Copper and fibre share the same backplane

Edited by the Electronicstalk editorial team Jan 22, 2003

Honda Connectors has extended its range of coaxial connectors for fibre-optic backplanes with new versions.

Honda Connectors has extended its range of coaxial connectors for fibre-optic backplanes with new versions.

Honda Connectors FXMU series features coaxial plugs, jacks and adapters comes in the same footprint as the company's high-density MU optical interconnection systems so that copper and fibre can share the same housings and backplanes.

This gives a higher density installation where coaxial and fibre optic cabling need to be integrated into the same interconnection scheme, or backplane.

Components of the interconnection system comprise a single-contact coaxial plug, high-density plug-in jack, single-contact coaxial connector and H-type vertical two-contact adapter.

Standard coaxial connectors consist of a MU-type plug combined with the single-contact adapter, while plug-in connectors are assembled by adding backplane and package housings to the MU-style coaxial plug and jack.

A vertical two contact housing can accommodate coaxial and high-density optic fibre in the same device, allowing complex mixed connectors to be made.

Utilising these components along with the company's existing MU-type hardware allows creation of both relay-style connections (plug-adapter-plug) and high-density plug-in connectors (backplane-package).

The coaxial connector uses the same push-pull locking mechanism as existing optical connectors.

Such connections benefit from 50ohm characteristic impedance and 10Mohm contact resistance, with a frequency range from DC to 5GHz and VSWR of 1.25 or lower.

The robust connectors can withstand 500V AC for up to 1min and provide insulation resistance of over 500Mohm at 500V DC.

Operating temperature range is from -20 to +650C.