Industry's smallest hybrid board-to-FPC connector

Designed for battery-pack connections in mobile devices, a new miniature board-to-flexible printed circuit (FPC) connector has been developed by Hirose. With a space-saving design that includes a 0.35mm pitch, stacking height of only 0.6mm, and depth of 1.5mm, the low-profile BM29 Series is the smallest hybrid board-to-FPC connector on the market. The smaller and narrower connector offers design flexibility and enables the miniaturization of portables devices in a wide range of industries, says the company. The hybrid BM29 Series connector is rated up to 3A per pin for power contacts and 0.3A per pin for signal contacts. Currently available in a 2-position version, with 6-position and 10-position models under development, the BM29 Series meets the power and signal transition needs for a variety of handheld consumer, inventory control, IoT, medical, point of sale, and other wireless equipment. A highly-reliable two-point contact design combined with a robust metal lock provides a mating force that is resistant to intense vibration and drop impact. This positive locking mechanism ensures secure mating with a clear tactile click. The BM29 Series connector also utilizes a metal guide that prevents housing damage due to incorrect mating. The metal guide design ensures that if the header and the receptacle should be mated incorrectly, the metal hold-downs dissipate the force and prevents housing damage. Offering simple and easy mating operation, the BM29 Series utilizes guide ribs that provide self-alignment up to 0.3mm in the 'X' direction and 0.24mm in the 'Y' direction. "Our ultra-compact BM29 Series hybrid board-to-FPC connector features a sleek design that minimizes the occupied mounting area in comparison with comparable connectors on the market," said Rick van Weezel, vice-president, sales and marketing, Hirose Electric USA. "Designed for mobile device connectivity, the BM29 Series connector combines miniaturization with ruggedness to meet our customers' next generation designs." The space saving connector is suitable for vacuum pick and place equipment. The BM29 Series connector has a rated voltage of 30V AC/DC, power contact resistance of 30mohm maximum, signal contact resistance of 100mohm maximum, insulation resistance of 1000Mohm minimum, and an operating temperature of -40C to +85C.