Rosenberger and ST collaborate to develop high-speed contactless connectors using 60GHz wireless technology

Rosenberger and STMicroelectronics collaborate to develop unique high-speed contactless connector based on 60GHz wireless technology

First-of-its-kind airborne connectivity for medical and industrial data transmission and other high-bandwidth applications

October 12, 2021, China - STMicroelectronics (ST), a global semiconductor leader serving multiple electronic applications, and Rosenberger, a world-leading manufacturer of impedance control and fiber optic connectivity solutions, announced a collaboration to develop contactless connectors for high-reliability, short-range, point-to-point, full-duplex data exchange in industrial and medical equipment.

Rosenberger's innovative contactless connector RoProxCon uses ST's 60GHz RF transceiver ST60A2 to transmit data at high speeds, unaffected by connector movement, vibration, rotation and dirt (moisture and dust), which may cause connection failures with traditional pin headers. The ST60A2 combines Bluetooth-class power consumption with high data rates, and is expected to enable new medical and industrial applications that are no longer bound by cables.

“By combining ST’s contactless connectivity with our connectivity and antenna design knowledge, we have developed a first-of-its-kind connectivity module that can communicate up to 6 Gbps in full duplex and is completely rotatable,” said Folke Michelmann, Executive Vice President of Medical & Industrial at Rosenberger. “RoProxCon is significantly cheaper than fiber optic connector alternatives and consumes much less power than other RF technologies, giving innovators the freedom to develop new applications. In our collaboration with ST, we see that the combination of low power consumption, high reliability and high throughput gives our connectors endless application opportunities.”

Laurent Malier, General Manager of STMicroelectronics’ RF & Communications Division, added: “Our ST60A2 contactless transceiver enables customers to create reliable, high-data-rate, energy-efficient wireless connections. Rosenberger’s expertise in connectivity combined with our RF chips is a great example of the value of this technology. Customers across the entire spectrum of electronic applications have expressed interest in this transceiver, and several have indicated a need for the module to include an antenna. Our collaborative project with Rosenberger meets this need.”

STMicroelectronics ST60A2 can achieve reliable point-to-point high-speed data transmission of up to 6.25 Gbps within a distance of several centimeters with extremely low power consumption. With an operating temperature range of -40 to +105°C, the ST60A2 chip is very suitable for the industrial market. The chip has a package area of ​​2.2 x 2.2 mm, which is the smallest RF transceiver on the market, and has an ultra-low power consumption of 70mW, which can achieve reliable and fully contactless connection.

In the RoProxCon module, ST's transceiver is matched with a suitable antenna, providing an excellent choice for different application areas such as smart factories, medical technology, connected devices, office equipment, feeder technology, renewable energy and other high-bandwidth applications.

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About Rosenberger

Rosenberger is a world-leading manufacturer of impedance-controlled and fiber-optic connectivity solutions. The product portfolio includes solutions for mobile communication networks, data centers, test and measurement, automotive electronics, as well as high-voltage contact systems, medical electronics, and aerospace engineering using high-frequency, high-voltage, and fiber-optic technologies. The Custom Machining Division manufactures customer-specific precision parts using all machinable materials to meet the requirements of a variety of industries. The company has approximately 11,800 R&D, production, and sales staff worldwide and was founded in 1958 in Tittmoning, Upper Bavaria, Germany, and has been a family business ever since.

About STMicroelectronics

STMicroelectronics has 46,000 creators and innovators of semiconductor technology, and controls the semiconductor supply chain and advanced manufacturing equipment. As an independent semiconductor equipment manufacturer, STMicroelectronics develops products and solutions with more than 100,000 customers and thousands of partners, and jointly builds an ecosystem to help them better cope with various challenges and new opportunities and meet the world's higher demand for sustainable development. STMicroelectronics' technology makes people's travel smarter, power and energy management more efficient, and the Internet of Things and 5G technology are more widely used.