800-10-042-10-004000 Application Field and Working Principle

Rectangular connectors, and in particular headers with male pins, are widely used in electronics for interfacing a variety of circuits, from simple power or signal connections to difficult communication protocols. Together with its application field, this article will cover its working principle in detail.

Application Field

Rectangular connectors and their headers with male pins are used in a variety of applications, including:

• Data transfer: The connectors can be used in serial, parallel, and Ethernet communication protocols for transferring digital data over short or long distances.
• Power Supply: The connectors are also used for providing power supply for the duration of the circuit’s lifespan.
• Telecommunications: Connectors are used to facilitate analog and digital telephone conversations between multiple parties.
• High Speed Circuits: High-speed circuits, such as those found in computers, require the use of connectors with tight contact force and low resistance.
• Embedded Systems: An embedded system can contain several internal and external components, all of which need to be interconnected. Connectors are used to do this.
• Signal Processing: Conventional signal processing applications such as analog circuits, pacemakers, and amplifiers use connectors for signal routing.
• Component Interconnection: The connectors provide a reliable and efficient means of connecting components on a PCB.

Working Principle

Headers with male pins consist of many metal contact pins that are recessed into holes in the housing. When the connector is mated into the corresponding female receptacle, the contact pins make contact with the female receptacle’s receptacle pins. This type of connection is made possible due to the contact force that is generated between the pins and the receptacle pins.

The contact force is generated due to the presence of a spring located in the connector’s housing. When the connector is mated into the female receptacle, the spring is compressed, thus creating a force that pushes the contact pins into contact with the receptacle pins. The compression of the spring increases the contact force and ensures the secure and reliable connection of the two connectors.

Connector systems can be designed to have various contact force levels, ranging from low to medium to high. Depending on the application, the connectors can be designed to have a high contact force or low contact force, depending on the requirements of the circuit. The contact force level also affects the resistance of the connection, which can range from low to medium to high.

To prevent corrosion, the contact pins and receptacle pins are made of either copper or gold and are usually plated with either gold or tin. Using plated contacts ensures that the contacts remain resistant to corrosion and abrasion, thus prolonging the lifespan of the connector.

Conclusion

Rectangular connectors and their headers with male pins are widely used in electronics for a variety of purposes, including data transfer, power supply, telecommunications, high-speed circuits, embedded systems, signal processing, and component interconnection. The working principle of this type of connectors relies on the presence of a spring inside the connector housing which creates a contact force that enables secure and reliable connections with female receptacles. In addition, contact pins and receptacle pins are usually plated with either gold or tin to ensure that they remain corrosion and abrasion-resistant.