SAS Connectors Handle Higher Data Rates September 2006 Issue Published Date: September 18, 2006
Taking on the challenges of increasing data rates in enterprise network storage applications, the company's RoHS-compliant family of serial-attached SCSI (SAS) interconnects feature 29-position signal/power connectors and handle data-transfer rates up to 3 Gb/s in full-duplex mode. The connectors offer improvements over the existing Ultra 320, which employs an 80-pin connector to support data rates of 320 Mb/s. They exhibit a 1.27-mm, in-line contact pitch and are backward compatible with legacy SCSI. The connectors are tailored in three interface segments, the first being the primary signal portion, which appears in a 7-contact format. Two pairs serve as the transmit-and-receive contacts, while three grounds also function as the EMLB contacts. The second interface is a 15-contact power segment that accommodates three primary voltage ranges: 3.3V, 5V, and 12V. The third segment is the secondary-signal port, which provides a redundant path for each drive. It has seven pins with a 0.8-mm pitch. All connectors in the series employ matte tin terminals with 30-µm gold plating. 3M ELECTRONICS, Austin, TX. (800) 364-3577.
