Press release

Etters, PA
February 5, 2008
IMMEDIATE RELEASE, FC607

FCI Announces New ZipLine(TM) Power Module

ETTERS, PA (February 5, 2008) - FCI, a leading developer of connectors and interconnect systems, has expanded its new ZipLine(TM) connector system with the addition of the ZipLine power module. Designed for both backplane and orthogonal applications, the power IMLA (Insert-Molded Leadframe Assembly) has a current carrying capacity of 7A per position, or 42A per column, as tested for 30°C temperature rise in still air when a single 6-contact power IMLA is integrated within a signal module.

Just like our revolutionary AirMax VS® family, ZipLine connectors offer the flexibility that only a shieldless design can provide, including mixing and matching orthogonal IMLAs, backplane IMLAs and now power IMLAs.

The ZipLine high-density, high-performance connector system is built upon FCI's proven AirMax VS technology and offers similar signal integrity performance. Like AirMax VS connectors, the ZipLine connector system uses edge-coupling technology to deliver high signal density with low insertion loss and low crosstalk, all without the use of costly and space-consuming metal shields. Data rates can scale from 2.5 Gb/s to 12.5 Gb/s without requiring redesign of a basic platform.

ZipLine connectors also provide the greatest signal density in three dimensions to help address mechanical or thermal concerns of system designers. In addition to superior signal density and electrical performance, the versatile ZipLine design offers incredible flexibility. Standard orthogonal, backplane, and power IMLAs can be configured in many ways to satisfy unique application requirements without the need for new tooling or long lead times.

The ZipLine system is compatible with hard metric design practice and can be placed next to AirMax VS signal modules and hard metric high-power connectors.

With two adjacent power IMLAs, the ZipLine power IMLA's current-carrying capacity is 5A per contact position, or 30A per column. With twelve adjacent IMLAs, individual contacts are rated at 2.5A, or 15A per column.

The ZipLine connector system provides 84.6 differential signal pairs/inch linear density when configured with 6 differential pairs per column at 1.8mm column pitch, and can attain 101 differential signal pairs/inch at 1.5mm column pitch (to be tooled as customers require). Available in both backplane and orthogonal configurations, the initial 6-pair, 12 IMLA products provide 72 differential pairs that will fit into a 1-inch daughter card pitch. A configuration having 3 differential pairs per column is under development to enable use on 15mm card slot pitch.

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