Rugged Connectors Tackle RF and Microwave Backplane Tasks

Oct. 2, 2024

Teledyne’s VITA 67.3-compatible connectors provide backplane RF and microwave connectivity.

What you’ll learn:

What is the VITA 67 standard?
Why designers want to use Mini-MultiMate connectors.

The VITA 67 standards encompass a range of VPX-based coaxial interconnects. Specifically, the VITA 67.3 standard addresses spring-loaded backplane RF connections. One of the suppliers of compatible connectors is Teledyne.

The company’s VITA 67.3 NanoFR and SMPM Connectors can be used in conjunction with its StormFlex cable as well. VITA 67.3 added 75-Ω SMPM and NanoRF contacts. I talked with Greg Horton, Regional Sales Manager at Teledyne, about its latest offerings (watch the video above).

VITA 67 defines the backplane interconnect for VITA VPX boards—VITA 67.1 and 67.2 define 4- and 8-position SMPM configurations (Fig. 1). These are designed to provide analog blind-mating connections. Teledyne also has 10-, 12- and 14-position connectors.

1. The demo system (left) includes VITA 67 backplane interconnects (right) designed for high-speed RF connections.

Greg also showed off the rugged, splash-resistant Mini-MultiMate interconnect system (Fig. 2). It supports multiple, high-frequency connections with a single connector. The system can be used with flexible and semi-rigid cabling. It’s possible to replace individual channels.

2. The splash-resistant Mini-MultiMate interconnect system allows for replacement of individual cable connections.

^{>>Check out our coverage of IMS 2024 as well as the TechXchange for similar videos and articles.}

Communication

Latest RF and Microwaves Tech @ IMS 2024

Check out the latest technology at this year's International Microwave Symposium.

Systems

TechXchange: Critical Connections: Cables, Wires, Vias, and Busbars

Cables, wires, vias, and busbars provide critical connections in electronic systems

About the Author

William G. Wong | Senior Content Director - Electronic Design and Microwaves & RF

I am Editor of Electronic Design focusing on embedded, software, and systems. As Senior Content Director, I also manage Microwaves & RF and I work with a great team of editors to provide engineers, programmers, developers and technical managers with interesting and useful articles and videos on a regular basis. Check out our free newsletters to see the latest content.

You can send press releases for new products for possible coverage on the website. I am also interested in receiving contributed articles for publishing on our website. Use our template and send to me along with a signed release form.

Check out my blog, AltEmbedded on Electronic Design, as well as his latest articles on this site that are listed below.

You can visit my social media via these links:

I earned a Bachelor of Electrical Engineering at the Georgia Institute of Technology and a Masters in Computer Science from Rutgers University. I still do a bit of programming using everything from C and C++ to Rust and Ada/SPARK. I do a bit of PHP programming for Drupal websites. I have posted a few Drupal modules.

I still get a hand on software and electronic hardware. Some of this can be found on our Kit Close-Up video series. You can also see me on many of our TechXchange Talk videos. I am interested in a range of projects from robotics to artificial intelligence.