March 2, 2007 -- Pulse, a Technitrol company and a specialist in electronic component and subassembly design and manufacturing, announced that its connectors have passed High-Definition Multimedia Interface (HDMI) product qualification.
According to a press release, besides fulfilling HDMI interface qualification, Pulse's E810K series connectors meet high static pull test and gorilla test standards, are coplanar to 0.004 inch (0.102 mm) as verified by an automatic precision CCD camera system, will not disengage from the socket when pulled or twisted to 8.8 pounds (4.00 kilograms) in any direction, and can withstand 10,000 mating and un-mating cycles.
Pulse's HDMI connectors are qualified to the HDMI rise time requirement of 200 pico seconds and exceed HDMI standards with a far end cross talk (FEXT) of 2.9 percent. They achieve a 100 ohm match of 106.6 ohms. (The HDMI standard for FEXT is less than 5.0 percent and ohm match is 85 to 115 ohms, plus or minus 15 percent).
The connectors are designed and manufactured to ensure reliability when the set-top box (STB) and television unit are interfaced to another HDMI compatible device. Pulse molds the plastic in the connectors into the housing and uses a closed back design. The contact and head of the connector are physically clamped so the plug can't twist, avoiding stress on the pins that might loosen them. Using an HDMI connection enables the TV to run more efficiently because it takes a digital input and provides a digital output without having an analog signal transition.
To ensure reliability, Pulse says its connectors receive stringent testing. Static pull test results show the connectors can withstand a top to bottom force of greater than 15.43 lbs (7 kg), a side to side pull force of greater than 12.12 lbs (5.5 kg), and they have a maximum failure force of 75.22 lbs (34.12 kilograms) with a soldering joint temperature greater than 240 degrees Celsius.
When subjected to a dynamic gorilla test, the Pulse HDMI surface mount (SMT) connector with a flange maintained its connection throughout the test. The shield did not deform, it kept its integrity, and no failures were detected on soldered SMT pin tails. Pulse measures the coplanarity of its connectors to 0.004 inch (0.102mm). A CCD camera is also used to measure coplanarity.
"The HDMI standard signifies that the connector and cable are designed to mate," says Mark Jackson, product marketing manager of Pulse's connector division. "Compliance testing is limited to an evaluation of a product's compliance with the HDMI specification and is not designed to test the overall performance of any licensed product. There is no standard for reliability, insertion faults, mating or un-mating performance, placement on a PCB, coplanarity, soldering profile or durability. Pulse's connectors are tested for all those factors and therefore won't disconnect when a cable is accidentally pulled or twisted. HDMI connectors interface the STB to the flat panel HDTVs. Because these TVs are so expensive, enhanced performance is expected."
The Pulse HDMI connector series comes in four SMT configurations. They are a single port 1x1 connection in a 0.24 inch (6.18 mm) high x 0.50 inch (12.65 mm) deep x 0.59 inch (15 mm) wide size. The contact mating area is gold with 15 or 30 micron inch plating. All Pulse connectors are RoHS compliant.
The E810K series connectors are available in tape and reel. Prices are about $0.60 for quantities of 10,000.
