Better Connections: 4 New Connectors Target Industrial, Auto, and More

TE Connectivity, Amphenol Industrial, Attend Technology, and Hirose have introduced some new connector systems for automotive and industrial applications. The products they have introduced range from high-speed coaxial connections and rugged circular connectors to battery interfaces and floating board-to-board connectors.

While the four products serve different applications, they address several common design requirements, including limited space, mechanical durability, and reliable electrical connections. Each manufacturer has taken a different approach, whether by reducing connector size, improving environmental protection, or accommodating movement between boards.

TE’s Mini Fakra Connector System

TE Connectivity recently introduced its new Mini Fakra connector system, which supports high-speed data transmission for automotive applications. These Mini Fakra connectors support RF performance up to 9 GHz and data rates up to 24 Gbps, depending on configuration and validation. TE designed the Mini Fakra connectors for advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS), cameras, antenna modules, and vehicle-to-everything (V2X) communications. With the smaller footprint, vehicle manufacturers can integrate more smart cameras, sensors, and communications into vehicles.

TE Connectivity’s Mini Fakra connector system supports high-speed automotive data transmission up to 24 Gbps. Image used courtesy of TE Connectivity

The TE Mini Fakra system will also include anti-stubbing features to reduce contact damage caused by misalignment during mating, along with controlled insertion force to improve assembly consistency. These connectors are designed for compatibility with established Mini Fakra interfaces and support high-speed communication protocols such as GMSL2/3, FPD-Link III/IV, and APIX3.

Amphenol's UPT Series 12-Pin Connector 

Amphenol Industrial recently expanded its UPT circular connector family with a new 12-pin configuration designed for industrial machinery, factory automation, and heavy equipment. The connector uses 12 size 16 contacts rated for 13 A and supporting operating voltages up to 250 V AC. These connectors are also rated IP57 when mated and can operate from -40°C to +125°C while supporting up to 500 mating cycles.

Amphenol Industrial’s UPT Series connectors combine a lightweight plastic housing with a metal coupling mechanism for rugged industrial applications. Image used courtesy of Amphenol Industrial

For these connectors, Amphenol used a lightweight plastic housing and added a metal bayonet coupling instead of a traditional all-metal shell, keeping a secure connection while reducing overall weight. The bayonet coupling and crimp contacts also simplify installation and maintenance, especially on equipment that gets disconnected regularly. 

Attend Technology’s New Blade Connectors

Attend Technology has introduced 13-blade battery connector products across its 304A and 204B families, covering compact rechargeable devices and higher-current industrial battery systems for robotics, e-mobility, and the portable device industries. The 304A series features a 2.5-mm pitch and 7 A/30 VDC, with up to 4,000 mating cycles. These also offer vertical and right-angle mounting options for tighter-arrangement applications typically found in portable equipment, battery docks, or compact electronics.

Attend’s Blade Battery connector series includes compact & A connectors and waterproof 30 A connectors for rechargeable battery applications. Image used courtesy of Attend

The 304B series was designed to handle higher power requirements, with 30-A power contacts, 5-A signal contacts, and a 0 VDC rating. The 304B series provides IP67-rated protection, supports up to 3,000 mating cycles, and offers six-power-contact or combined four-power/nine-signal configurations, making it useful for AGVs, robotics, drones, and e-mobility equipment.

Hirose’s New FX36 Floating Board-to-Board Connector

Hirose has expanded its FunctionMAX family with the FX36, a floating board-to-board connector designed for automotive electronics that can withstand higher temperatures and vibration. The FX36 has a .5-mm contact pitch, supports temperatures up to 125°C, and accommodates up to + .7 mm of misalignment in the x and y directions, along with + .5 mm of effective mating tolerance in the z direction.

Hirose’s FX36 floating board-to-board connector features a .5-mm contact pitch, misalignment tolerance, and vibration resistance for automotive powertrain electronics. Image used courtesy of Hirose Electric

The floating design gives engineers room for mechanical movement without putting nearly as much stress on the connection. A connector that can tolerate a little misalignment and vibration helps provide a more secure fit for applications that can’t be secured as well as stationary applications such as EV powertrains.

Making the Connection

What’s interesting about these four connectors is how different manufacturers are approaching fairly common design problems. TE Connectivity is pushing more data through a smaller automotive connector, while Amphenol is taking somewhat of a more practical approach by using a lightweight housing instead of a traditional metal shell.

Attend is addressing different power requirements of rechargeable equipment, while Hirose is tackling PCB misalignment and vibration commonly found in mobile applications. None of these features are necessarily groundbreaking on their own, but they address common problems engineers regularly face when designing equipment.