Connectors are an indispensable and important part in electronic measurement. Whether test instruments or DUTs, cables or accessories, there are all kinds of different connectors everywhere. For test engineers, the commonly used connectors are N-type, BNC-type, SMA-type, 3.5 mm, 2.92 mm, 2.4 mm, 1.85 mm, and 1 mm. Let's take a look at some of the more commonly used connectors:
SMA connector
Designed by the Bendix Scintilla company in the 1950s, it is low cost and popular. The interior is filled with PTFE, so it has poor high frequency performance. The wall of the outer conductor is relatively thin and is very easily worn and damaged, resulting in poor reliability.
3.5mm connector
Developed by Keysight Technologies and earlier manufactured by Amphenol. It is designed to create a robust physical interface that is dimensionally matched to common SMAs and has a lifespan of thousands of connections. Its inner conductor is supported by a plastic ring instead of a dielectric material, so the operating frequency is greatly increased. 3.5 mm header inner conductors are available in several different styles, four-lobed slotted, or precision slotless.
2.92mm connector
Designed by anritsu, this connector is commonly referred to as a K-head and can be used up to 40 GHz without mode limitations. It mates with SMA and 3.5 mm connectors, but has increased uncertainty, is not suitable for precision measurements, and is prone to damage.
2.4mm connector
Developed by Keysight Technologies, Amphenol and M/A-COM, this connector is essentially.
A smaller version of the 3.5 mm connector, so the maximum frequency is also greatly increased. 2.4 mm connectors are widely used in 50GHz systems and can actually work up to 60 GHz. This design eliminates the vulnerability of SMA and 2.92 mm by increasing the thickness of the outer wall of the connector and strengthening the female pins. The 2.4 mm connector cannot be mixed with 3.5 mm, 2.92 mm, SMA, in fact, its thread design is to prevent mixing with 3.5 mm and other connectors.
1.85mm connector
Developed by Keysight Technologies in the mid-1980s, it is a scaled-down version of 2.4 mm, originally designed for 67 GHz frequencies and actually works up to 70 GHz. 1.85 mm connectors are mechanically compatible with 2.4 mm. In 1988, HP made its design public to the outside world to encourage standardization of connector types.
1.0mm connector
This connector is the coaxial connector with the highest operating frequency at present. Invented by Paul Watson of Keysight Technologies in 1989, the operating frequency is calibrated at 110 GHz, but the actual frequency can work up to 120 GHz, and some versions can even reach 140 GHz. Due to its small size, it is easily damaged when connected, and requires the use of a separate torque wrench and the operating instructions are strictly followed.
The above are familiar, and the connectors that get along day and night all have diameter dimensions in their names. This dimensioning refers to the inner diameter of the outer conductor. This size, together with the outer diameter of the inner conductor, directly determines the maximum operating frequency and scattering performance (S-parameter) of the connector.
Therefore, incorrect use of connectors can lead to false test results, while on the other hand, poor quality or worn connectors can damage the interface of other expensive meters and cables.
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