PC card connectors are used to connect computer cards to computers. Examples include PC cards and CompactFlash cards. The first standards for the PC card were established by the Personal Computer Memory Card Internal Association (PCMCIA) in 1991. At that time, the industry standard defined the first PC card connector as a 68-pin, input/output (I/O) interface along with the socket services specification. Because of the influence of these standards, a PC card connector is also referred to as a PCMCIA card connector.
Most PC card connectors have a male end and receive a peripheral device that uses a female end. There are also PC card edge connectors, a female-ended device that operates by connecting directly to contact pads on the side of a PC board. The PC card then plugs directly into the PC card edge connector that interfaces with the integrated device. Edge card connectors are designed to work with a variety of different connection architectures like enhanced integrated drive electronics (EIDE), serial, and peripheral component interconnect (PCI). An edge card connector is designed to work with the Type I (3.3mm thick), Type II (5.0mm thick), and Type III (10.5mm thick) PC card form factors.
PC card connectors are used to connect computer cards to computers. Examples include PC cards and CompactFlash cards. The first standards for the PC card were established by the Personal Computer Memory Card Internal Association (PCMCIA) in 1991. At that time, the industry standard defined the first PC card connector as a 68-pin, input/output (I/O) interface along with the socket services specification. Because of the influence of these standards, a PC card connector is also referred to as a PCMCIA card connector.
Most PC card connectors have a male end and receive a peripheral device that uses a female end. There are also PC card edge connectors, a female-ended device that operates by connecting directly to contact pads on the side of a PC board. The PC card then plugs directly into the PC card edge connector that interfaces with the integrated device. Edge card connectors are designed to work with a variety of different connection architectures like enhanced integrated drive electronics (EIDE), serial, and peripheral component interconnect (PCI). An edge card connector is designed to work with the Type I (3.3mm thick), Type II (5.0mm thick), and Type III (10.5mm thick) PC card form factors.
Some PC card connectors are equipped to handle devices that use CompactFlash, a mass storage device technology which uses non-volatile memory. A CompactFlash card uses a 50-pin interface instead of the standard 68 pins. A Compact Flash card connector is rated as one of the most durable of all PC card connectors. These connectors are capable of supporting cards that use either 3.3 V or 5 V power systems and fully integrate with the PCMCIA-ATA standards. Additional features of PC card connectors include guide rails to hold cards in alignment during insertion, ejector mechanisms and insulators.
Suppliers of PC card connectors are broken into two major divisions: commercial electronics manufacturers that also produce adapters designed specifically to work with their other products, and independent manufacturers that specialize in electronics peripherals. Other providers include distributors that carry a wide range of styles and brands. Costs for PC card connectors can range from $35 - $350.
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