Advice needed

[Baliszoft]

I got this small board, which consists of a 128x64 GLCD module, a beeper, and two connectors (RJ45 female and USB Type-B female). On the bottom, there is a pic. It is a custom job, it has nothing to do with pc networking i was just using the RJ45 because of the easily available networking cables. Now i want to make this board smaller in height (i am going to use a COG display). I could use a mini USB connector, but i could not find a replacement for the RJ45. Can you suggest me a 8 pole connector which is preferably not wider than the RJ45, but still lower? Pin headers are no go, as this is going to be a commercial product.

[peter.mitchell]

Could you just mount the socket on the reverse of the board?

[Baliszoft]

Uhm well, yes. I want to make the board and its enclosure as thin as possible.

[Psi]

There's a round connector that looks exactly the same as a S-Video connector but with more pins.
just googled, its called a 9 pin mini-DIN

http://www.allpinouts.org/index.php/9_pin_mini-DIN_%28VIVO%29

Its often used on videocards for the VIVO cable (video in and video out) and carries multiple input/output channels
  S-video, composite, component etc..

It might be a little lower than an rj45

[Baliszoft]

Hmm. Not a bad idea. Thanks! I will check how it could work out. The rj45 stlyle plug has a big advantage though: it has a lock and that comes quite handy.

[Baliszoft]

Checked this: http://www.farnell.com/datasheets/28805.pdf
Sadly it has got the same height as the rj45 :/.

[Circuitous]

Do you really need all 8 of the ethernet wires?  If you aren't using POE, then you should only need 4 connections. 
The only complication in replacing the RJ-45 is if it has built-in magnetics.

[kripton2035]

some connector like this one is locked
http://www.ebay.com/itm/5pcs-Aviation-Plug-Male-Female-Wire-Panel-Connector-16mm-8-Pin-GX16-8-/400340089966

[WBB]

Mini HDMI? It's small and has plenty of pins.

[Baliszoft]

Do you really need all 8 of the ethernet wires?  If you aren't using POE, then you should only need 4 connections. 
The only complication in replacing the RJ-45 is if it has built-in magnetics.

Yes, i need all the 8 wires. It is not used for ethernet.

[Baliszoft]

some connector like this one is locked
http://www.ebay.com/itm/5pcs-Aviation-Plug-Male-Female-Wire-Panel-Connector-16mm-8-Pin-GX16-8-/400340089966

These are really cool. Too bad, that they got the same height as the rj45.
I would need something around 6-7mm max.

I already thought about HDMI, but they are a bit fragile imho.

[daedalus]

any reason you cant just use a molex or jst connector? both do locking connectors in a variety of form factors, and are relatively cheap. I tend to use picoblade/picoclasp in a lot of the boards I design, picoblade is only 3.5mm height.

if this is a product then you should avoid abusing commonly seen sockets. Users expect an rj45 to be Ethernet, and a hdmi to be video, if you use them for something different you better be damn sure that neither your device or their tv/computer are damaged when the stupider ones hook them up. Some footnote in the manual wont really cut it, as most wont ever read it.

[Baliszoft]

any reason you cant just use a molex or jst connector? both do locking connectors in a variety of form factors, and are relatively cheap. I tend to use picoblade/picoclasp in a lot of the boards I design, picoblade is only 3.5mm height.

if this is a product then you should avoid abusing commonly seen sockets. Users expect an rj45 to be Ethernet, and a hdmi to be video, if you use them for something different you better be damn sure that neither your device or their tv/computer are damaged when the stupider ones hook them up. Some footnote in the manual wont really cut it, as most wont ever read it.

Yes, you are right in every aspect. I am however keen to use mini-DIN type connectors, with a longer wire soldered on the board and a receptacle. To make the life harder, this wire has to go thgough a grommet on a cars firewall

[kripton2035]

some connector like this one is locked
http://www.ebay.com/itm/5pcs-Aviation-Plug-Male-Female-Wire-Panel-Connector-16mm-8-Pin-GX16-8-/400340089966

These are really cool. Too bad, that they got the same height as the rj45.
I would need something around 6-7mm max.

then you have these available in 6-7mm height :
http://octopart.com/43020-0800-molex-14503
http://octopart.com/b8b-ph-sm4-tb%28lf%29%28sn%29-jst-248904
http://octopart.com/1793380000-weidmuller-246712
http://octopart.com/22-12-1082-molex-247530

[hlavac]

How about these - plug, socket? Looks like RJ45, but flatter, with clips on the sides.

[Baliszoft]

How about these - plug, socket? Looks like RJ45, but flatter, with clips on the sides.

Excellent find, thanks! I could seriously consider this, if it wasn't this expensive and the receptacle is still too high .

[Baliszoft]

I would need something around 6-7mm max.

Looking at these, too.