1. Overview

Card Edge Connectors (CECs) are interconnection devices that enable electrical and mechanical connections between printed circuit boards (PCBs) and other electronic systems. Their accessories include supporting components like retention clips, guide pins, and dust covers. These elements ensure stable signal transmission, mechanical stability, and environmental protection. CECs are critical in modular electronics design, enabling compact, scalable, and serviceable systems across industries.

2. Main Types & Functional Classification

3. Structure & Technical Composition

A typical CEC assembly consists of:

• Contact System: Beryllium copper alloy contacts with 30 " gold plating for low resistance
• Insulation Housing: LCP (Liquid Crystal Polymer) material with UL94 V-0 flammability rating
• Mechanical Reinforcement: Zinc alloy structural members for 500+ insertion cycles
• Accessories: Spring-loaded retention clips with 0.8N holding force

4. Key Technical Specifications

5. Application Fields

• Computing: GPU cards, server motherboards
• Telecommunications: 5G base stations, optical transceivers
• Industrial: CNC machine controllers
• Medical: MRI scanner modules
• Transportation: Railway signaling systems

6. Leading Manufacturers & Products

7. Selection Guidelines

Key considerations:

• Signal speed requirements (e.g., PCIe 5.0 needs 32Gbps+ capability)
• Space constraints (mobile devices require 1.5mm profile connectors)
• Environmental conditions (automotive applications demand AEC-Q200 compliance)
• Cost-volume tradeoffs (high-density connectors cost 30-50% more than standard types)

Case Study: In industrial IoT gateways, TE Connectivity's Edgelock Z-Pin was selected for its 2,000-cycle durability and 168-hour salt spray resistance, ensuring reliability in harsh environments.

8. Industry Trends

Emerging developments include:

• High-speed CECs supporting 112Gbps PAM4 signaling
• Miniaturization to 0.8mm pitch for wearable medical devices
• Integrated EMI shielding in plastic housings
• Smart connectors with embedded temperature sensors
• RoHS-compliant nanocoatings replacing traditional gold plating