The world’s smallest board-to-board connector, ideal for smartphones, smart watches, wearables and AR/VR devices where space is at a premium
Interleaved circuit layout saves 30% of space compared to traditional connector designs Robust features enhance more reliable performance
Over 50 million pieces shipped since 2020 to support a major smartwatch manufacturer
Molex, a global electronics leader and connectivity innovator, recently announced the commercial availability of Molex four-row board-to-board connectors with the industry’s first interleaved circuit layout, saving 30 percent of space over traditional connector designs. These connectors are patent-pending and offer product developers and device manufacturers greater freedom and flexibility to support compact configurations, including smartphones, smart watches, wearables, gaming consoles, and augmented reality/virtual reality (AR/VR) devices.
JusTInKerr, vice president and general manager of Molex’s Micro Solutions business unit, said.
“Molex continues to drive connectivity innovation to support devices that are smaller in size but more powerful in function. With highly dense, four-row board-to-board connectors, our customers can now compress more features, sensors and functions into increasingly tight spaces without compromising device performance. As a result, Molex is setting a new standard of connectivity for space optimization.”
First-of-its-kind interleaved circuit layout delivers unprecedented space savings
Molex engineers also worked with experts from a global leader in the design, development and manufacture of flexible printed circuits (FPCs). The engineering team joined forces to validate a first-of-its-kind interleaved circuit layout that aligns four rows of pins at a signal contact pitch of 0.175 mm. The result is an unprecedented space savings while enabling high-density circuit connections.
The four-row board-to-board connector adheres to a 3.0A current rating, meeting customer requirements for high power in a compact structure. In addition, the product complies with the standard solder pitch of 0.35 mm, accelerating volume production using typical surface mount technology (SMT) processes. Thanks to internal armor and insertion power pins, robust and reliable performance is ensured, protecting pins from damage during volume manufacturing and assembly. These properties, coupled with the wide alignment, facilitate fast, secure bonding and reduce dropout rates.
High volume production, diverse application portfolio
Since 2020, more than 50 million four-row connectors have been shipped to support production of the world’s best-selling smartwatches. Molex’s meticulous attention to manufacturing design has accelerated volume production. The connector also supports larger reel sizes, which can increase production efficiency and, in turn, production yields.
In addition, the compact size and reliable performance of the four-row board-to-board connector makes it extremely suitable for a variety of applications that require smaller and smaller printed circuit boards and flexible assemblies. The ability to meet product miniaturization needs creates unlimited opportunities for augmented reality/virtual reality, automotive, communications, consumer, defense, IoT, medical, and wearable applications.
Availability
Molex four-row board-to-board connectors are available globally in 32 and 36-pin configurations, with 20 and 64-pin configurations coming soon. Support for up to 100-pin configurations is also planned.
Featured Benefits
Thin 0.175mm pitch design
Space saving
Armored and insert molding pins
Provides rugged protection for the inner cover
Markets and Application Scenarios
Consumer Products
Smartphones
Tablets
Wearable Devices
Portable Audio Devices
Portable Navigation Devices
IoT and smart home devices
Augmented reality/virtual reality devices
5G and RF devices
Drones
Medical Devices
Patient monitoring systems
Treatment and Surgery
Equipment
Security
Unmanned vehicles
Aircraft avionics
Specification parameters
Molex Consumer and Commercial Solutions
Molex has proven expertise in 5G, mmWave, RF, signal integrity, antenna, power, camera and display technologies to provide critical connectivity across the mobile device ecosystem. The advantages of precision, volume manufacturing and miniaturization give Molex the ability to meet evolving market demands by providing leading mobile device manufacturers and their suppliers with the smallest, densest and most advanced connectors available on the market today.
About Molex
Molex is a global leader in electronics, dedicated to making our world a better, more connected place.Molex now has a global presence in more than 40 countries, enabling transformative technology innovations in automotive, data centers, industrial automation, healthcare, 5G, cloud computing and consumer devices. Through trusted customer and industry relationships, unmatched engineering expertise, and product quality and reliability, Molex realizes the unlimited potential of CreaTIng ConnecTIons for Life
