The Classification of Electronic Connectors
Due to the increasing diversity of connector structures and the emergence of new structures and applications, it has become difficult to use a fixed pattern to solve the classification and naming problems. Nevertheless, some basic classifications are still effective.
1．Hierarchy of interconnections: According to the function of interconnections within and outside electronic devices, interconnections can be divided into five levels.
Miniaturization of connectors is an inevitable development direction, and FPC (Flexible Printed Circuit) connectors will be the main focus. The powerful functions of mobile phones will lead the development of the Internet of Things and reshuffle the market in the future. From the perspective of mechanical development, FPC connectors will meet the functions of most products in the future. Therefore, after a qualitative leap in the function of FPC connectors in the future, the demand for small, thin and compact FPC products will greatly increase, making FPC connectors the mainstream development direction of connectors in the future.
① Internal connections of chip packages.
② Connections between IC package pins and PCBs. Typical connectors are IC sockets.
③ Connections between printed circuits and wires or printed boards. Typical connectors are printed circuit connectors.
④ Connections between backplanes. Typical connectors are cabinet-type connectors.
⑤ Connections between devices. Typical products are circular connectors.
There may be some overlap between levels ③ and ④. Among the five levels of connectors, the higher market share products are those in levels ③ and ⑤, and the products with rapid growth currently are those in level ③.
2．Levels of connector specifications: According to the classification of the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC), connectors are electromechanical components for electronic devices, and their specification levels are as follows:
Family: Example - connectors
Sub-family: Example - rectangular connectors
Type: Example - CJT dual-row rectangular connectors
Style: Example - CJT-A2547
Variant: Example - 2.54mm.
3．In the industry management of our country, connectors, switches, keyboards, etc. are collectively referred to as electrical connectors, while electrical connectors and relays are collectively referred to as electromechanical components.
4．Categories of connector products. Although the categorization of connector products is somewhat confusing, from a technical point of view, there are only two basic ways to categorize connector products:
① According to external structure: circular and rectangular (cross-section)
② According to working frequency: low frequency and high frequency (bounded by 3MHz)
According to the above categorization, coaxial connectors belong to the circular category, and printed circuit connectors belong to the rectangular category (historically, printed circuit connectors were indeed separated from rectangular connectors to form a separate category), and currently popular rectangular connectors have trapezoidal cross-sections, which are similar to rectangular connectors. The division of low frequency and high frequency with 3MHz as the boundary is also consistent with the frequency division of radio waves.
As for other types of connectors based on usage, installation method, special structure, special performance, etc., many different types can be categorized, which often appear in publications and promotional materials of manufacturers. However, these are generally only used to highlight certain features and uses, and the basic categorization still does not exceed the above principles. Considering the technological development and practical situation of connectors, from the perspective of their universality and relevant technical standards, connectors can be categorized into the following categories:
① Low frequency circular connectors;
② Rectangular connectors;
③ Printed circuit connectors;
④ RF connectors;
⑤ Fiber optic connectors.
5. Naming of connector models. The naming of connector models is the basis for customer procurement and manufacturer's production organization. In the connector industry at home and abroad, there are two ways to name product models.
One is to use letter codes and numbers to reflect the main structural characteristics of the product in the model name. The advantage of this method is that it is easy to identify, but the arrangement is too long and overly complex, which brings many difficulties in printing with the miniaturization of connectors. Currently, this method is still popular domestically and has been specified in certain industry standards and even national standards, such as CJT-A3030 (printed circuit connectors), SJ2297-83 (rectangular connectors), SJ2459-84 (ribbon cable connectors), GB9538-88 (ribbon cable connectors), etc. Due to the increasing diversity of connector structures, it is becoming more and more difficult to use one naming rule to cover a certain type of connector in practice.
Another approach is to use Arabic numerals for combination. The advantage of this method is that it is concise and easy for computer management and marking of small products. Currently, major international connector manufacturers are adopting this method. It can be predicted that naming methods reflecting their own characteristics will gradually replace the method of unified naming rules in the planned economic system.
1．Hierarchy of interconnections: According to the function of interconnections within and outside electronic devices, interconnections can be divided into five levels.
Miniaturization of connectors is an inevitable development direction, and FPC (Flexible Printed Circuit) connectors will be the main focus. The powerful functions of mobile phones will lead the development of the Internet of Things and reshuffle the market in the future. From the perspective of mechanical development, FPC connectors will meet the functions of most products in the future. Therefore, after a qualitative leap in the function of FPC connectors in the future, the demand for small, thin and compact FPC products will greatly increase, making FPC connectors the mainstream development direction of connectors in the future.
① Internal connections of chip packages.
② Connections between IC package pins and PCBs. Typical connectors are IC sockets.
③ Connections between printed circuits and wires or printed boards. Typical connectors are printed circuit connectors.
④ Connections between backplanes. Typical connectors are cabinet-type connectors.
⑤ Connections between devices. Typical products are circular connectors.
There may be some overlap between levels ③ and ④. Among the five levels of connectors, the higher market share products are those in levels ③ and ⑤, and the products with rapid growth currently are those in level ③.
2．Levels of connector specifications: According to the classification of the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC), connectors are electromechanical components for electronic devices, and their specification levels are as follows:
Family: Example - connectors
Sub-family: Example - rectangular connectors
Type: Example - CJT dual-row rectangular connectors
Style: Example - CJT-A2547
Variant: Example - 2.54mm.
3．In the industry management of our country, connectors, switches, keyboards, etc. are collectively referred to as electrical connectors, while electrical connectors and relays are collectively referred to as electromechanical components.
4．Categories of connector products. Although the categorization of connector products is somewhat confusing, from a technical point of view, there are only two basic ways to categorize connector products:
① According to external structure: circular and rectangular (cross-section)
② According to working frequency: low frequency and high frequency (bounded by 3MHz)
According to the above categorization, coaxial connectors belong to the circular category, and printed circuit connectors belong to the rectangular category (historically, printed circuit connectors were indeed separated from rectangular connectors to form a separate category), and currently popular rectangular connectors have trapezoidal cross-sections, which are similar to rectangular connectors. The division of low frequency and high frequency with 3MHz as the boundary is also consistent with the frequency division of radio waves.
As for other types of connectors based on usage, installation method, special structure, special performance, etc., many different types can be categorized, which often appear in publications and promotional materials of manufacturers. However, these are generally only used to highlight certain features and uses, and the basic categorization still does not exceed the above principles. Considering the technological development and practical situation of connectors, from the perspective of their universality and relevant technical standards, connectors can be categorized into the following categories:
① Low frequency circular connectors;
② Rectangular connectors;
③ Printed circuit connectors;
④ RF connectors;
⑤ Fiber optic connectors.
5. Naming of connector models. The naming of connector models is the basis for customer procurement and manufacturer's production organization. In the connector industry at home and abroad, there are two ways to name product models.
One is to use letter codes and numbers to reflect the main structural characteristics of the product in the model name. The advantage of this method is that it is easy to identify, but the arrangement is too long and overly complex, which brings many difficulties in printing with the miniaturization of connectors. Currently, this method is still popular domestically and has been specified in certain industry standards and even national standards, such as CJT-A3030 (printed circuit connectors), SJ2297-83 (rectangular connectors), SJ2459-84 (ribbon cable connectors), GB9538-88 (ribbon cable connectors), etc. Due to the increasing diversity of connector structures, it is becoming more and more difficult to use one naming rule to cover a certain type of connector in practice.
Another approach is to use Arabic numerals for combination. The advantage of this method is that it is concise and easy for computer management and marking of small products. Currently, major international connector manufacturers are adopting this method. It can be predicted that naming methods reflecting their own characteristics will gradually replace the method of unified naming rules in the planned economic system.
