GCT recently introduced USB3150, a vertical, B-type, PCB mounted, micro USB plug. Customers asked us, ‘can we use Micro USB connectors for PCB stacking ‘?

Our answer is yes, it’s a good option for some designs. From a PCB real estate point of view it’s a similar small footprint compared to post and box board to board connectors, such as 1mm (.039″) pitch. There are two options for customer to choose from, a SMT receptacle, such as USB3140 or a thru hole receptacle, such as USB3105.

The graphic above shows the mating height options, unfortunately the stacking profiles are fixed, however a low profile of 8.63mm (.339″) may be achieved.

The additional benefits are that there is a lead in on the Micro USB receptacle which guides the Micro USB plug into place, this is not the case with a board to board connector.

There is an obvious advantage vs standard board to board connectors in high cycle application.  Micro USB connectors are rated and tested to ten thousand mating cycles, compare that to standard board to board connectors, which are rated at one hundred cycles.

One downside is that the contacts are limited to five circuits,unfortunately that is a given of the USB-IF standards for USB2.0.

To enquire on the universal suspects view our range of vertical USB connectors and see all the choices in one click!

All the parts mentioned above are available via GCT's distribution stockists, Newark and Future Electronics have stock on hand.  We expect Farnell to have UK stock of USB3150 early in 2016.