What Is a Board-to-Board Connector?
A board-to-board connector is a connector pair that joins two separate printed circuit boards (PCBs) directly, without using a cable.
How It Works
A male half is soldered to one board and a female half to the other; when the two boards are joined, the connectors interlock to make the electrical connection. Cable clutter is eliminated.
Arrangement Types
In the mezzanine type, the two boards are parallel and stacked (layer on layer). In the side-by-side (edge) arrangement, the boards connect end to end in the same plane. Right-angle options also exist.
| Property | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Pitch | 0.4–1.27 mm (fine) |
| Stack height | Height between the two boards |
| Arrangement | Mezzanine / side-by-side / right-angle |
Where Is It Used?
Phone main-board to sub-board connections, module boards seating on a main board (e.g. MCU modules), SBC expansion boards and space-limited devices.
The Importance of Stack Height
In a mezzanine connector, the sum of the male and female heights determines the distance between the two boards; a wrong stack-height choice causes the boards not to seat or to be stressed.
High-Speed Signals
Fine-pitch board-to-board connectors, thanks to their short paths, give better performance than a cable on high-speed signals (PCIe, USB 3.x, video). In these connectors, ground pins are interspersed for signal integrity; this reduces crosstalk between lines and keeps the impedance under control.
Common Mistakes
- Stack height: a mismatched height prevents the boards from seating properly.
- Alignment: in a fine-pitch connector, a 1-pin shift causes a short circuit.
- Mechanical load: a support/spacer should be used instead of leaning only on the connector.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is it preferred over a cable?+
What does mezzanine mean?+
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