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New developments in semiconductor supplies and manufacturing processes proceed to result in more and more smaller sensors, processors, and gadgets. There are nonetheless areas, nonetheless, the place house limitations are hindering technological development and consumer adoption.
One in all these areas the place the scale of know-how has slowed progress is in augmented- and virtual-reality (AR/VR) functions. Earlier than we dive into the the explanation why — and discover a brand new growth serving to to resolve the problem — allow us to have a look at a fast overview of AR and VR.
AR/VR 101
AR is a know-how that superimposes a picture over a view of the particular consumer’s setting. This may be completed by way of a handheld system (akin to a smartphone), a consumer–worn headset or glasses, or a projection (akin to heads–up shows widespread in some autos).
A couple of widespread makes use of of AR embrace offering details about the consumer’s setting, gaming, and for security knowledge. VR, however, doesn’t use elements of the actual world however as an alternative immerses the consumer in a digital setting. Because of this, VR sometimes requires using a headset, which fully covers the consumer’s eyes and blocks out the world round them.
Up till now, adoption of AR and VR — whereas steadily rising — has been restricted. Even with important investments from organizations akin to Meta, digital actuality stays a comparatively area of interest market. However why?
With regards to wearables, cumbersome is out
A big a part of the sluggish adoption of this doubtlessly groundbreaking know-how is due to its footprint. AR, particularly, holds unimaginable promise to be used in wayfinding, translation, infotainment, and even drugs. However these makes use of require carrying cumbersome lenses, glasses, or different headwear — or, alternatively, holding up a smartphone to view the AR setting.
Merely put, nobody desires to put on heavy, unbecoming glasses on a regular basis or understand the world by means of the 6–inch display of their good system. Moreover, carrying a cumbersome, heavy system for any size of time might be very uncomfortable.
Meet the Molex quad–row board–to–board connector
For years, the scale of connector know-how is without doubt one of the greatest challenges for engineers who wish to restrict the scale of their system whereas designing wearable and embedded programs. Whereas semiconductors have develop into more and more smaller, the communication requirements have largely stayed the identical dimension, and even with customized cabling, oftentimes the limiting issue for system dimension was the cable and its corresponding connector.
For AR and VR options to succeed, the shape issue must be small, light-weight, and comfy for the consumer. On the identical time, AR and VR know-how calls for important processing energy and excessive–high quality shows. To fulfill this demand, design engineers require a connector that gives sturdy communication capabilities whereas minimizing footprint and weight. The quad–row connector from Molex meets these wants by providing a wide range of connectivity choices in a package deal that’s considerably smaller than different options in the marketplace.
On the coronary heart of the quad–row connector’s efficiency features is its staggered–circuit structure, which provides as much as 30% house financial savings over typical connector design. The connector achieves this by means of its design that positions pins throughout 4 rows with a sign contact pitch of 0.175 mm. This staggered–circuit structure shines in functions during which house optimization is a prime precedence, together with in smartwatches, smartphones, wearables, and — sure — AR and VR gadgets.
“Molex frequently drives connectivity improvements in help of more and more smaller but extra highly effective gadgets,” mentioned Justin Kerr, vice chairman and common supervisor of the Micro Options Enterprise Unit at Molex, in a current press launch in regards to the tech. “With the excessive–density quad–row board–to–board connectors, our clients now can squeeze extra options, sensors, and performance into more and more tight areas with out compromising system efficiency. Because of this, Molex is setting a brand new connectivity commonplace for house optimization.”
With a soldering pitch of 0.35 mm, producers can assemble the connectors utilizing commonplace floor–mount know-how processes, which signifies that as AR and VR programs acquire reputation, manufacturing can scale accordingly. As AR and VR programs are sometimes built-in into transferring objects (akin to autos) or worn, it’s also vital that connectors can stand up to movement, drops, and different harsh situations.
Fortuitously, Molex quad–row connectors are constructed with inside armor and insert–molded energy nail, with reliability and robustness in thoughts. Connectors are additionally out there in numerous configurations and are at the moment provided in 32– and 36–pin varieties, with 64–pin configurations coming quickly. In reality, there are plans underway to help a 100–pin model of the quad–row connector, positioning this know-how to be used in some really superior AR and VR system designs.
One other profit for design engineers eager about placing these new connectors to make use of of their AR and VR functions is that the know-how has already been put to the take a look at. These quad–row connectors had been initially developed in partnership with engineers from a significant smartwatch producer that wanted a versatile, sturdy, and compact connector answer to be used in its wearable smartwatch gadgets
AR and VR are simply the beginning
For lots of of functions, saving house and weight is a large concern. Whether or not it’s in AR, wearable health trackers, gaming gadgets, or automotive functions, engineers are consistently searching for methods to scale back the footprint of their designs whereas nonetheless utilizing excessive–efficiency and sturdy connector options.
With its small dimension, sturdy design, and excessive pin depend, the now commercially out there quad–row connector from Molex appears to suit the invoice, and you’ll count on to see engineers deploy this answer in AR and VR designs and extra.
