8th September 2008 – Diversified technology company 3M has launched its first range of Mini-SAS connectors into the UK, able to support data transfer rates of up to 6Gbps and a pitch of just 0.8mm.  Designed to provide a combination of high-data speeds and a small form factor, these new connectors are targeted at electronics designers who have to deal with the challenges of increasingly limited space, without compromising on performance. Typical applications include server motherboards, controller cards, storage backplanes and input/output systems. 

With these additions, 3M can give product designers a broad range of options: the Mini-SAS connectors joins the existing 3M portfolio compliant with the main industry connector formats, including SAS and SATA, plus adherence to the internally recognised SSF 8088 and SAS 2.0 standards.  Product customisation is also available.

Benefits of the Mini-SAS range include:

Advanced signalling capability – having just four signal channels means that routing is simplified, while the small form factor and excellent signal integrity make these connectors ideal for integration with advanced silicon processes, using low peak-to-peak voltage signalling.  They also support 26 conductor signal assembly.

Flexible design – thin cables allow for improved air flow in the chassis, while a pull tab ring makes mating and unmating of cables simple.  There are two levels of EMLB for ‘hot plugging’ and a metal latch promotes secure cable retention.

Comprehensive choice - The connectors are offered in vertical and right-angle versions for internal board-mount use and a right-angle design for external board-mount use.  Multiple key options and cable lengths are available on through-hole shields, kinked tails and SMT options. 

Reliability - 3M Mini-SAS products are fully RoHS compliant and fully tested to the SAS-2 Specification.   

Says Adrian Hyner, General Sales and Marketing Manager for 3M’s electronics business in the UK, “What we are seeing in the market today is an increasingly diverse range of requirements from product designers.  This is why we’ve added Mini-SAS to the existing family of 3M products.  Many companies will continue to use SAS – especially in the hard disk market – and there are still many firms using the well-established SATA standard of connectors.  However, with the growing trend towards miniaturisation, plus the pressure to ensure high performance and data throughput speeds, there is a clear need for small, but very sophisticated, connectors.  For these applications, Mini-SAS is ideal.”