Connector Reliability Test Recommendations, Phase 3
Section: Board Assembly

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Project Leader


Jeff Toran, Amphenol

 

End-of-Project Webinar

Webinar presentation (February 26 & 27, 2024)
 

Statement of Work & Project Statement

Statement of Work (v3.1, April 7, 2021)
Project Statement (v1.1, April 7, 2021)

 

Background

Existing connector reliability testing standards do not address the full range of connector applications nor do they have the necessary detailed, defined test conditions and sequences. A standardized reliability test framework for evaluating electrical connectors across types and use cases would ease the current challenge of testing and identifying appropriate connectors for a given application. Work to date includes:

  • The Phase 1 team developed a reliability test framework for connectors based on an industry consensus view of interconnect levels, a physics of failure approach, and a to-be-defined set of application classes, test levels and tests.
  • In Phase 2, the project team defined a set of application classes (stress levels) and specific test conditions to be used to evaluate the expected degradation of connectors under different stress levels in the defined application classes. 


Focus of Phase 3

Phase 3 of the Connector Reliability Test Methodologies project will define and develop a test vehicle to demonstrate the methodology developed in Phases 1 and 2. The goal is to enable reliable qualification of new connectors and connectors for a broader range of applications. 

This project proposes a proof-of-concept of the defined methodology, inclusive of defining a test vehicle and evaluating its response to the proposed test framework. Phase 3 will also collect information about the following topics related to electronic equipment reliability for the application environment selected for this project: 

  • Failure root causes for USB-C and selected tier 4 connectors 
  • Dust, fibers and other debris typically found in the equipment including details of size, composition, etc.
  • Mixed flowing gas corrosion severity with respect to current levels of atmospheric pollutant levels 
  • Lubricant effects/impacts 
 

Presentations

Call for Participation Webinar (November 18, 2020)
 

Contact

Mark Schaffer 
marks@inemi.org