FOOTHILL RANCH, CA - Rapid Conn, Inc., a subsidiary of ConnectCounty Holdings Berhad (CCHB), recently announced it was awarded U.S. Patent 6,951,477 and Republic of China Patent I246236 related to a unique termination method for cable assemblies, ensuring high-speed reliability and automation capability. The solderless termination method eliminates the need for lead (Pb), a hazardous substance banned in most electronics by recent environmental initiatives in Europe, Japan, and CA.
This patented method, employed in the company’s serial-ATA (SATA) high-speed signal cable products, will give CCHB a competitive advantage by preventing others from using this low-cost method to achieve the stringent electrical requirements set forth in the SATA Industry Standard Specification. The director of engineering, Robert Tondreault, added, “These patent awards are a recognition of our engineering capability; we have been working to perfect this unique design over the last two years. The method of termination is significantly advanced compared to the technology used by our competitors. Our design is solderless and highly repeatable, thereby increasing performance, efficiencies, and quality. In addition to further employment of this technology, we are in the process of completing more semi-automatic assembly equipment to increase our production capacity in China over the next few months to meet the growing demands for the SATA product family.”
The company views this patent as a significant asset and states that it will aggressively protect its proprietary design from infringement. Worldwide annual usage of these cables exceeds US$94 million. Rapid Conn. has also applied for other international patents of this method, all of which are pending.
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The SATA signal cable is one of a family of SATA products that CCHB offers to the market. SATA high-speed signal cables are used to connect hard drives and other storage devices in digital systems such as computers, telecommunication, and industrial equipment, as well as gaming devices and satellite set top boxes.
According to Tondreault, “Serial ATA (SATA) is an evolutionary replacement for the parallel ATA physical storage interface. SATA is scalable and allows for enhancements to the computing platform. These include easier integration, faster performance, and more efficient design. Adoption of the SATA specification provides low-cost storage for the industry, and improved speed and bandwidth. Implementation of SATA allows for easy integration due to improved cabling, greater flexibility with regard to system configuration, and hot pluggability. With these enhancements, system builders can create new solutions with fewer limitations, and will experience greater interoperability with other interfaces.”
