Dimensions are shown in mm (inch)
Dimensions subject to change
71
Reader’s
Resource
ZIF Connectors Glossary of Terms
Glossary of Terms
In every job speciality there are certain words and
phrases used by the ‘‘insiders’’ which after a time
become almost a language unique to that
speciality. DL Zero Insertion Force (ZIF)
technology is a typical example of that condition.
This page provides some explanations, in an
attempt to clarify some of the terms that are
commonly used by engineers and sales staff at
Cannon.
The list is not comprehensive, but highlights many
of the expressions commonly used. Should you
have any comments or additions please contact
us. Feedback will be appreciated.
AWG — American Wire Gauge. A standard for wire
diameters based on the approximate circular mil
area of the wire. As numbers get larger, wire
diameters decrease in size (a size 16 AWG wire
has a larger diameter than a size 22 AWG).
Beryllium Copper — An alloy of copper used to
make contacts. It is relatively expensive, but has
superior spring qualities, is resistant to fatigue, and
can operate at higher temperatures than other
materials such as phosphor bronze. It is used
when numerous insertion and extraction cycles
are required.
Cable Clamp — A rear connector clamping
accessory which tightens over a cable or wire
bundle to provide strain relief to the cable. The
cable clamp may be part of a more elaborate
endbell or it may be used alone.
Contact Retention — The maximum allowable
axial load which can be applied to a contact from
either direction without it being dislodged from the
insulator. Usually stated in Newtons or pounds of
force.
Contact Spacing — The distance between the
centers of adjacent contacts.
Crimp — A method of attaching a contact to a wire
through the application of pressure.
Crimp Contact — A contact which is terminated to
a wire by means of crimping with an appropriate
die and tool. After termination, an insertion tool is
normally used to insert the crimped contact into
the connector. Removable crimp contacts can be
FRONT RELEASE or REAR RELEASE. An
extraction tool is usually required to remove the
contact.
Cross Talk — Undesired electrical currents in
conductors caused by electromagnetic or
electrostatic coupling from other conductors or
from external sources. Also, leakage of optical
power from one optical conductor to another.
Derating — To reduce the voltage, current, or
power rating of a connector to improve its
reliability or to permit operation at high ambient
temperatures or altitudes.
Derating Curve — A graph of the change in power
handling capability of a connector as a function of
ambient temperature or altitude. Typically the
graphed function is curved, hence the name.
EMI/RFI — Electro-Magnetic Interference and
Radio Frequency Interference. This is unwanted
stray electronic radiation which may enter, and/or
be emitted by an electronic system. The most
common method of shielding interconnections
against this radiation is to use wires with a metallic
braided shield and a connector system which will
extend the shield through the interconnection. This
type of design will keep radiation from entering, or
being emitted by the system. Endbells for shielded
cable and connectors with threads or grounding
fingers are typically used for this purpose. Call for
the specific EMI/RFI accommodations of the
connectors in this catalog.
Extraction Tool — A device used to remove a
(removable) contact from a connector insulator.
The extraction tool may be inserted into the mating
face of the insulator (FRONT RELEASE) or the wire
side (REAR RELEASE). In either case, the contact
comes out the rear, or wire side, of the connector.
Flash Plating — As commonly used in connector
terminology, flash refers to extremely thin platings
of metal, for example: gold flash is a very thin
plating of gold. So thin, that the thickness is
generally not specified.
Insertion Tool — A small, handheld tool used to
insert contacts into a connector.
Mating Life — The minimum number of times a
connector can be mated and unmated and still
meet all of its design specifications. The maximum
life may be much higher than this figure.
Operating Temperature — The range of
AMBIENT TEMPERATURES over which the
connector can operate and still meet all of its
design specifications.
PC Contact — A pin or socket contact that has a
post opposite the mating end which is intended to
be soldered directly to a printed circuit (PC) board
instead of being terminated to a wire. The solder
post may come in square post and or round pin
configurations.
Polarization — A mechanism that allows
connector halves to intermate in only one specific
orientation. This can be accomplished by
asymmetrical shapes of the two halves as in a
D Subminiature connector, insulator rotation,
keys, keyways, ramps, or other means. Polar-
ization prevents connectors of the same size and/
or same layout from intermating when this is
undesirable, such as when two otherwise identical
connectors are used on the same panel.
Polarization is typically done by the assembler and
cannot be changed by the user, while keying is
typically done by the user with an auxiliary keying
device.
Removable Contact — A contact which can be
inserted and removed from the insulator by the
user. An insertion tool and extraction tool are
normally required to insert and remove the contact.
Selective Plating — The application of metal
PLATING to selective areas of the contact,
particularly those areas subject to wear. Precious
metal platings may be applied selectively to those
contact surfaces responsible for the electrical
connection, reducing the contact cost without
sacrificing electrical performance.
Thermoplastic — A plastic material that can be
softened by heat and rehardened into a solid state
by cooling. This process can be accomplished
using a variety of techniques.
UL — Abbreviation for Underwriter’s Laboratories,
a corporation supported by a group of underwriters
for the purpose of establishing safety standards
covering certain types of equipment and
components in the United States.
UL 94V-O — A flammability performance rating
set by Underwriter’s Laboratories for plastics.
Wire Size — The numerical designation for
conductor diameter. This catalog uses American
Wire Gauge (AWG) which is based on the
approximate circular mil area of the wire. Also see
AWG.
Wrap Post Contact — A type of contact which is
terminated by wrapping wire around a post in a
manner that deforms the wire and creates a gas-
tight connection between the wire and the post.
This method is slow and labor intensive. If used at
all, it is used in prototype work.
Zero Insertion Force Connector (ZIF) — A
connector designed in such a way that the
contacts do not mechanically touch until the two
connector halves have been jointed and a
compression mechanism has joined the contacts
together. A ZIF connector has extremely low
insertion and removal forces making it possible to
easily mate very large numbers of contacts with
virtually no wear.
