What was the inspiration that got you into engineering? I am sure that I followed the same path as thousands, if not millions, before me. LEGO blocks and model kits gave me the thrill of creating my own machines, and they lit the spark that makes me the geek that I am now.
However much I have always been fascinated with large machines, I have never been in a position to design one. My designs have always been small – connectors and backshells. The chance to work on the next Apollo mission or to build airplanes was always slightly out of reach.
I expect that most engineers and designers are in the same position. Even those who work in their dream jobs, whether they are designing airplanes or smartphones, will not get to build the entire machine. For many parts of their creation, they must rely on components that have already been created by others. In these circumstances, standards are vital.
Selecting a connector that conforms to a published standard provides the designer with confidence. The first piece of information that a standard provides is a guarantee of compatibility. Many of us are designing products for a global marketplace, and we know that customers value familiarity. Connectors are one of the few components in electronics that are on full display to the user, and familiarity is important when it comes to customer loyalty.
Even more important in the modern electronics environment is performance. Modern processors are working at unprecedented data speeds and transmission rates. More than ever, connectors play a vital role in signal integrity. With data speeds of 56 Gbps PAM4 becoming common, connectors such as the Edge Rate® series provide the rugged reliability needed by the latest computer applications
Samtec has always been highly active in helping to create connector standards. From the familiar PICMG to the latest COM-HPC standards, Samtec high-performance connector technology has created some of the key solutions for the latest high-speed technology.
The latest standard has come from the Storage Network Industry Association. The SNIA-TA-1002 standard defines the mechanical and electrical requirements for an unshielded edge card designed for the latest storage devices.
The solution that forms the basis of the SNIA-TA-1002 standard is the Samtec Edge Rate® high-speed card edge connector. The Edge Rate® contact system is designed for high-speed, applications that need a high number of mating cycles. At its heart, the Edge Rate® contact design is milled to create a smooth mating surface area instead of a stamped contact that mates on a cut edge. This smooth mating surface reduces the wear tracks on the contact increasing the durability and cycle life of the contact system. It also lowers insertion and withdrawal forces.
Connector standards provide the shorthand that designers need to make decisions quickly. Providing a guarantee of performance and compatibility, Samtec provides solutions that interact with many types of hardware and software that are needed for the latest computing applications.
For a complete overview of the standards covered by Samtec products, download our guide here.
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