1. Overview

Connectors, interconnects, shunts, and jumpers are fundamental components in electronic and electrical systems. Connectors enable separable electrical connections, interconnects provide permanent or semi-permanent wiring solutions, shunts allow controlled current diversion, and jumpers create configurable circuit paths. These components play critical roles in system flexibility, maintenance, and performance across industries such as telecommunications, automotive, and industrial automation.

2. Main Types and Functional Classification

3. Structure and Composition

Connectors typically consist of contact pins (phosphor bronze with gold plating), insulating housings (LCP or nylon), and shielding (nickel-plated brass). Shunts use manganin alloy elements with tin/copper terminals for low TCR. Jumpers employ PBT resin bodies with phosphor bronze contacts. Interconnects combine stranded copper conductors with PVC/LSZH insulation in ribbon or round cable configurations.

4. Key Technical Parameters

5. Application Fields

• Telecommunications: 5G base stations, fiber optic cross-connects
• Automotive: CAN bus systems, battery management jumpers
• Industrial: PLC interconnect cabling, motor drive shunts
• Consumer Electronics: Wearable device connectors, PCB jumpers
• Renewable Energy: Solar inverter DC shunts, wind turbine slip rings

6. Leading Manufacturers and Products

7. Selection Recommendations

• Current/Voltage Requirements: Select ratings with 20% safety margin
• Environmental Factors: Consider corrosion resistance for marine applications
• Space Constraints: Use SMD jumpers for high-density PCB layouts
• Signal Integrity: Choose controlled impedance connectors for >1Gbps signals
• Certifications: Ensure compliance with UL/CSA/IEC standards

8. Industry Trends

Key developments include: miniaturization (0.4mm pitch connectors), high-speed signal transmission (56Gbps+ backplane connectors), smart shunts with integrated sensors, and eco-friendly materials meeting RoHS/REACH. The rise of electric vehicles is driving demand for high-voltage interconnect systems, while 5G infrastructure requires connectors with improved EMI shielding. Programmable electronic jumpers are emerging as alternatives to physical hardware configuration.