The 5G25 connector from Molex covers IF frequencies for mmWave applications.

Cell phones and other devices that support 5G mmWave frequencies (FR2) use antennas that must fit into tight spaces and they often use flex-circuit antennas. Connecting flex-circuit antennas to PCBs requires small, high-frequency connections. Molex has introduced the 5G25 RF connector for that purpose. The 5G25’s bandwidth lets engineers design it into the IF signal chain. The 25 GHz bandwidth means the connector can carry IF signals downconverted from carrier frequencies of 39 GHz. Should the 12 GHz band come into use for 5G terrestrial communications, the 5G25’s bandwidth will cover those carrier frequencies as well.

Measuring 3.6 mm × 2.5 mm &times 0.6 mm, the 5G25 has a signal pitch of 0.35 mm. The 5G25 features full EMI shielding, which encompasses both RF terminal and full-connector shielding. By employing a center shield-in contact with receptacle and plug, each row can be isolated to improve signal-integrity. According to Molex, the connector’s fully-shielded design delivers best-in-class far-field gain performance, which is ideal for connecting 5G antennas to a device’s transceiver.

Additional applications include:

• AR/VR
• Smart home devices
• Smartphones
• Tablet PCs
• Wearable devices
• Aircraft avionics
• Drones
• IoT devices
• Portable audio and navigation equipment