High-Speed Backplane Connectors

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Abstract—Printed circuit board (PCB) backplanes and backplane connectors form the cornerstone of many large system architectures, particularly in the fields of communication and high-performance computing. This paper investigates the limits to the electrical performance of backplane connectors. It discusses the main factors affecting performance, and predicts the future of backplane connector development.

What it's really about—Overview of the stunning lack of progress over the last 30 years in the field of high-speed backplane connectors. The author indicts the entire pcb board fabrication industry for lagging far behind the pace of IC miniaturization and admonishes connector vendors to design smaller connectors with dramatically less crosstalk.

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