Overview
IEC 62946-01:2018 specifies a detail specification for rectangular, 8‑way, shielded, high‑density connectors used for data transmission up to 100 MHz and with a current carrying capacity up to 1 A. The standard covers both free (wire‑to‑connector) and fixed (PCB‑mounted) variants, defining common dimensions, mating interfaces, mechanical, electrical and environmental characteristics, and required tests. The March 2020 corrigendum is included in this edition.
Key topics and technical requirements
- Connector family scope: 8‑way, shielded rectangular connectors that are intermateable and interoperable within the IEC 62946 series.
- Mating information: standardized contact interfaces, pin/pair grouping assignment and mating conditions for free and fixed versions.
- Mechanical requirements: high‑density form factor, insertion/withdrawal forces, mechanical operation life and vibration/impact considerations.
- Electrical requirements:
- Data transmission performance up to 100 MHz (transmission specs include insertion loss, return loss).
- Crosstalk metrics (near‑end and far‑end crosstalk), transverse conversion loss and transfer conversion transfer loss.
- Voltage proof, initial insulation resistance and contact resistance measurement methodology.
- Current‑temperature derating and de‑rating curve for the 1 A rating.
- Environmental and climatic classification: defined climatic categories and environmental testing (humidity, temperature cycling).
- Tests and test schedules: preconditioning, basic (minimum) and full test schedules, arranged test procedures (including contact resistance arrangements and vibration test setups).
- Documentation and conformity: normative references, drawings and tables for dimensional compliance.
Applications and users
This standard is aimed at designers, manufacturers and test engineers working on:
- Compact data connectors for communications, industrial and consumer electronics
- PCB designers specifying fixed connector footprints and mechanical interfaces
- Cable assembly manufacturers producing high‑density free (plug) connector harnesses
- Quality assurance and test labs performing electrical/mechanical verification to IEC test schedules
Use cases include shielded interconnects in embedded systems, data‑link interfaces where space and EMI control are critical, and any application requiring defined interoperability across vendors.
Related standards
- Other parts of the IEC 62946 series (for intermateability across connector families)
- Normative references listed in the document, e.g. IEC 60050‑581 (vocabulary) and IEC 60068‑2‑38 (environmental testing procedures)
Note: IEC 62946‑01 includes a patent notice in its introduction; users should consult IEC and ISO patent databases and the document’s patent statements when assessing IP implications.