Connecting Devices for Electronic Systems-Some General Design Considerations

The use of Rent's rule in assessing the economic trade-offs in partitioning electronic systems into larger or smaller units is described. The impact of this assessment on the size and number of connectors required is presented, The roles of non-separable (splicing) and separable (plug.in) connectors are discussed. A qualification procedure to assure reliability of non-separable connectors and current design practices to assure reliability of separable connectors are reviewed.