Harwin’s Flecto range epitomises the latest advancements in floating connector technologies. These fine-pitch, high-pin-count board-to-board connectors can accommodate up to ±0.5mm misalignment in both the X and Y axes, ensuring precise alignment, high-speed data transfer, mixed signal and power options, high contact reliability, and various mounting possibilities.
The Flecto floating connector is an electromechanical interconnect for data and/or power that features a unique spring-like mechanism. This design provides elasticity, reducing stress on both the solder joints and contact pins, and allows absorption of misalignments and small movements in multiple axes, unlike traditional connectors.
The rise of automated manufacturing has increased demand for solutions compatible with high-speed placement of board-to-board connectors. However, when connectors mate the same two PCBs, product location tolerance – whether due to PCB manufacture, paste location, pick and place accuracy, or a combination – can cause additional side-loading and potential damage. Harwin’s Flecto connectors are ideal for scenarios requiring two or more board-to-board connectors on a PCB. The flexibility of the floating design permits greater tolerance without compromising connection density or reliability.
The male connector’s mating area can shift up to ±0.5mm from the centreline, compensating for positional misalignment across multiple connectors. This reduces stress from misaligned connections, maintaining contact force over time. The connectors use Gull-wing SMT terminations on the signal contacts for easy solder inspection, with additional SMT hold-downs on signal-only connectors enhancing peel strength on the PCB. Location pegs or through-board power pins further assist in PCB placement.
The Flecto range offers up to 160 contacts in a symmetrical double-row layout, with board-to-board heights from 7.2 to 29.9mm, and a horizontal option for 90° daughterboards. It comes in three miniature pitches: 0.5 (0.0197”), 0.635 (0.025”), and 0.8mm (0.0315”). The 0.5mm pitch range also includes additional power pins rated at 3A.
Constructed from high-temperature LCP material for housings and copper alloy for contacts with a gold finish on the contact area and gold or tin finish on the terminations, these connectors are suitable for reflow soldering. They are flame retardant to UL94V-0 standard and operate within a temperature range of -55 to +105°C (signal + power) or -40 to +105°C (signal only). They offer mechanical durability up to 100 operations, a maximum voltage rating of 250V AC/DC, and data rates up to 8 (0.5mm pitch), 12 (0.635mm pitch), and 5Gb/s (0.80mm pitch).
The Flecto 0.5mm pitch range includes signal-only (F10/F12 series) or signal + power (F11 series) options, with two power contacts at each end of the connector handling up to 3A of current. The Flecto 0.635 (F20 series) and 0.8mm (F30 series) pitch ranges are available in signal-only configurations.
Harwin’s Flecto board-to-board floating connectors are suitable for a wide range of applications, including factory automation equipment, test and instrumentation, electric vehicles, EV chargers, LED signage, security cameras, communications, and other portable electronic devices requiring multiple PCBs to interface.
Anglia is offering customers FREE samples of Harwin’s Flecto board-to-board floating connectors. Please fill in the form to register your interest.