AMP Z-pack 2 mm HM connectors with quiet mate contacts for resolution of nanosecond discontinuity in hot-swap applications

The development of an innovative connector technology to resolve nanosecond discontinuities in hot-swap applications is described. Hot-swap operation has been increasingly designed in to high-data rate and high-availability telecommunications equipment with bus-type architectures. Nanosecond discontinuities are shown to exist during such mating/unmating of daughtercards while the system is running. Current CompactPCI hot-swap systems are designed with pre-charge circuitry that can react to discontinuities on the order of microseconds but they are not capable of reacting to discontinuities that only last several nanoseconds. Such nanosecond discontinuities lead to sufficient energy transfer to or from the bus to potentially alter signal levels. Quiet Mate Technology by Tyco Electronics eliminates any adverse effects of such nanosecond discontinuities on the states of monitored signals during the hot-swap event. Extensive system simulations and mechanical and electrical tests verified this technology and its effectiveness without any adverse effects on system and/or connector performance.