Samtec’s Edge Rate™ Contact system is designed for high speed, high cycle applications. The surface of the Edge Rate™ contact is milled creating 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 allowing the connectors to be zippered when unmating.
In addition to increased durability and extended cycle life, the Edge Rate™ contact has superior electrical performance compared to most stamped contacts. The Edge Rate™ contacts are positioned in the plastic insulator so the narrow edges of the pins are parallel to each other. This minimizes the parallel surface area reducing broadside coupling and crosstalk. Additionally, Edge Rate™ contacts expand the electrical benefits to include impedance matching. The intricate details of the contact geometry are designed, simulated, and optimized electrically for 50Ω and 100Ω systems given the contact pitch and appropriate grounding schematics. For example, the ERM8/ERF8 Series, a .8mm pitch dual in-line strip connector, is rated at 10.5 GHz / pair at -3dB insertion loss.
The ERM8/ERF8 system is available in stack heights from 7-16mm, with 10-150 pins per connector, and in vertical, right angle, and edge-mount designs.
