Connector Types

Connectors are mechanical devices used to create an unbroken, low-resistance path between independent conductors, and they play a vital role in nearly every electronic application. Although they come in a wide range of variants with many different physical and electrical characteristics, most connectors are designed to have one end that terminates a wire or cable and another that can be affixed to a power outlet or receptacle. The male component, or plug, and the female component, or jack, are commonly used to connect conductors within electronic products, systems, and circuits. Electronic connectors often serve dual roles, providing a method of transmitting electrical signals between components, as well as offering mechanical support to a device’s structure.   When installed in digital systems, connectors require an additional degree of versatility. Digital systems tend to be modular in that they are composed of testable and repairable subsystems that are externally connected to networks, power sources, and operator interfaces, such as displays and keyboards. Due to this design configuration, connections between components within a digital system or between a system and external elements must be able to be broken and reconnected repeatedly without losing connection reliability. Digital system connectors need to provide the combination of flexibility and consistent performance required for modular configurations, and the wire and cable connectors used in digital applications support these operational traits. 

Coaxial Connectors  

Coaxial cables are often employed to transmit high-frequency signals that are sensitive, requiring interference shielding and a controlled-impedance environment. In digital applications, these cables are typically connected to bulkheads and circuit boards through coaxial connectors. The common types of coaxial connectors used for this purpose include:  

Type-N: Type-N coaxial connectors can perform effectively at frequencies of one gigahertz (GHz) or above. They are well-suited for applications involving microwave instruments that rely on high-quality connections with a low rate of signal loss.

Bayonet Neill-Concelman (BNC): The Bayonet Neill-Concelman connector is one of the more commonly used connector types in electronic applications. It is relatively inexpensive and can be secured through bayonet mounting, which involves a male side and a female receptor being slotted together and held via spring tension. This connector is normally limited to frequencies of 500 megahertz (MHz) or less.

Subminiature Microwave Type-A (SMA): Subminiature microwave type-A connectors tend to be more compact than most alternatives. They provide a high level of performance effectiveness at frequencies up to ten GHz.

In addition to these examples, there are hundreds of other coaxial connector variants, as well as a wide range of adapters that can be used to join different types together.

Wire Harness Connectors

Wire harness connectors are often used to link a power supply to PC boards through a cable harness. These connectors typically feature a nylon shell and a series of terminals crimped onto wires. In a cabinet wire harness cabling application, a connector secures the power source’s wire harness to a motherboard, while smaller cables that terminate in plastic connectors link panel lights and interface units to the board. D-type connectors, which normally have nine to 56 pins in standard models, can be used to transmit video signals to a display, establish serial port connections, and support system interfaces by connecting devices to external electronics. Modular power connectors are very common among computer applications, while registered jack (RJ) connectors are frequently used for connections in telecommunications systems and data networking technology.

Ribbon Cable Connectors

Ribbon cables feature a flat design with a series of conductive wires running parallel along an even plane. They tend to be relatively inexpensive and are often employed to connect multiple circuit boards within a system chassis. In digital applications, they terminate in insulation-displacement connectors that offer two rows of pins by crimping onto a cable. Some variants, such as the one mentioned by Engineering talk, can establish connections between one printed circuit board and another. Ribbon cable connectors usually have a lower amount of mechanical durability and strength than wire harness connectors, making them better-suited for internal chassis applications.