FCI launches XCede backplane connector products

Photocoupler

FCI, a top-tier manufacturer of connectors and interconnect systems, has recently launched the 25Gb/s XCede vertical backplane plug and right-angle daughter card socket. This innovative design offers multiple configuration options, with each signal connector module featuring four, six, or eight columns, each containing two, four, or six differential signal pairs. The vertical plug series also includes double, triple, or four-sided retaining walls, with the three-sided version incorporating an integrated guide post and polarized keyholes for enhanced alignment and protection.

FCI is the second supplier authorized by Amphenol to manufacture, market, and sell all XCede products and related add-ons. This partnership ensures seamless compatibility and performance across both companies’ product lines.

Nicholas Tan, FCI’s Global Product Marketing Manager, stated, “Thanks to our mutual licensing agreement, FCI and Amphenol have successfully paired the four differential signal pairs in the XCede plugs, ensuring optimal performance. A comprehensive set of qualification tests was conducted to verify compatibility between the plug and socket products.”

The XCede Connector Platform offers customers a clear and sustainable path for evolving their device platforms. As demand increases for higher signal speeds and better performance in the coming years, this platform supports long-term scalability. The use of advanced engineered polymers in the resonant damping shield minimizes crosstalk resonance, delivering extremely low crosstalk over a wide frequency range.

XCede connectors meet the growing need for higher linear signal density at backplane or midplane interfaces. For 6-pair differential connectors, a minimum of 36 mm card slot spacing is provided, resulting in 82.4 differential signal pairs per inch. With 4-pair differential connectors, the minimum spacing is 25 mm, offering 54.9 signal pairs per inch. For 2-pair differential connectors, the spacing can be as tight as 15 mm, allowing 27.5 signal pairs per inch along the card edge.

The XCede product line also features complementary guidance and power modules. In addition to the standard right-angle signal socket module, customers can choose a custom combination that integrates a right-angle signal module, a pilot module, and a power module into a single connector, offering greater flexibility and efficiency.

The XCede backplane plug is built for long-term reliability in high-end systems. Its wide floor joints include extended ribs near the top end, providing superior ruggedness and enhanced protection for signal pins. This design ensures durability and consistent performance even under demanding conditions.