with maximum scalability!
Discover the 5 key performance advantages of the zero8 product family.
Benefit from maximum efficiency, reliable contact integrity, signal protection, high speed, and durability starting today.
The Zero8 product family from ept has been specifically developed for demanding industrial applications and offers maximum scalability: You can customize the types, stack height, and number of positions to meet your specific requirements. Socket and Plug are available in low-profile, mid-profile, and high-profile versions, in both straight and angled configurations. The Plug is also available in an x-high-profile version, allowing the Zero8-connector to accommodate board-to-board distances between 6 and 21 mm thanks to its various heights. You can request a variable number of positions ranging from 12 to 80.
But that’s not all. You also have a choice when it comes to shielding. Both sides of the mated connector pair with or without shielding? Or even just one side with shielding? The decision is yours—all Zero8 connectors are fully plug-compatible with one another and can be freely combined, regardless of whether they have shielding or not.
But that’s not all. You also have a choice when it comes to shielding. Both sides of the mated connector pair with or without shielding? Or even just one side with shielding? The decision is yours—all Zero8 connectors are fully plug-compatible with one another and can be freely combined, regardless of whether they have shielding or not.
The robust, double-sided ScaleX connection technology withstands the harsh conditions of industrial applications and ensures reliable contact even under mechanical stress such as shock and vibration. It also compensates for device-side tolerances in all directions when the connectors are mated. Thanks to EMC shielding, signals in industrial environments are perfectly protected from external influences, and the material properties guarantee a data rate of up to 16 Gbit/s. Furthermore, ept has taken things a step further: the connector geometry was designed so that the contacts cannot be damaged even in the event of incorrect handling.
Superpower: EFFICIENCY
Space savings thanks to a 0.8 mm pitch
All Zero8 connector feature a contact pitch of 0.8 mm in a space-saving pitch to occupy as little space as possible on the printed circuit board. Despite the small sheared edge pitch, the contacts are mated to each other on the smooth surface rather than on the rough sheared edge. This ensures significantly higher resistance of the contacts to abrasion, e.g., during micro-movements.
Variable number of contacts from 12 to 80
Zero8 is available with 12, 20, 32, 52, or 80 contacts for maximum flexibility in your application. The connector is dual-row; for example, a 12-pin connector has 6 contacts in each row. If required, variants with a specific number of number of positions can also be manufactured, for example, to accommodate larger clearance and creepage distances.
Available in shielded and unshielded versions
You also have a choice when it comes to shielding! Both sides of the mated connector pair with shielding or without? Or even just one side with shielding? The decision is yours—all Zero8 connectors are fully plug-compatible with one another and can be freely combined, regardless of whether they have shielding or not. In the shielded types, the solder terminations of the contacts are located beneath the connector, while in the unshielded types they are located on the sides to enable AOI inspection during the manufacturing process.
Stack heights from 6 to 21 mm
With the standard low, mid, and high types, board-to-board distances of any dimension between 6 and 21 mm can be achieved. Inserting the connector all the way to the stop achieves the minimum possible board-to-board distance. The Plug and Socket can be inserted variably within a range of 1.5 mm to achieve the maximum possible board-to-board distance. The remaining 0.8 mm ensures a secure connection (effective mating length).
Angled designs for applications ranging from 90° to 180°
The type with an angle, combined with the straight type, allows printed circuit boards to be arranged at a 90° angle to one another, e.g., for backplane with daughtercards. The combination of two types with angles allows two printed circuit boards to be arranged side by side at a 180-degree angle. All of these are available in either shielded or unshielded versions and in pin counts of 12, 20, 32, 52, or 80 contacts for maximum flexibility in your application.
Develop your solutions with maximum efficiency. With its features, Zero8 ensures that you reach your goals faster while benefiting from an enormous variety of options. Even types with angles for 90° and 180° applications are available.
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Superpower: CONTACT SAFETY
Innovative ScaleX contact system
ScaleX – this brand stands for robust contact technology in a variably scalable connector system. It was specifically developed to combine high mechanical robustness with outstanding high-frequency connector properties. This combination is unique in the world of PCB connectors.
Two contact pads per pin
Each contact pair consists of two blade contacts and two female contacts. This redundancy not only ensures maximum contact reliability—especially in demanding environments such as those involving shock and vibration—but also delivers exceptional durability and reliability in your application. Furthermore, all contacts are located on the smooth side of the contact surfaces, rather than on the rough die-cut edge sheared edge, as is the case with many other miniaturized connectors.
Shock- and vibration-resistant
Redundancy in all contacts, combined with contact formation exclusively on smooth, rolled surfaces, results in exceptionally high resistance to shock and vibration. Zero8 connector have undergone thorough testing and qualification in accordance with the IEC 60512 standard. We would be happy to provide you with our detailed test reports.
High “effective mating length”
Each mated contact pair of Socket and Plug has an over-insertion range of at least 0.8 mm; that is, this corresponds to the distance from the contact point to the contact tip—the point at which contact would no longer be maintained. This over-insertion range of at least 0.8 mm ensures a correspondingly high degree of tolerance compensation, thereby providing maximum reliability in every application. When the Plug is inserted into the Socket as far as it will go, the over-insertion range increases to up to 2.3 mm per contact pair.
Rated for at least 500 mating cycles
The Zero8’s contacts are designed to ensure reliable contact even after 500 mating cycles, even when subjected to temperature cycles and corrosive gases. Even if contacts are not mated 500 times, mating cycles serve as a suitable criterion for assessing the extent to which connector remain functional under repeated temperature cycles or vibration (“fretting corrosion”).
You’ll love this, too—the Zero8 connector family impresses with its innovative ScaleX technology. Rugged and double-sided, it withstands the harsh conditions of industrial applications and ensures reliable connector connections—even under extreme environmental conditions and mechanical stress such as shock and vibration.
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Superpower: SIGNAL PROTECTION
Newly Developed EMC Shielding Concept
During the development of the Zero8, care was taken to ensure double-sided shielding. This guarantees interference-free data transmission, as required in many applications, such as Industry 4.0 or IoT. The shielding material used is specifically suited for high electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) requirements.
Optimal dissipation of interference currents
The shield plates are designed to cover a large area with few interruptions, ensuring the greatest possible protective effect. In addition, a high number of contact points between the shield plate and the printed circuit board enables optimal dissipation of interference currents. For example, for a 20-pin connector, a shield plate has a total of 5 solder connection points to the printed circuit board over a length of 8 mm.
mutual inductance of max. 10 picohenry
In in-depth tests conducted by a specialized laboratory, the effects of electric and magnetic field strengths were first simulated and then verified through experimental testing. The results obtained are exceptionally good and can be made available upon request. One of the key measurement results showed that Zero8 connectors achieved a maximum mutual inductance of 10 pH.
Alternatively, also available without shielding
You also have a choice when it comes to shielding! Both sides of the mated connector pair with shielding or without? Or even just one side with shielding? The decision is yours—all Zero8 connectors are fully plug-compatible with one another and can be freely combined, regardless of whether they have shielding or not. In the shielded types, the solder terminations of the contacts are located beneath the connector, while in the unshielded types they are located on the sides to enable AOI inspection during the manufacturing process.
The newly developed, double-sided shielding concept of the Zero8 connectors guarantees interference-free high-speed transmission in industrial environments. The shielding material used is specifically designed for components with high electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) requirements and guarantees a maximum mutual inductance of 10 picohenry for the connector.
Free white paper on high-speed and EMC (EMC) »
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Further information can be found here.
Free white paper on high-speed and EMC (EMC) »
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Further information can be found here.
Superpower: SPEED
Compatible with PCIe 4.0 and Industrial Ethernet
Zero8 connector meet the requirements of the PCI Express Gen. 4 and Industrial Ethernet specifications, as required in many applications, such as Industry 4.0 or IoT. In addition to insertion loss, Zero8 demonstrates excellent performance in terms of return loss and crosstalk.
RF signal transmission at 16 Gbit/s +
Zero8 connector are ideally suited for applications with a data rate of up to 16 Gbit/s. Due to their excellent insertion loss characteristics, Zero8 can even be used for applications up to 25 Gbit/s. This outstanding suitability is combined with an extremely robust and durable contact system designed for demanding environments involving shock, vibration, or corrosive gases. This combination is unique.
Additional signal protection through shielding
The double-sided shielding concept guarantees interference-free high-speed data transmission in industrial environments. It reliably diverts interference currents through multiple contacts on both printed circuit boards. The shielding concept protects the connector from electromagnetic interference (as an interference sink), but also protects adjacent components when the connector acts as a source of interference.
SI models available
Zero8 was first thoroughly simulated with regard to its RF characteristics and then tested in laboratory trials. Detailed test reports and SI models for simulations in your application are available.
“HighSpeed” is the magic formula of ept’s Zero8 product family. Simulations using the Zero8 connector system at 16 Gbit/s demonstrate excellent signal integrity, making it ideally suited for PCIe 4.0 and Industrial Ethernet. We’re happy to provide the S-parameter for your application simulations.
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Superpower: ROBUSTNESS
Protection for all contacts
Zero8 was designed so that the contacts are not damaged even in the event of incorrect operation. The contacts are concealed within the insulating body (insulator) and are thus optimally protected against potential mechanical influences, such as accidental contact. This ensures the highest possible level of safety for your application.
anti-rotation feature when plugging in
The polarization built into the insulator prevents incorrect mating due to twisting of the connector. This means that the Plug and Socket can only be mated if they are aligned in a specific direction. In addition, distinct guide elements in the insulator support secure mating.
Mechanical relief provided by two board locks
Two board locks per connector are soldered onto the printed circuit board and ensure mechanical strain relief for the signal contacts. This prevents signal contacts from tearing away from the solder joint when the Plug and Socket are disconnected from each other.
Compensation for misalignment up to 0.7 mm during installation
Tapered lead-in chamfers on the sides of the insulator allow the Plug and Socket to compensate for an offset of up to 0.7 mm during the mating process. The blade and female contacts are guided toward each other during mating in such a way that a secure connection is established and so-called “back-mating” is prevented.
High tolerance compensation during operation
When mated, the Socket and Plug can tolerate mutual displacement of up to 0.4 mm. This provides considerable flexibility in tolerance considerations for your applications. It also allows for the placement of multiple mated connector pairs on a single printed circuit board without compromising contact reliability.
When all these top features are complemented by exceptional ruggedness, the result is Zero8 from ept. Whether it’s the clever anti-anti-rotation feature mechanism during mating or the misalignment compensation of up to 0.7 mm during installation, Zero8 delivers on its promises.
Free white paper on ruggedness »
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Free white paper on ruggedness »
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Find more information here.
Any questions?
Then please contact us!
Submit an inquiry via the form
+1 (806) 304-0402
sales@eptusa.com
Then please contact us!
Submit an inquiry via the form
+1 (806) 304-0402
sales@eptusa.com