Gregory Powers, W.L. Gore & Associates, Inc
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Miniature connectors evolve for high-speed I/O in SFF embedded systems
The world of rugged Small Form Factor (SFF) embedded computers is rapidly growing. Powerful architectures such as VPX remain the standard solution for High Performance Embedded Computing (HPEC), but designers are looking toward smaller, lighter I/O solutions to save space and weight. VPX is modular and scalable, therefore well suited to SFF systems. However, unleashing embedded computers’ horsepower and achieving end-to-end high-speed performance pose another challenge. A new generation of miniature and nanominiature connectors now supports the needs of high-speed I/O for 100 ohm data busses like Gigabit and 10 G Ethernet. Such connectors use robust designs already time-tested in adverse environments to cancel noise, decrease crosstalk, and maintain signal integrity.
