Development prospects of RF coaxial connector industry

RF coaxial connector (hereinafter referred to as RF connector) is usually considered as a component installed on cables or instruments, serving as an electrical connection or separation component for transmission lines. It belongs to mechatronics products. Simply put, it mainly serves as a bridge.

Compared with other electronic components, the development history of RF connectors is relatively short. The UHF connector that appeared in 1930 was the earliest RF connector. During World War II, due to the urgent need for war, with the development of radar, radio, and microwave communication, medium-sized series such as N, C, BNC, TNC, etc. were produced. After 1958, miniaturized products such as SMA, SMB, SMC emerged. In 1964, the US military standard MIL-C-39012 "General Specification for Radio Coaxial Connectors" was formulated. Since then, RF connectors have begun to develop towards standardization, serialization, and universality.

Over the course of more than 60 years, through the joint efforts of experts from various countries, RF connectors have formed an independent and complete professional system, becoming an important component of the connector family. It is an essential key component in coaxial transmission systems. The R&D technology of RF connectors in countries such as the United States, the United Kingdom, and France is in a leading position, and their design, production, testing, and usage technologies have become well matched and tend to be perfected. Not only has a complete standard system been formed, but raw materials, transmission materials, testing systems, assembly tools, etc. have also been standardized and produced on a specialized scale.

1. Multiple varieties and specifications: There are over 20 internationally recognized series with even more varieties and specifications.

2. By relying on mechanical structure to ensure electrical characteristics, it belongs to mechatronics integrated products and is fundamentally different from other low-frequency connectors.

3. Parts processing is mainly done by turning machines, and there are many manual operations for assembly, making it difficult to carry out automated assembly.

4. Slow product updates and replacements.

5. It is an important component of electrical connectors and belongs to labor-intensive products with certain technical content.

6. Product reliability, failure modes, and failure mechanisms are complex.

Since the 1960s, China has been developing and producing RF connectors through whole machine manufacturers. Starting from the 1970s, production was carried out by professional manufacturers. Prior to the 1980s, following the principle of self-reliance, imitation of Soviet products was the main focus. Starting from the 1980s, international standards were adopted to develop and produce a series of internationally universal products, mainly by state-owned and collective enterprises, with the emergence of some private, joint venture, and foreign-funded enterprises. Up to now, there are hundreds of RF connector manufacturers in China, but their scale is not large. The production methods of backbone manufacturers and the production level of universal connectors are comparable to those of foreign countries.

1. Weak strength and small scale.

2. The concept of participating in market competition is outdated, and there have been situations in the civilian market where sales are below cost price, as well as other instances of unfair competition.

3. Poor awareness of globalization and inability to adapt to the needs of the new economic era.

4. Digitization and e-commerce management are outdated.

5. There is no RF connector major in various colleges and universities, resulting in a shortage of professional talents.

6. The continuous influx of foreign investment and localized production.

7. The technology of precision connectors and surface mount connectors is outdated.

8. The issue of passive intermodulation has not received sufficient attention.

1. Miniaturization

With the miniaturization of the entire system, the volume of RF connectors is becoming smaller and smaller, such as the SSMB, MMCX and other series, which have very small volumes.

2. High frequency

HP in the United States had already launched RF connectors with frequencies up to 110GHz several years ago. The frequency of use for domestic general products shall not exceed 40GHz. The frequency of use for flexible cables shall not exceed 10GHz, and for semi-rigid cables shall not exceed 20GHz.

3. Multi functional

In addition to serving as a bridge, it also has the function of processing signals, such as filtering, phase modulation, mixing, attenuation, detection, amplitude limiting, etc.

4. Low standing wave and low loss

Meet the needs of weapon systems and precision measurement.

5. Large capacity and high power

Mainly adapted to the development needs of the information highway.

1. After China's accession to the WTO, opportunities outweigh challenges for labor-intensive products in the RF coaxial connector industry.

2. The rapid development of communication and information industry in Chinese Mainland.

3. The development of the military industry has led to a surge in demand for military supporting facilities.

4. Economic recession and cost pressures in developed countries.

1. The industry should strengthen cooperation, jointly grow and strengthen, and form a certain scale.

2. The overall technical level should continue to improve, and research on precision connectors and passive intermodulation should catch up.

3. Production and processing methods should gradually be automated and specialized.

4. Promote digitalization in management.

5. The market must be globalized, and e-commerce is the foundation of globalization.