Framework Laptop computer 16 Deep Dive: Connectors

2023-12-06 15:00:02

That is doubtless our final Framework Laptop 16 Deep Dive earlier than we begin delivery, and people of you who ordered one can dive deep by yourself. We started mass manufacturing of Mainboards final week, which we’ll maintain onto as we resolve the previous few remaining open gadgets to start full system manufacturing.

It’s possible you’ll be pondering, do we actually want a deep dive on connectors? The reply is a powerful “Sure!”, as connectors are surprisingly among the many most advanced and demanding components of constructing a product that’s slim, sturdy, excessive efficiency, and simple to restore. Connectors are {the electrical} and mechanical interfaces between modules within the system. They’re what truly makes the product modular! Every connector must be straightforward to interact, onerous to by accident disengage throughout vibration or drop, strong throughout repeated reconnections, skinny sufficient to suit inside a tiny house, electrically sound from a sign integrity and energy perspective, readily manufacturable, and low-cost. Our most intricate connectors are made up of dozens of tiny fashioned metallic components in plastic or metallic shells. Given the complexity, our choice is at all times to seek out well-proven off-the-shelf connectors. Nevertheless, often we run into distinctive interconnect eventualities that don’t match something on the market. In these cases, we’re compelled to customise our personal options. With Framework Laptop computer 16, we developed two of those to allow our new module ecosystems.

Enter Module Connector

The primary is the connector that interfaces to Enter Modules and the Touchpad Module. That is what permits the hot-swappable modules that enable full enter deck customization on Framework Laptop computer 16. From a sign perspective, this one is comparatively simple. There are solely eight pins, supporting as much as one amp at 5V and with no alerts quicker than USB 2.0. Nevertheless, from a mechanical standpoint, this was exceptionally difficult. The pins are uncovered when Enter Modules are eliminated, that means they should be extraordinarily strong to dealing with. As well as, due to how our Touchpad Module engages, the connectors have to have the ability to deal with not simply compression power but in addition many cycles of shear power. All of this has to work inside very restricted thickness too. We initially began with a spring-based connector (on the left) throughout our EVT construct however discovered it to be straightforward to by accident bend and break the pins. We then rapidly pivoted to a pogo pin answer (on the appropriate), working with CFE, one of many world’s largest pogo producers to construct a customized answer. Regardless of being simply 0.8mm in diameter, the brass pins are extremely sturdy. They’re rated to 10,000 cycles and are tough to break even for those who attempt to.

Growth Bay Interposer

The second connector is vastly extra electrically advanced. That is the interposer that connects the Mainboard to Growth Bay Modules. That is what permits upgradeability of high-performance modules like discrete GPUs with Graphics Modules in Framework Laptop computer 16. This has two 74-pin interfaces supporting 8-lane PCIe 4.0 (and doubtlessly larger), DisplayPort, and >10 amps at 20V. These are extraordinarily tough specs to satisfy, and are made much more advanced by means of our requirement to make it a straightforward connector to deal with and cycle repeatedly. We began with the off-the-shelf FXBeam connector from Neoconix that was utilized in makes an attempt from different manufacturers at making a modular graphics system in a pocket book. We rapidly discovered that these connectors (on the left within the picture) might solely reliably be put in as soon as. On eradicating, dealing with, and reinstalling, it was straightforward to bend or break off the small pins. We then labored carefully with Neoconix to construct our personal personalized model of FXBeam (on the appropriate within the picture) that’s appropriate with the identical Mainboard interface, however is considerably extra strong. The construction hooks the pins into place and prevents them from being malformed by power from any path. With that, the interposer is protected for dealing with and repeated biking, letting you swap between Growth Bay Modules with ease.