Reliability Issues: MiniSD Card Connection
Reliability Issues: MiniSD Card Connection
(OP)
In a recent design I used a miniSD card "push-pull" style connector.
The information stored on the card is positioning data from a GPS. The problem is that sometimes the data gets corrupted --some units are much worse than others and most of them never have any issues at all. The corruption happens when it's sitting on the floor of the car and there is some vibration. We are talking about a VERY small amount of vibration. A correction we made in software detects a corruption and then continues instead of corrupting the entire log (that's not a real fix in my opinion since data is still missing in the end).
If I put some material between the holder and card forcing it down on the contacts the problem goes away. I will probably need to get in touch with Hirose or switch to a Molex....?
Anyone have any experience with this?
Spec/datasheets:
h ttp://www. hirose.co. jp/catalog e_hp/ef_60 900063.pdf
http://me dia.digike y.com/pdf/ Data%20She ets/Hirose %20PDFs/DM 2A-SFW-PEJ -S(03).pdf
I appreciate any help!
dan
The information stored on the card is positioning data from a GPS. The problem is that sometimes the data gets corrupted --some units are much worse than others and most of them never have any issues at all. The corruption happens when it's sitting on the floor of the car and there is some vibration. We are talking about a VERY small amount of vibration. A correction we made in software detects a corruption and then continues instead of corrupting the entire log (that's not a real fix in my opinion since data is still missing in the end).
If I put some material between the holder and card forcing it down on the contacts the problem goes away. I will probably need to get in touch with Hirose or switch to a Molex....?
Anyone have any experience with this?
Spec/datasheets:
h
http://me
I appreciate any help!
dan





RE: Reliability Issues: MiniSD Card Connection
Keith Cress
kcress - http://www.flaminsystems.com
RE: Reliability Issues: MiniSD Card Connection
Watch out for long lead times from Molex though. They have been getting pretty bad lately.
RE: Reliability Issues: MiniSD Card Connection
Dan - Owner

http://www.Hi-TecDesigns.com
RE: Reliability Issues: MiniSD Card Connection
Since the connector contacts are all in-plane, it may be possible to re-orient the connector and card to minimize the vibration effects by either flipping the assembly or rotating it 90º.
Obviously, in many high-vibration applications, isolators are mandatory, so that's another avenue.
TTFN
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RE: Reliability Issues: MiniSD Card Connection
RE: Reliability Issues: MiniSD Card Connection
It's not so much that it fails under "vib" testing but just moving it around like you would your cellphone. It's pretty pathetic in my opinion that it has problems with the level of "vibration" it is being exposed to.
RE: Reliability Issues: MiniSD Card Connection
You might want to switch to a micro SD card. If memory serves me right, the "profile cards" of cell phones are micro SD. If, and that's a big if, those connectors are available standalone, they might be worth looking into. I remember recently seeing a picture of one of the new phones that had the micro SD card placed in the phone and a latch cover over the top.
Drat, I can't remember the "term" for the "profile cards", SIM card?
Just a thought. Also, would a USB memory drive, assuming space allows, be a more robust connector? Of course it would involve a USB interface and a lot of code change.
Cheers,
Rich S.
RE: Reliability Issues: MiniSD Card Connection
Maybe "microSD" ??
Keith Cress
kcress - http://www.flaminsystems.com