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Alps Electric Develops and Commences Mass Production of a Spring Contact with Insulation Coating

2016-09-29 | Return

Alps Electric added the SCTA□B series, a model with insulation coating, to the product line of spring contacts with the industry’s smallest dimensions,* which is ideal for integration into smartphones, wearable computers, and other compact mobile devices. Mass production has already started.

A spring contact is a component that uses spring pressure to create an electrical connection between PC boards or between a PC board and a device. Spring contacts are employed in a wide range of markets, including markets for consumer devices, industrial equipment, and many are used in smartphones, in particular, for the RF antenna, ground, battery, and speaker connection. Meanwhile, requirements for further downsizing of components integrated into end products are growing as PC boards become smaller and components are arranged in higher density layouts.

　Responding to these needs, Alps Electric developed the SCTA□A series of spring contacts and started mass production last year. In August 2016, it added the SCTA□B series, a model with insulation coating, to its product line and commenced mass production.

A spring contact of the industry’s smallest dimensions of 1.4 × 1.4 mm was realized using a unique double-spiral spring construction and precision processing technology. High resilience against vibration and impacts, and therefore high contact reliability, were achieved by employing a spring construction that enables vertical movement despite the square shape. Automatic adsorption is also supported.

　As a connection component, a single contact or multiple contacts can be used. Flexibility of the layout on the PC board is improved, by allowing an array arrangement taking advantage of the square shape. Furthermore, the construction prevents catching on fingers during assembly, helping to improve work efficiency during the device assembly process.

The new series that was added to the product line this time has insulation coating around the outer surface of the spiral spring. This prevents that becomes unchangeable its signal path, it is ideal for the connection of devices, such as a RF antenna, which require stable high-frequency performance. The series has four mounting heights variety; 0.85, 1.6, 1.8, and 2.0 mm.

With the addition of this series, Alps Electric will promote the sales of the spring contact not only to the smartphone and wearable electronics markets, where compact size and a low profile are major requirements, but also to markets for other consumer devices and industrial equipment, contributing to reliable connection within electronic products.

※According to Alps Electric research as of September 2016

Features

For connection of RF antennas, a spring contact with insulation coating that realizes stable high-frequency performance

1. Insulation coating prevents stabilizes the signal path.

2. The industry’s smallest mounting area of 1.4 x 1.4 mm and low height.

3. Unique double-spiral spring construction realizes high resilience to vibration and impacts, ensuring high contact reliability.

4. Square shape means orientation is not a concern during mounting, allowing flexible arrangement (e.g. arrays).

5 Shape prevents catching on fingers, improving robustness during the assembly process.

Principal Applications

For the connection of RF antennas of smartphones and wearable devices that require stable high-frequency performance and for internal connection between a wide variety of devices in the markets for consumer devices, and industrial equipment

Planned Release

Mass production:	From August 2016
Sample price	¥100 (Tax excluded)
Monthly output	35 million units (December 2016)
Development	Furukawa Plant, Engineering Headquarters (Osaki City, Miyagi Prefecture)
Production	Furukawa Plant, Production Headquarters (Osaki City, Miyagi Prefecture)

Specifications

Model	Spring contact with insulation coating
Dimensions (W×D)	1.4 x 1.4 mm
Height in use	0.70 to 1.75 mm (Alps recommendation)
Rated current	1A
Operating temperature range	-30°C to +85°C

Source:http://www.alps.com/