Space-saving back flip FPC connector offers design flexibility for high-speed applications

Hirose has launched a compact FPC connector that supports USB 3.0, Embedded DisplayPort ver1.3 and MIPI D-PHY ver1.1 standards. The FH58 family of FPC connectors features a back flip style actuator that utilises a dual-sided FPC. This unique design offers many benefits including PCB space-savings, excellent impedance characteristics, and high-speed transmission. The back flip style actuator and dual-sided contact design also provide high-retention forces and reliability required in a wide range of consumer, medical, point-of-sale and other portable electronic applications. The compact connectors have a 0.2mm pitch, mounted depth of 3.1mm, and a height of 0.9mm. Combining a small size and weighing only 0.046g, it makes the FPC connector ideal for the growing wearable electronics market. The connectors have a user-friendly design, which includes wide tapers providing smooth FPC insertion. The series also incorporates a metal lock mechanism, which allows for horizontal FPC insertion/withdrawal, and produces a clear tactile click that insures complete insertion. The FPC tab lock firmly holds the FPC in place until the actuator is locked. "Hirose's unique back flip and proprietary contact design produces high-FPC retention forces even in low pin-count connectors. The FH58 Series delivers up to 2.5 times more FPC retention force than similar products currently on the market," said Rick van Weezel, vice president of sales and marketing at Hirose Electric USA. The series is available in 31, 35, 41 and 51 positions. The connector meets halogen-free requirements and is RoHS compliant. The high-speed series is well suited for portable electronics that require high-speed transmission, including smart phones, cameras and video recorders, notebooks and tablets, DVD and Blu-ray players, portable music players, handheld gaming systems, and medical devices.