Product category:
PCB Connectors
News Release from: 3M Electronics and Interconnect Solutions | Subject: HSHM series
Edited by the Electronicstalk Editorial
Team on 02 August 2002
High-density connectors aid gigabit
backplanes
An innovative range of high-speed backplane connectors from 3M offers high speed and unparalleled density levels to developers of multigigabit backplane systems.
An innovative range of high-speed backplane connectors from 3M offers high speed and unparalleled density levels to developers of multigigabit backplane systems The HSHM (high speed hard metric) series from 3M provides a contact density of roughly 40 signals per centimetre of PCB, the highest of any backplane connector available today
This article was originally published on Electronicstalk on 10 Sep 2002 at 8.00am (UK)
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This density is principally due to innovations at the mechanical design level, with shielding incorporated between each 2mm contact.
As a result, no contacts are sacrificed to ground, a cost often hidden in the connector purchase price.
The shielding structure of the HSHM series also allows the connector modules to be configured for single-ended and differential signals; even incorporating both in the same connector monoblock.
Where differential signals are required, the HSHM connectors can be arranged in boxed differential pairs of rows or columns, when arranged in columns PCB pin field density reduces, developers can therefore greatly optimise the trace routing.
A feed-through connection is available so that cards can be attached to both sides of a backplane, or rear plug up assemblies can be substituted.
Analysis of eye pattern performance, involving simulations of both point-to-point and cross-connect topologies, illustrate a very clear advantage for the latter at datarates of 5Gbit/s and beyond.
The spacing between vertically stacked contacts in a backplane normally gives rise to some degree of signal skew, which become increasingly hard to compensate for at datarates beyond 2.5Gbit/s.
On this matter, the HSHM connectors offer developers a very clear advantage by enabling differential pairs in rows, eliminating skew and allowing traces to run in parallel.
The HSHM series from 3M is an ideal interconnect solution for developers of multi-gigabit backplane systems such as those equipped to handle Gigabit Ethernet.
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