High-performance high-reliability connector contacts

Lane Electronics has announced that it can now supply several types and sizes of D-subminiature and rectangular connector systems populated by Positronic PosiBand, a proprietary contact that overcomes the weaknesses inherent in the design of closed-entry female contacts currently in use by many connector manufacturers. According to FC Lane’s Tom Hammerton, closed-entry female contacts are commonly used to enhance the reliability and performance of the connector in harsh environments and in those applications that require many mating cycles. “Quite often, the contact will consist of a sleeve placed over a standard split tine contact to achieve the closed entry feature”, said Hammerton. “And while this is an adequate solution, a true closed entry contact like PosiBand has an unbroken ring of solid material right at the face of the contact. This offers higher reliability levels since the PosiBand contact provides a greater surface area at the female/male contact interface, requires a lower insertion force which is very important in high density connector systems and features very low contact resistance levels.” Importantly, PosiBand’s contact body does not require annealing of the crimp barrels, unlike the split tine design. This eliminates the potential problem of unintentionally heat-treating the mating end of the contact, which can cause electrical failure. PosiBand is qualified under SAE AS39029 and to MIL-DTL-24308 specifications and is also qualified under GSFC S-311-P4/08 and GSFC S-311-P4/10 to the higher 40 gram contact separation test requirement. PosiBand is currently available from Lane in the following Positronic connectors: Standard-density D-subminiature; High-density D-subminiature; Combo-D D-subminiature; SpaceFlight D-subminiature (high-performance D-subminiature); High-density rectangular; Scorpion Power; and low-profile Scorpion Power connectors.