Posted to News on 9th Feb 2010, 08:26
QLC zero insertion force connector for medical equipment
ITT Cannon is promoting its Zero Insertion Force (ZIF) Quad Lock Connector (QLC) for use in medical imaging and diagnostic equipment. The device achieves a reduction in interconnect packaging whilst accommodating robust performance requirements and functional enhancements such as press-fit.
Reducing the spacing from the standard DL line to 0.8mm made it possible for ITT ICS' engineers to design the ZIF QLC portable connector system with a full 260 pin configuration and a reduced package size - it is up to 65 per cent smaller than existing DL products and competitive QLC products currently on the market. This enables customers to achieve a drastic reduction in the overall size of diagnostic equipment. The high pin count of 260 positions offers multiple channel options and makes improvements to image resolution possible at the design stage, which will ultimately result in enhanced diagnostic functionality. The ZIF QLC connector system exceeds 20,000 mating cycles, described as an industry "best in class'.
Utilising two 130 pin PCB surface mount connectors makes the Zero Insertion Force Quad Lock Connector more flexible in customer PCB designs. The component incorporates a patented extended insulator to secure the four locking pins and more than double the connection retention force. This provides a much stronger connection than competitive products over the whole life of the system. The insulators are packaged for easy PCB installation, which decreases assembly time by over 15 per cent.
The ZIF QLC connector has a strong zinc die-cast outer body and grounding springs which protect the equipment against radiated EMI/RFI interference. Latching is both audible and tactile and is supplemented with two integrated cams and four innovative locking hooks to ensure positive mating and prevent inadvertent disconnection by the operator.
ITT Cannon's ZIF QLC connector is fully intermateable with competitive products, so customers can immediately upgrade existing designs and use the new ZIF QLC for new products. Also as customers upgrade to the new ZIF QLC, legacy products remain fully functional in the transition period.
Typical medical applications include ultrasound scanners, where the connector is used to send data from the ultrasound probe to the base device and other medical equipment where it feeds data from swappable probes to the connected base device.
In industrial markets, the ZIF QLC connector is typically utilised on test equipment, where its high mating capability easily copes with multiple system tests. In industrial control equipment, its high pin count allows for the distribution of numerous control signals. Applications in the rail industry include signal distribution.
For more information about the Zero Insertion Force (ZIF) Quad Lock Connector (QLC), visit www.itt.com.
