FCI Increases AirMax VS Versatility with Vertical Headers and Right Angle Receptacles

ETTERS, PA. (August 24, 2005) FCI, a leading supplier of connectors and interconnect systems, has further expanded the AirMax VS family with its development of 4-pair vertical headers and right angle receptacles. The latest addition to the AirMax product line allows for improved PCB routing density as well as multiple Insert Molded Leadframe Assembly (IMLA) counts and spacings for optimized board real estate consumption and trace routing. Designed for maximum protection of the open pin field structure, the protective cover on the vertical headers serves as a press-in block and provides maximum protection from shipment to installation.

"AirMax VS comprises a full set of building blocks allowing for backplane, co-planar, mezzanine and cable-to-board applications," said John Burkett, FCI product manager. "By offering the vertical headers and right angle receptacles, we further increase the scaleability, flexibility, density and headroom performance."

The AirMax VS system uses air as the dielectric between adjacent conductors, providing high signal density while exhibiting the industry's lowest insertion loss and lowest crosstalk, all without the use of costly and space-consuming metal shields.

In addition to superior electrical performance, the AirMax VS family offers designers the most versatile high speed backplane connectors available. All the products are scaleable to the number of columns, and by producing housings dedicated to various IMLA counts, a number of module sizes can be offered. The product line offers 3-pair, 4-pair and 5-pair options and provides 2mm, 2.5mm and 3mm spacing. Most importantly, AirMax VS connectors allow for custom pin assignment (singal, power, differential or single-ended), so systems can grow from 2.5Gb/s to 25Gb/s without requiring re-design of the basic platform.

In addition to the robust receptacle design and protective cover serving as press-in block, the ruggedness of the connector is further enhanced by the dual beam, double-sided contact system. Most backplane connectors offer only single-side contacts, so contact is only made on one side of the header pin, leaving the connector vulnerable to loss of contact when experiencing shock or vibration. The AirMax VS connector uses a dual-beam contact system, so the blade slides into a receptacle with two points of contact on each side of the blade, greatly increasing reliability and durability.
The 4-pair AirMax VS connector system fits in a variety of building practices including PICMG 3.0 ATCA and is ideal for applications in a variety of communications equipment such as IP routers, switches and gateways, ATM switches, IP PBXs and high-speed enterprise routers.

Pricing typically starts at $0.20 per mated differential pair with a lead time of 12 weeks.

For more information about the AirMax VS connector system, contact FCI at 825 Old Trail Road, Etters, PA 17319-7883; call 800-237-2374, email at electronics.us@fciconnect.com or visit FCI on the web at www.fciconnect.com.

More about
Created in 1989, FCI - an Areva Group company - rapidly secured its place among the world's top three manufacturers of connectors and interconnect systems. With a turnover of 1.34 billion Euros in 2003, FCI currently operates in 18 countries where it covers the following markets: communications, data, consumer, automotive and electrical power interconnect. The company employs about 12,500 staff worldwide.

For more information: www.fciconnect.com

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