Munich, October 10, 2016 – ALPS added the SCTA□B series, a model with insulation coating, to the product line of spring contacts with the industry’s smallest dimensions^*, which is ideal for integration into smartphones, wearable computers, and other compact mobile devices. Mass production has already started.

A spring contact is a component that uses spring pressure to create an electrical connection between PC boards or between a PC board and a device. Spring contacts are employed in a wide range of markets, including markets for consumer devices, industrial equipment, and many are used in smartphones, in particular, for the RF antenna, ground, battery, and speaker connection. Meanwhile, requirements for further downsizing of components integrated into end products are growing as PC boards become smaller and components are arranged in higher density layouts.

Responding to these needs, ALPS developed the SCTA□A series of spring contacts and started mass production last year. In August 2016, it added the SCTA□B series, a model with insulation coating, to its product line and commenced mass production.

A spring contact of the industry’s smallest dimensions of 1.4 × 1.4 mm was realized using a unique double-spiral spring construction and precision processing technology. High resilience against vibration and impacts, and therefore high contact reliability, were achieved by employing a spring construction that enables vertical movement despite the square shape. Additionally this product can be mounted by automated processes.

As a connection component, a single contact or multiple contacts can be used. Flexibility of the layout on the PC board is improved, by allowing an array arrangement taking advantage of the square shape. Furthermore, the construction prevents catching on fingers during assembly, helping to improve work efficiency during the device assembly process.

The new series that was added to the product line this time has insulation coating around the outer surface of the spiral spring and it therefore ideal for the connection of devices, such as a RF antenna, which require stable high-frequency performance. The series has four mounting heights variety; 0.85, 1.6, 1.8, and 2.0 mm.

With the addition of this series, ALPS will promote the sales of the spring contact not only to the smartphone and wearable electronics markets, where compact size and a low profile are major requirements, but also to markets for other consumer devices and industrial equipment, contributing to reliable connection within electronic products.