Automobile connectors, as a fairly common part in automobiles, can be used for connecting various systems, parts, and components, as well as transmitting power and data signals, and are increasingly important in the development of automobiles towards intelligence and electrification. This article will show you the types and development of automobile connectors, as well as the high-speed transmission HFM (high-speed FAKRA mini-coaxial cable) connector solution from Molex.
The number of automobile connector applications shows a dramatic increase
Automobile connectors are capable of connecting electrical signals and distributing power to automobiles. The connector products, after careful design and rigorous manufacturing, can make the assembly of automobiles and the inspection and maintenance of circuits more convenient. Even after long-term use in outdoor environments, there is no need to worry about reliability and safety.
Automobile connectors, as a very common part in automobiles, are used to set up a bridge that allows current to flow between the blocked parts in the circuit or between isolated circuits, enabling those circuits to achieve their pre-defined functions. Automobile connectors are variable in terms of form and structure, and are mainly composed of four basic structural parts, namely contact elements, enclosures, insulators, and accessories.
Generally, there are nearly 100 kinds of connectors needed in automobiles. The number of automobile connector applications is on the increase driven by people's higher and higher requirements for safety, environmental protection, comfort and intelligence of automobiles, and the increasing application of electronic automobile products. The rapid development of the automobile industry promotes the continuous development of various functional parts and components moving automobiles towards intelligence, refinement, and reliability, setting a higher standard for the structural design, appearance design, and materials of automobile connectors.
Automobile connectors that meet the needs of new-generation automobiles
Automobile connectors can generally be classified into six aspects of electrical function, installation position, connecting structure, shape specification, size specification, and operating frequency. Classified by electrical function, automobile connectors are routinely used in electronic control modules, lamp holders, temperature sensors, central electrical boxes, air conditioning wiring harnesses, audio, and entertainment. When classified by installation position, automobile connectors are commonly used in chassis systems, instrument panels, engine systems, and safety systems. Automobile connectors classified by connecting structures can be divided into line to line, line to board, board to board, flexible printed circuit (FPC), and chip packaging. In terms of size and shape, automobile connectors are usually rectangular and round, and can also be divided into low and high frequency according to the operating frequency.
With the development of intelligence and electrification of automobiles, in addition to traditional mechanical systems, the use of electronic systems in automobiles is gradually increasing. In order to transmit power and data signals, these electronic systems require an increasing number of connectors, and also put forward great requirements for the anti-interference, stability, and high-speed data transmission of the connectors. Furthermore, the demand for improving the assembly speed of automobile systems and facilitating subsequent system maintenance creates new requirements for the structural design of connectors, and various new-generation connectors have emerged.
The main change that can be seen so far is the transition of the connector from FAKRA to MINI-FAKRA (HFM). It is expected that the market share of HFM connectors will surpass FAKRA by 2026. This is due to HFM connectors have better performance (supporting 20GHz data rate) and the footprint of HFM is 80% smaller than FAKRA, which is suitable for telematics control unit (TCU) and antenna, surround view (360°) camera system, virtual cockpit unit and other products.
HFM connector solutions enabling high-speed transmission
In automobile applications, HFM connector solutions in support of high-speed transmission can deliver data rates up to 20 GHz, making it the optimal choice for next-generation automobile network connections, while intelligent modular systems ensure fast transmission at high data rates up to 28 Gbps. Its innovative design addresses the growing need to save costs and minimize weight and size. The HFM connector solution is capable of supporting any modern radar, camera, and LiDAR or sensor application. HFM is a registered trademark of Rosenberger. Molex and Rosenberger signed a dual-source agreement for high-speed connected vehicle applications, and Molex has also launched a wide variety of HFM connector solutions.
As the needs of the automobile market evolve into more complex ecosystems and tighter space, customers are demanding multiple types of connector/cable housing configurations as well as multiple types of coaxial cables to maximize electrical properties. Compared with the conventional FAKRA connector, the HFM connector system can save up to 80% of the space, allowing various modules to be accommodated in the smallest possible footprint. The manufacturing process based on full stamped and automatic connector mounting and cable assembly optimizes connector costs. HFM connectors give customers an interface that adapts to future vehicle networks, applications, and protocols.
Autonomous driving and driving assistance systems, whose primary task is to ensure safety, require the determination of exact positions, the continuously calculate routes, and the detection and classify of objects. For this purpose, it is necessary to realize the real-time combination and transmission of mass of data from multiple cameras, different sensors and navigation sources, and the adoption of high-speed HFM connector solutions can satisfy the needs for high-speed transmission in automobile applications.
Take the MX-DaSH Hybrid Inline and wire-to-board connectors application as an example, which combines traditional power and signal with high-speed data in one connector system, delivering a compact connectivity solution for a range of automotive applications requiring reliable data transmission. HFM connectors are available as hybrid connectors integrates multiple interfaces in 22+1 unsealed blade housing and receptacle, and hybrid connectors in 15+1 sealed blade housing and receptacle.
Automobile connectors meet the demands of automobile intelligence
HFM connectors, available in unsealed, sealed, and in-line formats, provide right-angle and vertical PCB plugs and plug jacks for increased customer design flexibility. The 4-port HFM solution can reduce the footprint of the PCB located in the front edge of the PCB by up to 48%.
The HFM connector solution uses 26AWG 50 Ohm coaxial cable, a fully-shielded coaxial cable with contacts that optimize SI and EMI performance, while the terminated RG174 or RTK031 wire provides a robust crimping termination for connecting the coaxial cable with the terminal connection. The reinforced cable housing and ISL and locking CPA (connector position assured) latching function prevent terminal backout. The easy-to-use positive latch, provided with generous CPA push areas that meet USCAR or LV214 specifications, supports multifunctional and high-performance PCB connectors, and the available 360-degree fully-diecast shielded-header connector cores optimize EMI/EMC performance. The variety of options allows for a wide possibilities of circuit count, seal types, and right angle, vertical, and inline connections.
HFM connector solutions are widely used in the industry due to their support for many different types of coaxial cable and external diameter, including automatic driving modules, safety and collision avoidance camera/surround view systems, global positioning systems, information and entertainment equipment, gateway/switch modules, advanced driving assistance system (ADAS), high-resolution displays (4K displays), high-speed cable networks, telematics devices, in-vehicle applications, navigation systems, connected Vehicles services and sensor device connection, as well as trucks, buses, taxis/shared cars, motorcycles, all-terrain vehicles, autonomous agricultural tractors, autonomous driving construction machinery/mining machinery, construction and agricultural equipment, watercraft, and aircraft.
For high-speed network cable solutions, Molex’s HFM connectors provides seamless connectivity with best-in-class data rates and supports a variety of data rate performance protocols, available with superior bandwidth and signal integrity, intended to run across multiple systems and vehicle protocols. HFM connector solutions are quite diverse in category. The 2082440200 HFM connector, for example, complies with EU ELV, EU RoHS, REACH SVHC, and low halogen specifications, with a net weight of only 7.844g.
Molex offers cable assemblies and Molex Tempflex raw cables, PCB connectors, high-performance connectors, cable connectors, and sealed connectors for HFM connector solutions.
Conclusion
In automobile applications, automobile connectors are a component that seems unimportant but plays a key role in the operating stability of automobiles. The new generation of HFM connector solutions can address the needs of automobiles in intelligence and electrification, and Molex HFM connector solutions supporting high-speed transmission will also be optimally matched with electronic automotive systems.