Micro connectors, although small in size, are growing rapidly, including ultra-small, micro, and ultra-small versions. Major markets, including mobile technology, aerospace and defense (A&D) and the healthcare industry, are pushing this growth.

　　It can be seen from many mobile advertisements on TV that the mobile phone market is booming. These and other handheld devices require a variety of components that are becoming smaller and smaller in size and shape, including miniature connectors that provide extremely high data transfer speeds. For example, 10 Gbps board-to-board connectors are common, while some advanced micro-board-to-board connectors can handle speeds up to 20 Gbps.

　　Connectors in such applications are extremely compact. For example, Molex supplies a board-to-board connector with a pitch of as little as 0.35 mm, while flexible printed circuit (FPC) connectors have a pitch of as much as 0.20 mm.

　　Mini connectors in mobile phones and other applications must also be simple and easy to use. Molex, for example, adds metal caps to some board-to-board connectors to enhance the strength of the connector housing and reduce the likelihood of breakage during assembly, thereby providing further protection. In addition, when inserting a connector, a miniature connector with a greater degree of alignment function can assist the assembler in finding the most effective insertion point.

　　Space and defense are another important market, mainly using lightweight high-frequency radio frequency micro-connectors and other products. For example, miniature push-in (SMP) connectors with a maximum frequency of 26 GHz and miniature push-in (SMPM) connectors with a maximum frequency of 40 GHz have been widely used in various board-to-board and line-to-board applications. The SMPM connector is 30% smaller than the SMP connector.

　　Aerospace and defense applications include land-based radar and aircraft communication systems. In addition, the RF connector is extremely effective in low power settings, with very low signal-to-noise ratio and the ability to transmit complex signals.

　　In the medical market, micro connectors can be used for devices such as microscopes and probes. This type of connector must be non-magnetic, which requires replacing the traditional nickel-plated connector with non-electroplated nickel-phosphorus. Other applications include medical devices such as magnetic resonance imaging and computed tomography scanners, but these devices typically use larger connectors.

　　Designing and assembling devices with miniature connectors poses a challenge, and assembly expertise simplifies the process. Designers need to learn more about today's micro-connector technology and make full use of its advantages while the device is shrinking in size.