Glenair, Inc. began in 1956 as the first company founded to produce connector accessories. We now offer a full spectrum of interconnect solutions, including a broad range of mil-qualified and commercial connectors. Glenair’s strengths include ISO 9001 certification, fast-turnaround quotes and custom orders, unsurpassed sales and technical support worldwide, and the industry’s largest inventory of connector accessories. From our industry-leading Series 80 Mighty Mouse to next-generation aerospace connectors, Glenair has become the go-to innovator for smaller, lighter, faster interconnect solutions.
Glenair offers a full range of innovative high-speed interconnect solutions for mission-critical applications. Let’s start with El Ochito®, our most popular and widely deployed solution for high-speed data transmission.
Image: High-Speed Micro-D cabled pair with test board
High speed, harsh environment El Ochito octaxial contacts save size and weight. Suitable for aircraft avionics, weapons systems, satellites, radars, communications and other aerospace/defense gear, El Ochito contacts are optimized for 10G Ethernet, SuperSpeed USB and other multi-gigabit datalink protocols including HDMI, DisplayPort and SATA.
El Ochito contacts provide up to 50% total weight savings and 20 times faster data rates compared to legacy quadrax-based solutions. These contacts have eight crimp signal pins housed in a machined, gold plated outer contact. We offer four Signature connector packaging solutions for El Ochito contacts: The SuperFly Datalink, the Series 806 Mil-Aero, SuperNine, and the Series 792. Let’s take a look at the benefits and applications for each.
Image: Series 806 Mil-Aero with El Ochito hybrid pair
SuperFly datalink is a new ultra-miniature connector offering for El Ochito. Glenair connectors optimized for use with El Ochito contacts commonly include an insulator to house the contacts, and each contact has a metallic outer body for signal shielding. But if you only require 1 channel of Ethernet, USB 3.0, or video signal, some of these connector components can be removed completely to minimize the overall size of the connector. SuperFly Datalink was developed for the case of fitting a single El Ochito contact module into the smallest connector packaging possible. This minimized packaging is achieved by using the connector’s shell as the signal shield. With SuperFly Datalink, the connector insulator and outer body of the contact can be omitted completely, and the shell of the connector can be used to transmit the signal ground. SuperFly Datalink connectors are offered as push-pull (QDC) or with threaded coupling, in cable termination and PC tails.
Image: SpeedMaster SuperNine pair
Series 806 is our next-generation small form-factor aerospace-grade circular connector. 12 insert arrangements have been tooled for keyed size 8 El Ochito contacts, including hybrid arrangements. They are compatible with modern high-speed protocols like USB 3.0, HDMI, and DisplayPort.
SuperNine is our “better than QPL” 38999 style circular connector series. There are 20 different arrangements with keyed size # 8 contact cavities available for SuperNine, making it the most versatile of any connector series for El Ochito. We recommend choosing SuperNine for applications that require a large number of high-speed protocol lines in a single connector, or where a D38999 series connector is needed to meet a specific requirement such as an existing panel cut-out.
For customers who want El Ochito in a rectangular connector, we offer the Series 792. Developed specifically for size 8 contacts, the 792 series offers scoop-proof mating, polarization options, hybrid contact arrangements, and a float-mount flange for blind mating. The Series 792 is a highly-engineered solution with many unique features not found in any other rectangular connector. Tightly spaced on a panel or box, the series 792 is also the highest-density solution.
Shifting gears, Octobyte offers yet another Ethernet solution, this one optimized for harsh-environment transit and industrial applications. Octobyte comprises both a contact technology and connector technology in one. It’s offered as a Quadrax or Octaxial style contact module and packaged in a rugged circular connector with reverse-bayonet coupling.
SuperSeal houses commercial RJ45 and USB connectors in ruggedized shells for a high-speed harsh-environment field connector solution with superior sealing and durability, shell-to-shell grounding, and a variety of wire termination options including solder cup and crimp.
Image: Versalink Micro pair 1
VersaLink is a revolutionary high-speed shielded twinax contact system capable of the highest-speed digital data transmission. VersaLink evolved from traditional mil-spec twinax contacts, but we’ve changed the outer shield to a rectangular shape to greatly improve signal integrity, contact density, and mechanical alignment. Each crimp-removable VersaLink contact has its own shield, resulting in virtually zero crosstalk. VersaLink was developed from the ground up using ANSYS simulation software, allowing us to simulate and optimize signal integrity performance before ever producing a prototype.
VersaLink is offered as a potted contact in Micro-D style connectors. Standard Micro components are combined with a modified shell to allow hybrid arrangements using VersaLink contact modules alongside standard Micro-D inserts. VersaLink Micro-D allows utilization of reliable 83513 Micro-D hardware and panel cutouts with advanced high-speed technology.
VersaLink Bridge was developed to allow landing of a single differential pair onto a printed circuit board using the smallest footprint possible. This allows not only for less overall space taken up on the board, but it also allows the designer to land the signal right next to their FPGA or whatever high-speed device they might have. VersaLink Bridge eliminates lossy long copper trace routings by traversing them over impedance-controlled VersaLink Bridge cables, rather than across the circuit board.
High-Speed Micro-D is optimized for high-speed differential signaling at upwards of 10 Gbps. Glenair engineers utilized ANSYS simulation software to determine how a standard Micro-D connector could best be optimized for high-speed. The resulting product uses the same shell, hardware, and contact spacing as a Micro-D, but utilizes smaller 1 Amp nano TwistPin contacts. This modification reduces the overall diameter of a mated pair of contacts to allow for 100 ohm impedance-matched differential pairs.
High-Speed Micro-D board-mount connectors offer a combination of thru-hole and surface mount termination. Surface-mount termination is often specified for high-speed systems, VersaLink Micro-D testing has shown comparable performance in differential signaling using either plated thru-hole or surface-mount tails.
We’ll move on now to SpeedMaster, which is another 8-way shielded octaxial contact system for 10GbE applications. SpeedMaster allows the use of standard wire gauges, up to 24 AWG, and uses standard size 22D contacts. Its threaded shield termination is field-repairable. SpeedMaster is a turnkey connector / contact solution with its own high-density insert arrangements for SuperNine, Series 28 HiperD, and Series 804 push-pull Mighty Mouse.
Visit our High-Speed Interconnect Solutions page at https://www.glenair.com/connectors-and-contacts-for-high-speed-datalink-protocols/index.htm for complete details on all of Glenair’s mission-critical high-speed solutions.
