The most complete and detailed way to categorize electronic connectors.

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The following is the most comprehensive and detailed categorization system, covering common types in industrial, communications, consumer electronics and other fields:

Firstly, Classification by Connection Method

1. Screw Thread

- Characteristics: Fixed by screwing threads, reliable contact, strong vibration resistance, but slow insertion and extraction speed.

- Typical applications: high current, high reliability scenarios (e.g. power connectors, industrial equipment).

- Representative types: MIL-DTL-38999 (military circular connectors), BNC (RF coaxial, early version).

2. Bayonet Connection (Bayonet Coupling)

- Characteristics: Locked by rotating the bayonet, fast plugging and unplugging speed, suitable for frequent plugging and unplugging scenes.

- Typical applications: RF, video signal transmission (such as BNC, TNC connectors). 3.

3. Direct insertion push-pull connection (Push-Pull)

- Characteristics: Directly pushed into the lock, no need to rotate, easy to plug and unplug, suitable for small spaces.

- Typical applications: medical equipment, fiber optic communications (such as LC, MPO fiber optic connectors), industrial sensors.

4. Solder/crimp connection (Solder/Crimp)

- Characteristics: fixed wire by welding or crimping, good long-term stability, but disassembly requires tools.

- Typical applications: cable end connections (such as terminal blocks, PCB connectors). 5.

5. Quick Lock connection (Quick Lock)

- Characteristics: a key to lock / unlock, plugging and unplugging efficiency is very high, suitable for automated production lines.

- Typical applications: automotive wiring harness, consumer electronics (such as USB-C anti-error insertion design).

Second, according to the installation mode classification

1. Board end connectors (Board-Mount Connectors)

- PCB board installation: directly welded on the PCB, divided into direct insertion (DIP) and surface mount (SMT).

Representative types: D-Sub connector (D-type interface), HDMI, USB (PCB version).

- Backplane connectors: Used for high-speed signal transmission between the motherboard and daughter boards in the chassis (e.g., PCIe, backplane high-speed connectors).

2. Cable-End Connectors (Cable-Mount Connectors)

- Cable-Mount Connectors: Installed at the end of wires or cables for connection between devices.

Representative types: RJ45 (network cable), terminal blocks (e.g., terminal blocks), audio plugs (3.5mm).

3. Panel-Mount Connectors

- Fixed on the device panel: used for external interfaces of the device (e.g. power socket, audio interface).

Representative types: AC power socket, DB9 serial port, HDMI panel interface.

4. Chassis Connectors (Chassis-Mount Connectors)

- Installed in the equipment chassis: used for internal module interconnection or external expansion (e.g., server rack connectors).

Third, according to the transmission medium classification

1. Electrical Connectors

- Transmission of electrical energy or electrical signals: divided into low-frequency (<1MHz) and high-frequency (>1MHz).

Low-frequency electrical connectors: power connectors (such as XT60), signal connectors (such as DB9 serial port).

High-frequency electrical connectors: coaxial connectors (such as BNC, SMA), high-speed differential connectors (such as HDMI, USB 4).

2. Optical Fiber Connectors

- Transmit optical signals: for high-speed, long-distance communication (anti-electromagnetic interference).

Single-mode fiber optic connectors: FC, SC (long distance communication, such as telecommunications backbone network).

Multimode fiber optic connectors: LC, ST (short distance, high bandwidth, such as data centers). 3.

3. Hybrid Connectors

- Simultaneous transmission of electrical and optical signals: used in communications base stations, data centers (e.g., QSFP-DD + power integration connector).

Fourth, according to the frequency characteristics of classification

1. Low Frequency Connectors (<1MHz)

- Characteristics: Low impedance matching requirements, mainly used for power and low-speed signals.

Representative types: power connectors (XT60, banana plugs), audio connectors (RCA, 3.5mm).

2. High frequency connectors (>1MHz)

- Characteristics: Need to strictly control impedance, crosstalk and attenuation, used for high-speed data transmission.

Representative types: coaxial connectors (SMA, N-type), high-speed differential connectors (HDMI 2.1, USB4, PCIe).

Fifth, according to the use of classification

1. Power connectors

- Transmission of large currents (several A to several hundred A): used for equipment power supply.

Representative types: XT60 (modeling), Anderson Powerpole (new energy), industrial sockets (IEC C13/C14). 2.

2. Signal Connectors

- Transmit low-speed electrical signals: used in control, communication and other scenarios.

Representative types: DB9 serial port (RS-232), RJ11 telephone line, audio plug (3.5mm).

3. High-Speed Data Connectors

- Transmit high-speed digital signals: used for computers, communication equipment.

Representative types: HDMI (video), USB (universal data), PCIe (server expansion).

4. Radio Frequency Connectors (RF Connectors)

- Transmit RF signals (MHz-GHz): used for wireless communication, radar.

Representative types: BNC, N-type, SMA, TNC (5G base station, satellite communications).

5. Fiber Optic Connectors

- Transmit optical signals: used in communication networks, data centers.

Representative types: LC, SC, ST, FC (fiber to the home, 5G forward transmission).

6. Special Purpose Connectors

- Environment-resistant connectors: waterproof, dustproof, corrosion-resistant (e.g. MIL-DTL-5015 military connectors, IP67 waterproof connectors).

- High / low temperature connectors: for aerospace, polar equipment (such as high temperature ceramic connectors).

- Miniature connectors: ultra-small size, used for wearable devices, implantable medical devices (such as M8/M12 circular connectors).

Sixth, according to the shape and structure classification

1. Circular connectors

- Characteristics: Cylindrical shell, multi-pin, strong vibration resistance.

Representative types: MIL-DTL-38999 (military), M12 (industrial automation), aviation plug (YF series).

2. Rectangular Connectors

- Characteristics: Flat shell, high density pins, suitable for PCB integration.

Representative types: D-Sub connectors (DB9/DB25), PCIe slots, industrial I/O connectors.

3. Board-to-Board Connectors

- Connect two PCBs: divided into parallel (row of pins / row of female), vertical (vertical connectors).

Representative types: row of pins / row of female (2.54mm pitch), FPC connectors (flexible circuit boards), Mini PCIe.

4. Cable-to-Board Connectors

- Connects cable to PCB: Used for internal wiring of equipment.

Representative types: terminal blocks (e.g. JST, PH series), IDC connectors (insulation displacement connectors).

5. Cable-to-Cable Connectors

- Directly connects two cables: used for wire harness assembly.

Representative types: RJ45 (network cable), terminal block (terminal block).

Seventh, according to the application field classification

1. Consumer electronics connectors

- Representative types: USB (Type-A/C), HDMI, Lightning (Apple devices), 3.5mm audio plugs.

2. Industrial connectors

- Representative types: M12 (sensor/actuator), M8 (small sensors), 7/8 "power connector (industrial equipment).

3. Communication connectors

- Representative types: RJ45 (Ethernet), SFP/QSFP (optical modules), BNC/N type (RF).

4. Automotive connectors

- Representative types: OBD-II (diagnostic interface), FAKRA (car RF), high-voltage connectors (new energy vehicles)

5. Aerospace connectors

- Representative types: MIL-DTL-38999 (military circular), ARINC 404 (avionics), 1394b (aircraft data bus).

6. Medical connectors

- Representative types: miniature circular connectors (implantable devices), medical grade IP67 waterproof connectors (surgical instruments).

Eight, according to the special performance classification

1. waterproof / dustproof connectors

- Protection level: IP67/IP68 (completely dustproof and waterproof), used for outdoor equipment (such as LED street lights, industrial sensors).

2. High/low temperature resistant connectors

- Material: ceramic, high temperature resistant plastic (such as PEEK), used in aerospace, automotive engine compartment.

3. High-speed / high-frequency connectors

- Characteristics: impedance matching (e.g. 100Ω differential pair), low crosstalk design (e.g. USB4, PCIe 5.0).

4. Miniaturized connectors

- Size: ultra-small pitch (e.g. 0.4mm pitch board-to-board connector) for wearable devices, smartphones.

5. Modular connectors

- Scalable design: support multi-protocol integration (e.g. QSFP-DD, support 400G Ethernet + power).

Summarize

The classification of connectors needs to be combined with specific application scenarios, for example:

- Industrial automation: prioritize M12 circular connectors (waterproof, anti-vibration);

- 5G communications: high-frequency RF connectors (e.g. SMA, N-type) and high-speed optical modules (QSFP28) are required;

- Consumer electronics: focus on miniaturization (USB-C, Lightning) and user experience (anti-misplaced design).

Different categorization dimensions may be cross (such as “waterproof board-to-board connectors”), the actual selection needs to take into account the electrical performance, mechanical structure, environmental adaptability and other factors.