Hirose U.FL


pigtail and R52 miniPCI [Wi-Fi">Patch cable">pigtail and R52 miniPCI [Wi-Fi card.jpg|thumb|250px|An embedded RouterBoard 112 with U.FL-RSMA pigtail and R52 mini PCI Wi-Fi card.]
Hirose U.FL, I-PEX MHF I, AMC or UMCC is a miniature RF connector for high-frequency signals up to 6 GHz manufactured by Hirose Electric Group, I-PEX, and others.
U.FL connectors are commonly used in applications where space is of critical concern, such as in smartphones and laptop Wi-Fi cards. U.FL connectors are commonly used inside laptops and embedded systems to connect the Wi-Fi antenna to a Mini PCI, Mini PCIe or M.2 Wi-Fi card. Another common use is connecting GPS antennas.
Female U.FL connectors are not designed with reconnection in mind, and they are only rated for a few reconnects before replacement is needed. The female U.FL connectors are generally not sold separately, but rather as part of a pigtail with a high-quality 1.32 mm doubly shielded cable, which allows for a low-loss connection, insulated with fluorinated resin.
The male connectors are surface-mounted and soldered directly to the printed circuit board. They are designed to have a characteristic impedance of 50 ohms. The mated connection is only 2.5 mm high and takes as little as 9 mm2 of board space.
Much like many other electronic components, Hirose U.FL connectors were protected by patents and trademarks. However, compatible third party connectors are available under many other names, such as Sunridge MCB.

Hirose W.FL

The Hirose W.FL, also known as Amphenol AMMC, is an ultra-small RF connector used in handheld electronic products. It is manufactured by Hirose Electric Group and has a frequency range up to 6 GHz. W.FL occupies even less area and height than U.FL. Like U.FL, W.FL also has many more names assigned to it by those producing compatible connectors.

Variants

Many confusingly-similar looking connectors are called U.FL. The same or compatible connectors can also confusingly have multiple names, coming from different vendors or being transcribed differently.H.FL
  • * older, bigger, footprint 5x4.5 mm, square area 4.5x4 mm, male outer diameter 2.4 mm, center pin diameter 0.5 mm, mated height 3.0 mm
  • * up to 3 GHz, cable groups 1.32/1.37/1.48 mm and RG178E.FL
  • * older, bigger, footprint 3.4x3.4 mm, square area 2.8x2.8 mm, male outer diameter 2.0 mm, center pin diameter 0.5 mm, mated height 3.0 mm
  • * up to 2 GHz, cable groups 0.81/1.32 mmU.FL, I-PEX MHF I, IPEX1, IPX1, MHF, MHF I, MHF1, AMC, MCRF, GS, TXR, UM, UMC, UMCX, ultra-miniature coaxial:
  • * footprint 3.0x3.1 mm, square area 2.6x2.6 mm, male outer diameter 2.0 mm, center pin diameter 0.5 mm, mated height 2.4 mm or 1.9 mm for U.FL-LP
  • * most common
  • * up to 6 GHz, cable groups 0.81/1.13/1.32/1.37 mm, MHF1 also RG174 and RG178
  • * MHF 1 LK with a slide-over mechanical lock
  • * N.FL variant with reduced mating height, 6 GHz, cable group 0.81 mmIPEX2, IPX2
  • * lower mated height than IPEX1, otherwise somewhat similar
  • * very rareIPEX3, IPX3, MHF III, MHF3:
  • * footprint 2.00x2.05 mm, square area 1.7x1.7 mm, male outer diameter 1.40 mm, center pin diameter 0.40 mm
  • * some sources claim compatibility with W.FL W.FL, IPEX4, IPX4, MHF IV, MHF4, MHF4/4L, AMC4, HSC, MXHP32:
  • * footprint 2.0x2.0 mm, square area 1.76x1.68 mm, male outer diameter 1.5 mm, center pin diameter 0.45 mm, mated height 1.2 mm
  • * increasingly common, especially with 5GHz devices and 5G
  • * up to 6 or 9 GHz, cable group 0.81 mm, MHF4L also 0.64, 0.95, 1.13 and 1.37 mm
  • * MHF4L up to 12 GHz, or to 9 GHz when mated with MHF4 female
  • * M.2 standard
  • * W.FL2 variant with mated height 1.2 mm
  • * MHF 4 LK with a slide-over mechanical lock
  • * may be slight difference between MHF4 and W.FL, MHF4 said to be compatibleX.FL, IPEX5, IPX5, MHF5, MHF5L:
  • * footprint 2x2 mm, square area 1.7x1.7 mm, male outer diameter 1.40 mm, mated height max. 1 mm or 1.3mm
  • * up to 12 GHz, MHF 5L up to 15 GHz; cable groups 0.5/0.64/0.81/1.13 mm
  • * incompatible with W.FL/W.FL2MHF7MHF7S
  • * footprint 2x2 mm, square area 2.0x2.0 mm, male outer diameter 1.5 mm, center pin diameter 0.35 mm, mated height 1.4 mm max, male total height from board 0.53 mm
  • * up to 15 GHz, full EMI shield, for 5G mmWave applications
Other similar connectors with male on board: JSC, KSC, LSC, MHF-A, OSMT
With female on board: MHF-SW23, MMS, MMT, MS-156C, MS-162, MS-166, MS-180, SWD, SWF, SWG, SWH, SWJ