FCI Adds 17mm and 27mm Stack Heights to GIG-ARRAY® High-Speed Connector Offering

ETTERS, PA (May 17, 2006) – FCI announces an extension of its GIG-ARRAY® high-speed, high-density product line with the introduction of new 12mm plug connectors. These new GIG-ARRAY mezzanine connectors provide either 200 or 296 signal contacts and add the capability for 17mm or 27mm board-to-board spacing when used in combination with the company’s existing 5mm or 15mm receptacles. These stack heights expand upon the options for 15mm, 18mm, 20mm, 25mm, 28mm, 30mm and 35mm spacing already available as part of the GIG-ARRAY product range.

“With the addition of these new GIG-ARRAY connector options, we’re offering equipment designers nine stack-height options to enable them to address component clearance, airflow, or slot spacing requirements that are unique to their chassis designs,” said Grace Showers, FCI Global Product Manager. “Blade server, storage, communications, and networking equipment are among the applications that can benefit from the excellent high-speed electrical performance provided by the GIG-ARRAY connector system.”

GIG-ARRAY differential pairs nominally provide 100 ohms matched impedance to deliver higher speed performance with less reflected power. GIG-ARRAY connectors can support data rates in the range of 10 Gbps. The 296-position connector contains 37 columns with eight individual signal contacts and nine ground contacts in each column, while the 200-position connector contains 25 columns. The use of individual contacts for both signal and ground connections provides more flexibility in handling power or low-speed signals than systems that utilize interleaving ground shields.

All GIG-ARRAY connectors feature FCI’s innovative Ball Grid Array (BGA) connector termination for easy attachment to printed circuit boards using conventional reflow soldering processes. The 1mm x 0.65mm BGA grid optimizes PCB trace routing and electrical performance. Lead-free and RoHS-compatible connector options are available.

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