Introduction
Electrical connectors, to put it simply, join two or more conductors together in a continuous and electrically conductive path. Regardless of their connection, application, or function, all electrical connectors have one objective, which is to create a path of electrical conduction between the joined conductors.
Connector Anatomy and Terminology
USB Connectors
USB (Universal Serial Bus) is a common interface that enables communication between devices and a host controller, such as a PC. USBs are used to connect many different devices, such as mice, keyboards, scanners, and printers. USB connectors come in two different types, peripheral and host. All USB connectors share similar traits.
USB Types
Audio Connectors
Audio connectors, as their name implies, transmit audio signals from one device to another. Two of the most common types of audio connectors are phone connectors and RCA connectors.
“Phone” Type Connectors
Phone type connectors come in three sizes: ¼” (6.35mm) ⅛” (3.5mm) and 2.5mm. ¼” tip-sleeve jack connectors are used in audio and music, most commonly with electric guitars and amplifiers. ⅛” tip-ring-sleeve jacks (TRS) are common as the connector for headphones on MP3 players and computers. Finally, Texas Instruments graphing calculators use a 2.5mm tip-ring-ring-sleeve (TRRS) connector for serial programming. Tip-sleeve connector-types are not designed to carry power, and the lack of shielding makes them poor for carrying high-speed data, however.
RCA Connectors
RCA connectors have been used in home stereos for decades, ever since the design was first used by the company RCA for home phonographs in the 1940s. While the design has been supplanted by HDMI in the audio-visual realm, the ubiquity of RCA means that it will likely not be obsolete for years to come.
HDMI
HDMI (High Definition Multimedia Interface) is an audio/video interface that transmits video and audio data. HDMI connectors come in a 19-pin design with male plugs and female sockets and are used in DVD and Blu-Ray players, digital cameras, personal computers, and video game consoles.
D-Sub
A D-Sub contains two or more parallel rows of pins or sockets (depending on the gender of the connector) surrounded by a D-shaped metal shield that ensures correct orientation, provides mechanical support, and shields against electromagnetic interference. First introduced by Cannon in 1952, D-subs are rarely used for consumer electronics, but their sturdy construction makes them popular in industrial applications like foundries, factories, and mills.
Fiber Optic
An alternative to the metal wires used in other connectors, fiber optic cables use transparent and flexible fibers made from silica or plastic slightly thicker than human hair. These fibers transmit light from one end to the other and can transmit data over longer distances and at higher bandwidths than electrical cables.
Power
Many connectors carry power as well as data, but some are used specifically to power connected devices. These types include:
MIL-SPEC
Electrical and fiber-optic connectors used by the Department of Defense and various armed forces. Originally developed in the 1930’s, MIL-SPEC connectors consist of male plugs and female sockets like other connectors, but they are designed and manufactured to endure the harsh environment conditions and disruption that battle can cause (such as 100 g’s worth of shock).
At Aerospace Aces, owned and operated by ASAP Semiconductor, we sell electrical connectors from some of the top manufacturers around the world. Some of these manufacturers include Carling Technologies, Hubbell Electrical, and Micross Components.
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