To accommodate the diverse range of applications for board-to-board connections, ERNI announced today it has supplemented its popular high-speed ERmet ZD line to include a vertical version with a 4-row female connector.

Provides design versatility

When expanding modern assembly systems, implementing Mezzanine applications, or transferring signals via the backplane (rear I/O), the design requires high-performance board-to-board connectors. ERNI’s vertical ERmet ZD female connectors, with 2, 3 and 4 rows of contacts, expand the current portfolio of right-angle female and vertical male ERmet ZD connectors. High-speed connectors from the ERmet ZD series enable reliable transmission of fast signals, high contact density, and support of various industry standards, such as PICMG 2.20, PICMG 3.0 (ACTA) or PICMG EXP..0.

Accommodates a variety of stacking heights

The vertical, 4-row, ERmet ZD female connector, with 40 differential signal pairs, is currently available with an assembly height of 15mm. ERNI also plans to offer assembly heights of 12mm and 22mm.. These choices make it possible to implement Mezzanine applications with PCB stacking heights of 15, 18 and 25 mm. Moreover, one can implement inverted backplane configurations where the backplane is equipped with the female connectors and the male connectors are located on the daughter cards.

Reliable “mating” and damage protection

The new vertical ERmet ZD female connector is available with “pressfit” technology (with an “eye-of-the-needle” zone). As with current right-angle versions, the ERmet ZD female connector also features alignment guides on the housing. These guides in combination with the L-shaped shield blades on the male connector ensure robust mating, and provide solid protection against damage. Because of the optimized design and the effective shielding, the ERmet ZD System achieves impressive figures for crosstalk and reflections. Comprehensive simulations confirm reliable transmission of signals at data rates up to 6.25 gigabits per second.

About ERmet ZD

In addition to the new vertical female version of the ZD connectors, they are also offered in 25mm modules as vertical male connectors and right-angle female connectors.

Standard catalogue configurations include:

• a 4-row, 10 wafer which has 40 differential signal pairs (80 signal contacts, 40 shield contacts);
• a 3-row, 10 wafer which has 30 differential signal pairs (60 signal contacts, 30 shield contacts); and
• a 2-row, 10 wafer which has 20 differential signal pairs (40 signal contacts, 20 shield contacts).

Availability

The new Ermet ZD connectors are available immediately.