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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.
Featured Products
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 |