A floating connector is a type of board-to-board connector designed with a floating mechanism that absorbs positional misalignments during mating. It allows for movement in both the X and Y directions, helping to reduce stress on the PCB and prevent issues such as solder joint cracks or board warping.
This feature is especially valuable during assembly when slight deviations in positioning can occur due to mounting errors, screw tolerances, or cumulative component tolerances.
Why Use a Floating Connector?
In high-precision assemblies, managing cumulative tolerances (e.g., from component mounting, fitting alignment, or screw holes) can be challenging and costly. Strict tolerance control across every component increases manufacturing complexity and cost.
Floating connectors provide greater design flexibility by allowing movement on the connector side, which:
- Reduces the need for tight mechanical tolerances
- Absorbs misalignment during and after mating (including rotation from screw tightening)
- Helps maintain stable connections without stressing the board
- Increases assembly efficiency and lowers manufacturing cost
By absorbing these tolerances, floating connectors allow for smoother and more reliable mating in compact or tightly packed designs.
Where Are Floating Connectors Used?
Floating connectors are widely used in devices with complex or dense internal layouts, particularly where frequent mating/unmating or precise alignment is required:
- Car navigation systems
- Digital cameras
- Surveillance equipment
- ATMs
- Semiconductor control devices
- Smart meters
- Ultrasonic diagnostic equipment
- CT scanners
KEL Floating Connector Lineup
- Pitch: 0.5mm
- Floating range: ±0.5mm (X/Y direction)
- Standard floating connector
- Available in various pin counts and stack heights
- Pitch: 0.5mm
- Floating range: ±0.5mm (X/Y direction)
- Supports high-speed transmission (meets SATA Rev. 3.0 standards)
- Up to 240 pins and stack heights up to 20mm
- Pitch: 0.4mm
- Floating range: ±0.4mm (X/Y direction)
- Compact design ideal for space-saving applications
- Supports up to 200 pins