HARTING ix Industrial® - RJ45 Ethernet Interface

The ix Industrial® is a miniaturized Ethernet connector that is 70% smaller and more robust than a standard RJ45.  This mini ethernet connector, sometimes referred to as a mini RJ45, addresses the demands of device manufacturers who find the RJ45 footprint limiting in their design.

The ix Industrial® uses the same cat. 6, 8-wire Ethernet cable as an RJ45.  This makes it backwards compatible with the RJ45.  It is possible, for example, to have an ix Industrial® on one end of a cable and an RJ45 on the other end.  The benefit is that a device manufacturer can use the ix Industrial® to miniaturize their device, while maintaining compatibility with other devices that use an RJ45.  This type of cable uses the same concept as phone chargers that have a USB on one end and a micro-USB on the other end. 

One of the most prevalent questions is why a mini ethernet connector / mini RJ45 connector is necessary in Industrial automation, especially when machines themselves are so large?  The answer is two-fold. 

First, devices are getting smaller.   Secondly devices produce more data.  More data means more connection points for that data to travel between.  Without mini Ethernet connectors, the size of devices would get larger.  Smaller connectors allow for more in the same space. 

The active locking of the socket and connector is achieved using two stable snap-in hooks made of metal, providing clear haptic feedback which confirms a secure connection. The connection between cable sheath and plug connection is engineered in the form of a robust crimp connection. This ensures a perfect and robust interface that even meets the high shock and vibration resistance established in EN 50155 railway specifications, guaranteeing a long service life that boasts 5,000 mating cycles.

The ix Industrial® interface boasts 70 % less installation space on the board compared to typical RJ45 sockets and makes it possible to significantly reduce the size of the full spectrum of device types.

Working in tandem with its technology partner Hirose, HARTING has developed the little giant and standardized the ix Industrial® mating face according to IEC 61076-3-124. This standardization gives users investment security and, thanks to a broad technological basis, consistently offers them the right contact point for future applications in the IoT (Internet of Things).

Cat. 6A performance means the ix Industrial® mating face is engineered to be future-proof for 1/10 Gbit/s Ethernet, while its high current-carrying capacity enables current and future PoE applications. This interface combines data transmission and power supply in a single interface, thereby additionally reducing the installation space required for termination technology.