FCI

FCI Connectors for DEMANDING APPLICATIONS

messages@element14.com — Tue, 05 Jul 2011 17:23:43 GMT

FCI Electronics has a vast portfolio of connector solutions for demanding applications.

FCI Releases Latest PRODUCT PORTFOLIO Brochure

messages@element14.com — Wed, 18 May 2011 22:50:27 GMT

FCI has released it's updated Product Portfolio brochure... a quick reference guide displaying FCI's entire range of electronic connectors.

FCI Launches Microsite Featuring 1.25mm Wire-to-Board Connectors

messages@element14.com — Wed, 18 May 2011 22:20:50 GMT

FCI has a complete range of modular Board- and Wire-to-Board connector systems, with the most recently launched being the 1.25mm pitch Wire-to-Board system. The entire product portfolio can be seen on FCI's latest microsite, including the 2.54mm contact pitch products (Dubox, PV, BergStik and Quickie) as well as the 2.00mm (Minitek) & 1.27mm (Minitek) connectors.

White Paper: Component Performance Required to Ensure 25 Gb/s Link Operation

messages@element14.com — Tue, 01 Mar 2011 15:55:18 GMT

Read FCI Electronics' White Paper presented at the 2011 DesignCon. The abstract reads, "Currently the CEI working group of the OIF is defining channel specifications that should guarantee successful 25 Gb/s serial signal propagation over copper interconnects. The focus of the OIF is on link-level requirements, so there will be no specific requirements for the individual components that make up the link. One problem with this approach is that system designers, who make use of link components such as connectors, have difficulties rating these individual components as there is no specific component specification available. Further more, component manufactures have difficulties claiming compliancy of a connector/component to the standard as it is possible that, using the same connector in different environments, in certain cases a channel will pass compliancy while in other cases a channel will fail compliancy. The scope of this paper is to address this problem".

For more information on FCI's high-speed I/O offering, go to www.fciconnect.com/HSIO

FCI Introduces RJ45 1x8 Modular Jack for GPON Systems

messages@element14.com — Mon, 31 Jan 2011 03:22:24 GMT

FCI, a leading developer of connectors and interconnect systems, is expanding its modular jack product line with the RJ45 1 stack, 8 port shield connector with LED. Designed for Gigabit Passive Optical Network (GPON) systems, the modular jack is ideal for broadband switches, hubs, routers, servers and telecommunication applications. With RJ45 1x8 installed, GPON device can offer a more bandwidth-efficient protocol for data-centric services

Want a Free Pass to DesignCon 2011?

messages@element14.com — Mon, 31 Jan 2011 03:16:49 GMT

Get your free pass to DesignCon 2011, compliments of FCI Electronics !

See the latest in electronic connector technology by visiting FCI booth #417.

FCI will feature High Speed backplane, coplanar, orthogonal midplane, and mezzanine connectors; High Speed I/O Connections copper and optical cable links; and Power Solutions^SM power distribution connectors and cable assemblies.

FCI Offers 0.20 mm Pitch FPC Connector

messages@element14.com — Wed, 08 Dec 2010 16:34:34 GMT

FCI now offers a 0.20mm pitch FPC connector with a 0.90mm height. The XL-series 0.20mm pitch FPC connector can withstand high cable-retention forces, making it ideal for consumer applications including mobile phones, smart phones, digital still cameras and other miniature consumer applications. "The miniaturization trend within the consumer segment is one of the driving forces behind development of an even smaller-pitch, lower-height flex connector design," said Akira Nakia, global product line director, FCI. The connector's flipping actuator facilitates secure cable assembly with click actuation, and the XL-Series devices are available with cable lock. FCI integrated these features into the new connector design to ensure compatibility for automotive multimedia applications.

The XL-Series is currently available in a 29-contact version and can be assembled with a 0.2mm-thick FPC cable. Various other contact versions will soon be available.

For additional information on FCI's XL-Series, please visit www.fciconnect.com/flex.

Watch FCI Product Videos on YouTube!

messages@element14.com — Wed, 08 Dec 2010 16:20:28 GMT

Now you can watch the latest FCI product videos on YouTube ! From our industry-famous Airmax to ZipLine connectors, we've got all your connector and cable needs covered in the many brief, yet informative videos.

FCI Expands Terminal Block Offering

messages@element14.com — Mon, 22 Nov 2010 17:32:59 GMT

FCI, a leading developer of connectors and interconnect systems, announces the expansion of its terminal blocks product portfolio with new plug and socket configurations, all ideal for industrial and instrumentation applications.

"Terminal blocks have been around for many years, but they are still going strong. They are essential for many circuit board designs," said Koos Steding, FCI''s global product manager. "With a complete pluggable terminal blocks range, FCI strengthens its position in the industrial and instrumentation market."

The expanded line will make available various new configurations including front screw, key backside, contact downside plugs and 2-wall, 45°-angled, feedthrough sockets, and accessories such as polarization keys. All configurations are available with or without the screw-locking-side-flange feature. Green-colored plastic is standard but optional black, blue and grey color plastics are also available. Screw-type option, slotted or Philips (cross-head) screw-types are now available, as well as custom product printing. The entire FCI terminal block range is built with the proven rising-cage-clamp technology (lift system) to ensure long life and reliable connections.

Did you know FCI has 1.27mm (0.05") Modular Connectors for Board-to-Board & Wire/Cable-to-Board Applications ?

messages@element14.com — Wed, 20 Oct 2010 20:34:19 GMT

Minitek 127 is an extensive modular range of 1.27mm (0.05") pitch connectors for all types of board-to-board and wire/cable-to- board applications. Minitek 127 includes straight and right angle, surface mount and through mount, different plating variations and up to 100 pins.

Click here to view Newark's extensive inventory in FCI's Minitek 127 series of connectors.

Newark Stocks FCI Airmax VS Connectors for High Speed Backplane Applications

messages@element14.com — Wed, 20 Oct 2010 20:22:59 GMT

FCI's AirMax VS® connector system gives designers the freedom to rethink the way backplane systems are designed. Based on a radical design concept, AirMax VS® (Virtual Shield) connectors eliminate the need for interleaving ground shields by using air as a highly efficient dielectric. The real beauty of the AirMax VS^® connector system lies in the flexibility it gives to board layouts. With connectors available in both 2 and 3 mm centerlines designers are able to simplify signal routing. The scalability of the connector solution means that backplane systems designed for 3.125 – 6.25 Gb/s can be upgraded to 12.5 Gb/s operation without redesigning the basic platform. At such speed, the AirMax VS^® connector demonstrates exceptionally low insertion loss and crosstalk characteristics. Check out Newark's extensive Airmax VS inventory !

FCI Extends Mezzanine Offering with Flex Connector Assemblies

messages@element14.com — Tue, 05 Oct 2010 17:42:56 GMT

View FCI's Mezzanine Product Presentation or visit FCI's web-based Mezzanine Product Selector Guide.

FCI Electronics has expanded it's broad range of mezzanine stacking connectors by incorporating FFC/FPC connector assemblies along with a vast array of other connectors in its MezzSelect product portfolio. FCI’s MezzSelect™ in-line and BGA connectors satisfy a wide range of low-to-high pin count and low-to-high speed applications in many product applications. The MezzSelect™ connector family is supported by simple, powerful web-based design tools and other resources to help customers expedite connector design work and improve time-to-market.

Newark Stocks FCI Flex Connectors !

messages@element14.com — Fri, 13 Aug 2010 15:19:04 GMT

Newark and FCI have partnered together to supply the most innovative and complete range of flex circuit connectors in the industry. FCI offers products in LIF (low insertion force) and ZIF (zero insertion force), top and bottom contact options, vertical and right angle orientations, surface mount and through hole terminations, as well as optional cable locks and mounting devices. To learn more about FCI flex circuit connectors, go to www.fciconnect.com/flex or shop on-line and see Newark's extensive inventory in FCI flex circuit connectors.

Newark Offers Summer Deals on FCI DIN Connectors !

messages@element14.com — Mon, 14 Jun 2010 17:32:39 GMT

FCI's DIN 41612 connectors offer signal, coax and power solutions for board-to-board and I/O applications.

Search and Buy FCI DIN connectors and enjoy a 15% summer savings with Newark

Features

• Standardized per DIN 41612

• 2.54mm pitch (0.100in.)

• 2 and 3 rows

• 32,48,64 and 96 positions

• Selective pin loading

• Full interconnect system

• BTB and I/O solutions

• Signal, coax, medium and high power

• Low cost application solutions

• Press-fit termination, receptacle and header

• IDC cable termination

Selector guide for FCI PCB DIN connectors

PCB connectors

• Signal, coax, medium power and high power

• Various styles

• Straight and right angle

• Solder-to-board and press-fit

Cable connectors

• IDC

• Wire wrap

Accessories

• Shrouds

• Covers

Newark Stocks FCI Connectors for LED Market

messages@element14.com — Tue, 18 May 2010 22:26:28 GMT

With many national governments actively promoting the development and implementation of LED lighting, LED components and engines have become a major area of growth for the electronics industry with expected market growth of CAGR 20% over the next five years. Not surprisingly, interconnect companies like FCI are closely following these developments to determine how their product lines can be expanded or enhanced to support future LED technology.

Minitek™ Family

Order your Minitek samples from Newark's extensive inventory !

The growth of LED lighting is fueled by governmentsupported incentive programs encouraging the change from incandescent bulb technology to LED lamps. Additionally, technical improvements in

lumens per watt performance, brightness, and warm and cool color ranges make more applications viable for LED solutions. Finally, rising energy costs are driving interest in LEDs’ low-energy consumption, long life, and low maintenance requirements. LED technology is now suited for a growing number of applications – especially in the area of (smaller) signs and displays.

Today there are application-specific interconnects for every LED level, including connecting LEDs to printed circuit boards to form a string and small, direct-board attach solutions. But the connector design, as such, is fairly limited; $1 in development costs for the LED requires up to $8 in total design package, which is mainly for power management, colour controls, software and ICs. The connector content is typical less than 4% or $0.32, so while there are dedicated connector solutions created specifically for LED applications, many LED fixture designers tend to use more standard, off-the-shelf solutions or slightly modified ones.

Using standard connectors rather than those created or customized specifically for LED applications is following a general trend in the connector industry. For example, when creating an LED wall where LED modules are being used on a variety of structures so that designers can create any shape or design they want, an LED-specific connector could be costly and not allow for flexibility.

For one of the world leaders in LED wall technology, FCI was asked to replace an expensive custom interconnect with a more typical (and economical) pin-on-socket solution for the application. The engineering team selected FCI’s Minitek™ connector because the standard product line would fit this demanding application in terms of size, flexibility and outdoor environment requirements. By using the Minitek connector, a very substantial cost reduction was achieved without giving up on performance or LED package density. And with more and more LED modules being built in a wide variety of applications (from elevator lighting up to bus stop displays!) there will be an increasing need for a connector customization, thereby building on the proven quality of known connector families.

Opportunities for connector suppliers in the LED market are also available at the application/infrastructure level, not just at the package level. For example, power consumption facilitation and optimization requires more advanced power controllers which means more electronics and therefore, more connectors. Or when several LEDs are used together in a single application LED

controllers or switching regulators are required. All of these LED-related applications can benefit from standard interconnects like pin-on-socket solutions, D-sub, USB, FFC/ FPC, and smaller-pitch mezzanine applications, with versions offering highest density and lowest profile being the most popular.

DSUB USB + Power FFC / FPC (Flex) Conan (1.0 mm Mezzanine)

Order your DSUB, USB, Flex and Conan samples from Newark's extensive inventory !

With quick advancements in power reduction and minimizing and controlling LED heat, it is expected that future applications will use less-expensive, rigid aluminum-backed printed circuit boards for proper heat dissipation and move towards more costeffective flexible circuits. This is also being driven by signal and display applications, where most of the future LED growth is expected. For connector suppliers, this may mean LED customers will be moving away from pin-on-socket interconnect solutions towards more flexible solutions such as FFC-FPC connectors or small-pitch wire-to-board and board- to-board connectors similar to what we see in many consumer applications.