News and New Products

Even jacks are getting smarter

By Bill Schweber -- EDN, 4/28/2005

Though not the first jacks in audio’s history with an auxiliary function, a new series from FCI USA brings the concept to the 38.5-mm-high BTX (Balanced Technology Extended) form factor, as well as the 38.5-mm-tall jacks for the ATX (Advanced Technology Extended) form factor. The company’s Smart Audio Jack series of triple-stack connectors features an isolated switch so that associated circuitry can detect connector presence and also sense when a microphone, an audio input, or a speaker is plugged into the port. (Picture) (Some designs use an electronic-circuit technique to make the same determination, but that approach can become complex because the jack must sense a completed—but highly variable and uncontrolled—signal path.)

The color-coded jacks, targeted at 192-kbps, high-definition audio designs, have initial 50-mΩ contact resistance and are rated for 1A current and 1000 insertion cycles. Price is 32 cents to 68 cents (1000), depending on configuration.

FCI USA, www.fciconnect.com.