Short length shielded cable+connector connection for about 20 signals

[daqq]

Hi guys,

I've got two devices that need to be connected using a shielded connection to prevent interference both ways - it's a nasty environment and it's a requirement. The distance between the two blocks is less than 7 cm.

There are about 20 signals including power that need to be transferred between the two.

I've been looking at shielded DSUB connectors, but the connector blocks are very bulky - they are 4cm or more long themselves, which is just impractical spacewise.

Ideally there would be some IDC connector that would have built in shielding so I could just snap in this kind of cable on both ends: http://uk.farnell.com/3m/3517-40/ribbon-cable-40way-per-m/dp/8608636?ost=8608636&selectedCategoryId=&categoryNameResp=All%2BCategories&iscrfnonsku=false

Do you have any suggestions? This is a very low volume device, as such stuff that has to be soldered (but is not bulky) is OK.

Thanks,

David

[unleashedko]

I work at cable manufacturing facility and I can't say I've ever seen a shielded ribbon connector before, all of them I have seen are typically "plastic". Would it be possible to use connectors with a couple extra pins and attach the ribbon cable shield to those pins? Those pins could then be tied into your device grounds on each end. That would shield the majority of your conductors but you'd still be able to pick up interference at the connector pins. Maybe a metal shielding can of some sort to go around the connector housing on the device?

You could also use shielded RJ45 connectors and Ethernet wire potentially, if you are willing to use more than connector per device. Or another option you could look into would be micro-D connectors and use some shielded cable and backshell. Similar pin outs to the larger D-sub connectors but in much smaller packages. Link to some popular ones below.

http://glenair.com/micro_d/pdf/b/solder_cup_metal_shell_connectors.pdf