Contactless connector based on 60 GHz wireless technology

Semiconductor company STMicroelectronics has announced it is collaborating with Rosenberger, a manufacturer of impedance-controlled and optical connectivity solutions, on a contactless connector for short-range, point-to-point, full-duplex data exchanges in industrial and medical applications.

Rosenberger’s innovative contactless connector, the RoProxCon, leverages ST’s 60 GHz RF transceiver, the ST60A2, to deliver high-speed data transmission while providing immunity to movement, vibration, rotation and contaminants such as moisture and dust, which can disrupt conventional pin-and-receptacle interconnects. The ST60A2 combines high-data-rate transmission at Bluetooth-like power consumption and promises a range of medical and industrial applications that are no longer constrained by physical connections.

The ST60A2 offers point-to-point transmission of up to 6.25 Gbps over distances of a few centimetres, at very low power. Operating over an extended temperature range of -40 to +105°C, the chip is well suited to industrial markets. With a 2.2 x 2.2 mm package footprint, the chip features ultralow power consumption of 70 mW for a completely contactless link.

In the RoProxCon, ST’s transceiver is paired with an appropriate antenna, which offers options for different areas including smart factory, medical technology, connected devices, office equipment, conveyer technology, renewable energy and other high-bandwidth applications.

“Pairing ST’s contactless connectivity technology with our interconnect expertise and antenna-design knowledge enabled us to create a first-of-its-kind module that transmits full duplex data at up to 6 Gbps with complete rotational freedom,” said Folke Michelmann, Executive Vice President Medical & Industries at Rosenberger.

“Much less expensive than alternative optical connectors and using much less power than other RF technologies, the RoProxCon will let innovators loose to create new applications. In working with ST, we see limitless application possibilities for our connector, which provides high reliability and high throughput at low power.”

“We developed the ST60A2 contactless transceiver to allow customers to create reliable, high data-rate, extremely power-efficient wireless links,” added Laurent Malier, RF&Communications Division General Manager, STMicroelectronics. “Rosenberger’s expertise in interconnects combined with our RF chip is an outstanding example of the value of the technology.

“Customers across the full range of electronics applications have expressed interest in this transceiver and several have shared their need for a module that includes the antenna. Our cooperation project with Rosenberger delivers on that need.”

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