Details Regarding PCB-Mounted Connector Technology

Where there is Backplane Board you will find connectors. For almost 80 years they co-exist and since then they have come a long way. On one side the importance of bringing signals and power off-board is obvious, on the other side you will find that there are many features of connectors in today’s industry that is driven by high-risk conditions, high-performance applications, harsh environments, and ultra-compact devices.

Three major purposes of PCB connectors are:

PCB programming/debug connection: A connector is needed that is utilized for debugging or programming but basically for something like a microcontroller or field-programmable gate array use. 

PCB interconnections: Between two PCBs it is a rigid (or flexible) connection

PCB cabling connection: For off-board peripherals, it is a bundled, wired connection

In these three types of Backplane PCB connections, all three differ in fit, form, and function that is based on the application. First off, to a PCB there are two main variations of mounting connectors: surface-mount and through-hole. You will find different varieties of surface-mount methods. But for all intents and purposes, a connector is mounted by either pin-through-hole or pin-on-pad. 

Tradeoffs that need to consider when designing

Several advantages are brought by mounting a connector via through-hole brings. But here the main benefit is a stronger mechanical connection. Based on the application, especially when reliability and safety are critical this becomes very important. If it’s accessible to the user and sees frequent cycles then a through-hole connection will provide better reliability and, potentially, less chance for the device to become damaged over time. One other major benefit of through-hole components is that it makes probing easier and it reworks for prototyping or repair.

On the other hand, surface-mount connectors highly save board space and when relying on the application it may also take cost out of both fabrication and assembly. Various Backplane Board connectors have alignment posts but not solder connections. Even surface-mount connectors consist of a higher density of pin count, which, then again help in packing more signals into a smaller area and save precious board space.