A connector is a core component in electronic devices for transmitting signals, current, or data. Essentially, it creates a detachable interface between two or more electronic components, devices, or systems, ensuring reliable, stable, and convenient connections. Widely used in consumer electronics, automotive, industrial control, aerospace, and communications, it is an indispensable "neural node" and "energy channel" for electronic systems.
Core Functions
Signal Transmission: Precisely transmits highfrequency, highspeed, or analog signals (e.g., USB for data, RF connectors for wireless signals), reducing attenuation, interference, and delay to ensure accurate information transfer.
Power Transmission: Supplies stable current to devices (e.g., power connectors, highvoltage automotive connectors). It must meet specific currentcarrying capacity to avoid overheating and burnout from excessive contact resistance.
Physical Connection & Disconnection: Enables "pluggable/detachable" connections for easy device assembly, maintenance, and upgrades (e.g., computer memory slots, phone charging ports) without direct soldering.
Environmental Protection: In harsh environments (humidity, high temperature, dust, vibration), it protects the connection interface via sealed designs (e.g., IP67/IP68 protection) and temperatureresistant materials to maintain transmission performance.
Basic Structure
A connector has 5 core components with clear roles:
Contacts: Conductors usually made of copper alloys (brass, phosphor bronze), with gold/silver plating (low resistance, corrosionresistant) or tin plating (low cost, easy soldering).
Insulator: Isolates contacts to prevent short circuits and fixes their positions. Mostly made of engineering plastics (PA66, PBT, LCP) with strong insulation and hightemperature resistance.
Housing (Shell): Protects internal structures, provides mechanical strength, aids positioning and antiinterference. Materials: metal or plastic (lightweight, low cost).
Locking Mechanism: Prevents accidental disconnection. Common types: snapon, threaded, pushpull.
Accessories: Assist installation or enhance performance, e.g., sealing rings (waterproof), dust caps (pollutionproof).
Development Trends
Miniaturization & High Density: Smaller size and more contacts (e.g., QSFPDD 800G) to meet needs of wearable devices and data centers.
HighSpeed Transmission: Driven by 5G, AI, and cloud computing, it supports higher rates (e.g., 1.6Tbps) with optimized signal integrity (differential signals, shielding structures).
Intelligence: Integrates sensors (temperature/current detection) to monitor connection status in real time and warn of faults (e.g., overcurrent protection for highvoltage connectors in new energy vehicles).
Environmental Sustainability: Uses leadfree plating (tinsilvercopper alloy) and recyclable materials, complying with RoHS and REACH standards.
Integration: Combines filtering, lightning protection, and signal conversion functions to reduce system size (e.g., industrial connectors with integrated EMI filtering).