Imagine a repair technician trying to replace a critical circuit board in an expensive medical or commercial application: the connector doesn't work, the technician pulls hard and hears a crisp "pop" sound, and the entire circuit board needs to be replaced. Worse still, it has to be returned to the supplier for repair at a high cost. If zero insertion force (ZIF) connectors are used, this inconvenience can be avoided, making the system easier to assemble, test, and maintain without affecting performance.
As designs become increasingly complex, the mating of connectors becomes more and more important. However, connectors may be the most easily overlooked aspect of design, only attracting attention when faults occur or equipment gets stuck. Another scenario is that when attempting to replace the cable, the insertion force required to insert the connector causes one or more pins to bend, resulting in a fatal malfunction.
ZIF connectors can help designers avoid these issues. In this way, they can reduce the risk of on-site failures, minimize training requirements for assembly personnel, and benefit from simpler prototype design and testing.
Although the mature technology of ZIF connectors can be traced back to the 1970s, for many designers who are accustomed to using standard connectors, ZIF connectors are not the most important. They may not be too concerned about downstream failures, unwilling to bear additional material costs, or unwilling to adopt cam driven locking mechanisms, which many such connectors can use.
Traditional press in connectors can be placed almost anywhere on the circuit board, while ZIF connectors require clearance for the camshaft and actuating handle to ensure proper insertion and locking in place. In applications with low maintenance requirements, this may be daunting.
When designing with low pin count and static connectors, it may be reasonable to insist on using high insertion force connectors due to cost sensitivity and space constraints. However, for high-density, high cycle, or critical task applications, the reliability, ease of assembly, and lower long-term maintenance costs of sturdy and durable ZIF connectors far exceed the higher unit price. In fact, by accommodating more contacts, ZIF connectors can achieve smaller space occupation.
Advantages of ZIF
ZIF connectors can encapsulate hundreds of contacts in a compact area without the risk of pin bending, which is why ZIF connectors are popular in fields such as medical imaging, testing equipment, and aviation panels that require high reliability.
ITT Cannon was the first to introduce high reliability connectivity solutions for harsh environments and has decades of engineering expertise to ensure that each solution balances precision, durability, and ease of use.
The company's high-density DL series can cope with vibration, temperature fluctuations, and thousands of connections, and the cost of each connection line is lower than that of a single high-density rack and panel connector. All DL series connectors adopt a cam driven ZIF mechanism, which ensures easy insertion and removal without putting pressure on the contacts.