Triax Cable Connector
Electrical connectors called triax connectors are made to terminate triaxial cables. Similar to coaxial cable, triaxial cable has an additional layer of insulation and a third, concentric conductor. Triax connectors are perfect for delicate applications because of this extra layer, which improves shielding and lessens signal interference.
Triax vs Coax Connectors
The number of conductors and their purpose are where the main differences reside.
Coaxial (Coax): Consists of one outer shield, an inner insulator, and a central conductor. With the outer shield acting as both a ground and an EMI barrier, it is utilised to transmit a single signal.
Triaxial (Triax): Consists of an exterior shield (the ground), a second insulator, a first tubular shield (the guard), an inner insulator, and a central conductor. A “guarded” configuration is made possible by this third conductor, which is essential for accurate measurements.
In a triaxial system, any leakage current through the inner insulator is effectively eliminated because the guard conductor is driven at the same voltage as the centre conductor. This method, called guarded probing, makes it possible to measure very low currents with remarkable accuracy.
Common Triax Connector Types
Triax connectors come in a number popular varieties, many of which resemble their coaxial counterparts in appearance but are purposefully made to be incompatible to avoid hazardous mismating.
- Triaxial BNC, or TRB, uses a bayonet coupling that is identical to a BNC connector but can’t be mated with a conventional BNC connector since it has three lugs instead of two.
- Triaxial TNC, or TRT, uses a threaded coupling that resembles a TNC connector.
- Triaxial SMA, or TRS, is a scaled-down TRB that is frequently utilized in high-density applications.
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Applications
Triax connectors are utilised in applications that demand great precision and noise immunity due to its exceptional shielding and capacity to manage both signal and guard conductors.
- Scientific and Medical Instrumentation: Used to monitor extremely low currents without mistake due to leakage in sensitive measurement devices such as nuclear instrumentation and electrometers.
- Broadcast and Television: Used to provide a single cable for power, audio, and video while preserving signal quality for connecting television cameras to their control units (CCUs) over long distances.
SMP Connectors
Coaxial RF connectors known as SMP (Subminiature Push-on) connectors are made for blind-mate applications, in which parts are joined by pushing or snapping them together without the use of tools or visual alignment. They are a well-liked option for board-to-board, high-density microwave system applications.
Important Features
- Blind-Mate Capability: The most important feature is the Blind-Mate Capability. SMP connectors connect two male connectors on different circuit boards with a female-to-female “bullet” adaptor. For rack-and-panel or other modular systems where exact alignment is challenging, this design compensates for both axial (lengthwise) and radial (side-to-side) misalignment.
- High Frequency: SMP connectors are a high-performance option. They typically operate between DC to 26.5 GHz, while some are capable of handling frequencies as high as 40 GHz.
- Detent Levels: The availability of various mating force levels, or detents, is a distinctive characteristic of SMP connections. There are three primary kinds of them:
- Smooth Bore: Provides the least retention yet the lowest mating force, making connections and disconnections simple.
- Limited Detent: Offers a nice mix between usability and retention, as well as a medium mating force.
- Full Detent: Offers the strongest mating force, guaranteeing a very stable and solid bond; nevertheless, unmating necessitates the use of a tool.
- Small Footprint: Very high-density packaging on PCBs is made possible by their small size.
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Applications
For demanding applications requiring a combination of mechanical flexibility and high-frequency performance, SMP connections are the preferred option. Typical applications include of:
- Aerospace and Defence: In military communication systems, avionics, and radar.
- Telecommunications: In antennas, base stations, and other microwave parts.
- Test and Measurement: Because of their consistent and dependable performance, they are utilised in test fixtures and instruments.
- High-frequency medical devices are one type of medical equipment.
TNC Connectors
A ruggedised form of the BNC connector, TNC (Threaded Neill-Concelman) connectors are threaded RF (radio frequency) coaxial connectors. They were created in the 1950s and used a threaded coupling, which offers a more stable and secure connection, to get around the BNC’s susceptibility to vibration.
Important Features
- Threaded Coupling: A TNC’s 7/16-28 UNEF threaded coupling nut is the primary characteristic that sets it apart from a BNC. This makes it appropriate for demanding applications by offering a more dependable connection that is resilient to stress, vibration, and environmental influences.
- High Frequency Performance: TNC connectors can function dependably at higher frequencies than BNCs because of the safe, consistent contact that the threaded connection provides. Some specialised versions can reach up to 18 GHz, while their usual frequency range is DC to 11 GHz.
- Impedance: There are two types of TNC connectors: 50 Ω and 75 Ω. While the 75 Ω variant is utilized in broadcast and video applications, the 50 Ω version is the most widely utilized and found in a variety of radio frequency applications.
- Weatherproof: TNC connectors are appropriate for both indoor and outdoor use because they create a weatherproof seal when correctly connected.
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Applications
In many different businesses that need a high-performance, secure RF connection, TNC connectors are the preferred option.
- Cellular base stations, antennas, and other wireless network devices where a steady connection is essential frequently employ them for wireless communication.
- Aerospace and Defence: Radar systems, avionics, and military communication equipment all use TNC connectors because of their resilience to vibration and extreme conditions.
- Measurement and Testing: They can be found on a range of testing devices, such as network and spectrum analysers.
Twinax Cable Connectors
Specialized electrical connectors known as twinax connectors are made to work with twinaxial cables, which are cables that have two inner conductors encircled by a common shield. They are frequently employed in military and data communication applications where strong noise protection and minimal signal distortion are crucial.
Twinax vs Coax Connectors
Twinax and coaxial connections differ primarily in the kind of signal they transport and the cable they terminate.
- Coaxial (Coax) connectors are used with cables that have a single shielded inner conductor. They are mostly employed in analogue, video, and radio frequency (RF) applications for single-ended signals.
- Cables with two core conductors twisted together and shielded are known as twinaxial (Twinax) connectors. These two conductors convey equal and opposing voltages, which is known as a differential signal. They are extremely resistant to crosstalk and electromagnetic interference (EMI) because to their architecture, which is crucial for preserving signal integrity at high data rates.
Common Types and Applications
Although twinax connectors are made with particular keying or pin configurations to prevent them from mating with conventional coaxial connectors, they frequently share a form factor with other connector types.
Typical uses consist of:
- Data centres: Twinax cables are frequently used as Direct Attach Cables (DACs) to link storage area networks, servers, and switches. With high bandwidth and minimal latency, they are an affordable substitute for fibre optic cables over up to 15 meters.
- Military and Aerospace: They are appropriate for military data buses, such as those that follow the MIL-STD-1553 standard, because to their longevity and EMI resistance.
- High-speed network infrastructure uses telecommunications, particularly for short links where low latency is essential.
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