1. What is mating force?

Don Watterworth (Amphenol RF): Mating force is the measurement of how much force is required for two mating interfaces to be coupled together in a non-torque interface.

Dave Gravina (Tyco Electronics): For coaxial interconnects; mating force, also identified as engagement force, is typically the force required to join two connectors - usually a plug and jack in a normal engaging mode. In the case of Tyco Electronic's one piece Compression Coax Connector, this mating force is the normal force exerted between the connector and the target pad on the mating pcb. That value is 10N. The mating force for Tyco Electronic's Stripline Coax Connector mated pair (plug and jack) is 30N max. 

2. What is the mating force for the SSMCX?

John Garing (Molex RF): The recommended mating force for the SSMCX is three pounds (lbs).

3. What is the frequency range of a board-to-board connector?

Don Watterworth (Amphenol RF): Amphenol RF's SMP connector has a DC to 20 GHz performance rating with acceptable usage to 40 GHz in most applications.

John Garing (Molex RF): A popular choice for board-to-board applications is the SMP. SMP is often chosen for its frequency handling, small size, and ability to compensate for misalignment when connecting two parrallel boards with mulitple connections. Max recommended operating frequency for a SMP vertical board to board interconnection is 40 GHz.

Dave Gravina (Tyco Electronics): The current preferred frequency range for the Compression Coax Board-to-board connector is dc to 6 GHz. The product has also been tested up to 14 GHz with reasonable performance (1.35-1.45 VSWR). 

4. Does your company manufacture a small RF connector witch permits one end of the connector to rotate on the other matching part and still maintain RF connection?

Don Watterworth (Amphenol RF): Amphenol RF does have proprietary designs to allow "spin" once in the mated condition. Also, our QMA interface can rotate 360 degrees after connection.

John Garing (Molex RF): MMCX may be an option for this type application. However, more information on the application would be needed to ensure the mechanical and electrical charateristics meet the required demands. If the standard product won't meet your needs we can create solutions with modifications of existing designs or a new design. Please contact you local TTI rep, and they will help to gather the requirements and assist you in working with the Molex RF Division for a solution.

Dave Gravina (Tyco Electronics): Most "Snap-on" style (non-threaded) interfaces will perform as you describe (within reason), and are offered in a variety of sizes. Tyco Electronics offers several small microminiature RF connector series which when mated provide 360 degree rotation while maintaining good mechanical and electrical performance. These would include our OSMP, SSMT, UMCC and our Blindmate Series products. To determine suitability of these or other products for your application, I suggest contacting our Coax Product Manager, Claude de Lorraine at 717-986-5793. 

5. I am fascinated by the wide variety of RF connectors. Do you see greater growth in standardized RF connectors, or in your proprietary connectors (present and future)?

Don Watterworth (Amphenol RF): Amphenol RF sees growth on both sides of the fence.

John Garing (Molex RF): We do see growth in our standard and proprietary connectors as Molex RF Division's reputation for quality, breadth of offering, engineering capabilities, custom abilities, and service grows.

Dave Gravina (Tyco Electronics): In reality, most of the coaxial connector interfaces we have today are considered "industry standard," controlled by some type of interface specification which all connector manufacturers follow. The differences or variations will come in the way these designs are used in a particular application. 

True proprietary connector interfaces (those offered only by one or two suppliers) are a very small percentage of the overall coax connector market. In most industries, coax customers require two or more sources for each connector type for cost and delivery reasons, so even for those interfaces without a formal industry standard, there is usually an agreed to de facto standard that suppliers must follow. While some proprietary connector interfaces will continue to surface as technology advances and more application specific opportunities arise, the more popular ones will quickly become industry standards adopted by many suppliers.

6.  What is the frequency range for the RF Stripline connector?

John Garing (Molex RF): Our solderless edge launch ganged BNC panel works up to 4 GHz.  We can also do variations of this design with other interfaces with higher operating frequencies.
 
Dave Gravina (Tyco Electronics): The RF Stripline connector has an operating frequency of dc to 6 GHz.

7. Molex, can you make me a connector to my design?

John Garing (Molex RF): Molex has a wide range of connector manufacturing capablities, and we are always willing to work with TTI and customers on new designs.

8. Tyco Dave Gravina: I would like to discuss your RF Stripline connectors in more detail. Who should I contact?

Dave Gravina (Tyco Electronics): Please contact our Coax Product Manager in the Americas. His name is Claude de Lorraine 717-986-5793.

9. About the PCB to PCB compression connector: Do you have any information related to aging, and what happens if after some time in the field (6 months, or a few years) boards are separated and put back together? Is there any known degradation of contact quality due to aging-oxidation over time? Does the ground mating surface of the ground of the connector have peaks or spikes, to improve contact by creating pressure points, instead having pressure diluted over all flat surfaces? What is, in your experience, better: completely flat surface or surface with spikes/peaks?

Dave Gravina (Tyco Electronics): Both temperature life and mixed flowing gas tests were performed on this interface per IEC specifications with no degradation in performance. This design, both in its construction and plating, is very similar to Tyco Electronics' other blindmate connector offerings. With the blindmate product spring pressure is often also used to maintain contact with the mating interface. As long as dissimilar metals are not used in the interconnect, there is little if any chance of galvanic reaction and then oxidation in the mating interfaces, even after extended periods. Also, since the ground and signal contact points on the compression coax board-to-board connector and the mating PCB target pad are gold plated, contact quality and signal integrity should be maintained. It is always a design goal to maintain as much surface area contact between mating interfaces as possible. This helps to avoid any performance degradation as well as minimize any potential intermodulation distortion effects that may occur due to discontinuities in the signal path. In reality these mating surfaces are made up of multiple contact points due to material and plating surface area irregularities. At the frequencies specified however, the effects are negligible. Like other coax connector interfaces, the compression coax board-to-board connector series follows these design goals.