PC/104 and PC/104-Plus

Simply stack it – with ept press-fit technology

PC/104 is a standard for PC-compatible modules which are intermateable to set up a complete computing system. The PC/104 ensures complete hardware and software compatibility, is extremely compact (96 mm x 90 mm), and comes with a standardized PC/104 Bus (ISA). Due to this standardization, different PC/104 cards can be combined to implement a defined task.

Based on PC/104, many different boards are offered such as:

• Complete single-board computers
• I/O boards for digital or analog I/O
• Boards for CAN, Profibus, LON,Ethernet
• PCMCIA boards

Since more powerful components are available, the PC/104 systems had to be supplemented with a faster bus system. The PC/104 system was supplemented with the PCI bus and thus it was further developed. This supplement is described in the PC/104-Plus specification.

PC/104 and PC/104-Plus connector

While the PC/104 bus comprises two connectors with 40 and 64 pins which can be placed side-by-side and a grid size of 2.54 mm, the PC/104-Plus features 120 pins with a distance of 2.00 mm.

By using connectors with long pins in press-fit technology, several boards can be stacked on top of each other (see figure). The clearances specified by the PC/104 consortium are ensured by using spacers and shrouds. The additional use of spacing bolts is
therefore not required.

PC/104 and PC/104-Plus press-fit connectors from ept offer various advantages: The female connectors are pressed in by means of a simple flat rock pressfit tool No additional costs due to complex manual soldering No reworking at the rear mating zone (solder bridges, solder splashes) Less inspection overhead Lower engaging and seperating forces; therefore bending of the rear mating zone is prevented When female connectors with rear mating zone are pressed in, a guiding block is pushed up from below. This offers the following advantages: – No bending of the rear mating zone – Serves as spacer so that the clearance of 0.6" is achieved when the modules are plugged in – Serves as support tool when pressing in and prevents that the strip lines between the through connections are damaged. The shroud is reliable fixed on the PCB ba additional press in of the shroud housing onto the rear mating zone. Customer-specific solutions Within the scope of PC/104 and PC/104-Plus applications, upon request ept also offers various customer-specific solutions with 2.0 mm and 2.54 mm grid.