Designers should consider the ease of replacement, especially in enclosed enclosures.

1. Understand the limitations of space

Although miniature board-to-board connectors are typically less than 1 mm thick, they are also commonly used in tightly packed applications. To address potential packaging problems, designers need to consider the wiring on the PCB and the additional wires attached to the connector.

Also, keep in mind that some connectors (such as flexible cable connectors) offer options for flipping forward and backward. When designing a system, you need to consider these rollovers. For example, a rearview connector might not be easy to access if it has another component on the front and back.

Finally, designers need to be aware that surface-mount devices sometimes cannot handle smaller components. In some cases, they need new vacuum nozzles to solve these problems.

2. Figure out the current load capacity

As the connector size decreases, so does the connector's current load capacity. In general, the miniature connector can handle current between 200mA and 500mA, about half the rated current of the larger board-to-board connector. To compensate for the lower current-carrying capacity, the designer may need to increase the number of terminals.

3. Consider the stability of small/micro connections

Not taking the issue to heart first could drive up costs, he said. Broken connectors need to be reconfigured, refurbished, and marked. Even more expensive, field replaceable connectors may be needed, and such changes could add another week or two to the design time.

4. Consider ease of replacement

If the appearance of the product is closed, then you need connectors that can be replaced from the outside. Otherwise, you'll need to do some welding.

5. Understand the functional requirements of connectors

Suppliers need customers to fully express their needs, or they may misunderstand their needs. This is especially important when you need to make custom connectors.

6. Consider mechanical stresses

Temperature, shock, and vibration all create stresses between the interface and the circuit. Experts recommend that you choose a connector that avoids these forces.