Hybrid Connectors Drive Automotive Cost Savings

Revolutionizing the automotive industry, innovative wire-to-wire and wire-to-board connectors have been introduced to support the transition to zonal architecture and cater to a wide range of emerging applications that demand reliable data transmission. These applications include autonomous driving modules, camera systems, GPS and infotainment devices, LiDAR, high-resolution displays, sensor-device connectivity, and more.

Greg Everly, the director of new product introduction for Molex, Transportation Innovative Solutions (TIS), highlighted the significance of the MX-DaSH portfolio in reimagining vehicle electronics. He emphasized how integrating power and high-speed data transmissions within a single connector system can lead to substantial savings in size, space, cost, and labor. This holistic approach allows designers to mix and match different types of terminals, providing greater freedom and flexibility to support zonal architectures and simplify wiring harnesses.

The MX-DaSH connectors come in sealed and unsealed options to optimize next-gen automotive architectures with diverse environmental and design requirements. These connectors offer versatile configurations that support various power and signal terminal sizes, as well as high-speed FAKRA Mini (HFM®) modules for efficient high-speed data transmission.

Ensuring heightened reliability, MX-DaSH wire-to-wire connectors feature industry-leading male blade stabilization and independent secondary locks for robust and reliable terminal mating. Additionally, MX-DaSH empowers automotive engineers to accommodate a growing mix of devices and sensors with different network requirements by offering modular sections or cartridges in the wire-to-board option that support various interfaces without altering form factors or footprints.

With the introduction of the MX-DaSH family, automotive OEMs and their suppliers are better equipped to meet the increasing demands for compact, hybrid connectivity to support a wide array of automotive applications. For instance, MX-DaSH enables a significant reduction in the number of inline wire-to-board connectors for an instrument panel and body control harness, resulting in substantial savings in copper wiring and streamlined harness installations.