5G mmWave RF Flex-to-Board Connectors

Advanced 5G applications need maximum PCB space-savings, a superb price-to-performance ratio and a plethora of design features that will suit customer applications. The 5G15 connector, with its compact body size, offers maximum PCB space savings, supports frequencies up to 15 GHz, and features leading-edge design features that enable EMI shielding, robust mating, pin assignment for power and high-speed signal options (delivering greater design flexibility).

Customers want to avoid the risk of connector damage during the mating process. The 5G15 Series connector features wide alignment (pitch: 0.35mm, span: 0.30mm) to enable fast, easy mating. The connector’s overmold design prevents pin pullout while the strong and large power and ground nails prevent damage to the interconnects during mating.

Customers are looking for connectors that demonstrate versatility and usability over a wide range of application designs, functionality and variety. This 5G connector is highly versatile as a connector that can replace multiple coaxial cables when used over an FPC cable. It can also support 5G mmWave, Sub 6 GHz and 4G/LTE applications or combine RF and non-RF connections as a single connector to save PCB space and cost. Flexibility in pin assignment for power and high-speed signals can be achieved in antenna modules with 2 RF + 1.0A power; or 4 RF without power configurations.

In space-tight applications such as smartphones or wearable devices, the push for the use of increasingly finer pitch connectors poses several challenges such as lacking internal space for EMI shielding, making management of internal EMI effects difficult and the resultant signal degradation affects SI performance critical to 5G speeds. To overcome these challenges, the 5G25 series connector offers industry-leading SI performance to deliver to high-frequency (25 GHz) needs. Molex’s proprietary contact-shielding and isolation of RF terminals preserve a high level of SI performance needed for mission-critical 5G applications.

The delicate nature of these miniature connectors places the onus of high electrical reliability on their makers. The interconnects must be sufficiently robust to withstand rough handling or rigorous operating conditions of shock, vibration. Design flexibility is also critical if these connectors are to suit a huge spectrum of industry applications. The unique plug and receptacle design of the 5G25 series will address the mobile, wearables and 5G industry’s requirements for easy-to-deploy RF connectors to be easily and readily deployable in assembly processes requiring mating tolerance allowance while maintaining electrical contact reliability.

This is not a definitive list of applications for this product. It represents some of the more common uses.

5G15 mmWave (15 GHz)

Does the 5G15 connector have other uses besides the above-mentioned examples?
The 5G15 connector is not confined to just being used as a 5G board-to-board connector or antenna. Any high-speed applications requiring digital RF connections up to 15 GHz can be supported by this product. Examples could be I/O (such as USB), cameras and more. The 5G15 connector can be used for non-RF or high-speed connections including, but not limited to the following: sensors, microphones, speakers and more.

What makes the 5G15 product different from an ordinary board-to-board connector?
The 5G15 Flex-to-Board Connector can replace multiple coaxial cables when used over an FPC cable. It can also support 5G mmWave, Sub 6 GHz and 4G/LTE applications or combine RF and non-RF connections as a single connector to save PCB space and cost.

What can the 5G15 connector be used for?
The 5G15 connector has multiple uses:
a) It can replace the use of multiple coaxial cables by combining them as a single board-to-board connector.
b) It can combine both RF and non-RF connection functions into a single connector to save space and cost. This is done by increasing circuit sizes up to a maximum of 30.

What are some end-product applications of the 5G15 interconnect solution?
• Consumer applications include AR/VR, smartphones, tablet PCs, wearable devices, smart home devices.
• Industrial applications include IoT, portable audio and navigation equipment, 5G and RF devices (15 GHz speeds).
• Medical devices include patient monitoring systems, therapeutic and surgical equipment.
• Defense applications include, drones, unmanned vehicles, aircraft avionics and more.
 

5G25 mmWave (25 GHz)

Can you summarize in three phrases the hallmark features of the 5G25 Series product?
High-speed capability
Full EMI shielding (superior SI performance)
Robust mating

How is the 5G25 product different from any other market equivalents and how does it create value for its users?
• Enables higher-speed transmission: able to support 25 GHz speeds
• Superb SI performance with full EMI shielding: offers excellent electrical and wireless signal performance and connectivity
• Compact size: helps users realize greater PCB real-estate savings that translate to lower cost with small connector footprint
• High contact reliability, robust mating and PCB retention: mechanical robustness needed for product and operational reliability
• Best-in-class alignment allowance of 0.30mm pitch (Width) and 0.30mm (span): offers a high degree of flexibility over alignment tolerances, speeding up the entire assembly and production process

Who are the potential users of the 5G25 product?
• Any 5G RF developer, including but not limited to phone and chip makers, RF module developers, wearable devices enabled by 5G technology and more
• Potentially any design engineer or system architect looking to leverage industry-leading connectivity at 25 GHz speed

From the broader picture, what are the opportunities 5G25 brings?
The fifth generation of wireless technology brings with it infinite user and developer opportunities as part of an interactive ecosystem. 5G technology enables a smarter, speedier, and more convenient and connected world.