to- 6, Power: 4 to 0 0.35mm 15 GHz, 25 GHz

Camera and Audio Connectors for MR Glasses


For design engineers, achieving visual and sound clarity in the limited space of MR glasses is critical to enhancing the immersive experience for users. Molex connectors support this with high-speed data transfer capabilities, enabling quick and accurate transmission of large data volumes for high-definition visuals and detailed audio. Robust mechanical designs like interior armor and insert-molded power nails help ensure secure connections during assembly and beyond, maintaining the necessary performance and reliability in MR glasses.

  Configuration Pitch Circuits Current (Max.)
Quad-Row Connectors Board-to-board 0.175mm 20, 32, 36, 64 0.3A
  Configuration Pitch Circuits Actuator Style
FFC / FPC Connectors

Wire-to-board

0.20 to 2.00mm

2 to 120

Front flip, back flip, non-ZIF, slider, flexi-latch, one-touch
Premo-Flex Flat-Flexible Cables Cable 0.25 to 2.54mm 3 to 120  

Gesture, Touch and Heat Sensors and Controls for MR Glasses


Engineers designing MR glasses need robust solutions for integrating responsive controls that endure daily use. Molex connectors help them meet these challenges with features like vertical, positive locking-latches that help ensure connection with an audible click, while auto lock-nail systems guarantee secure cable retention, providing reliable performance in challenging environments.

  Configuration Pitch Circuits Current (Max.)
Quad-Row Connectors
Board-to-board 0.175mm 20, 32, 36, 64 0.3A
FFC / FPC Connectors Wire-to-board 0.20 to 2.00mm 2 to 120 2.0A