Space-saving USB data sockets

Paul Boughton

Cliff Electronics has extended its range of space-saving Digital XLR connectors with gender-changing USB adaptors, writes Nick Flaherty. 

Mounted in an industry standard XLR connector shell, the Cliff Digital XLR range offers users highly efficient use of panel space and the manufacturing convenience of making the same panel cut-out for all analogue and digital connector requirements.

USB data connection to audio, broadcast, AV (audio-visual), lighting controllers, instrumentation and industrial equipment is becoming more common as digital signal and control options increase and more information needs to be transferred between portable equipment, smart phones, tablets and other data storage devices which can also be powered or charged while connected.

“The Cliff Digital XLR range are the first products from our aggressive development programme which will include further USB connectors as well as Ethernet and other data connectors, primarily in XLR and other industry standard shells,” said John Hall, General Manager of Cliff Electronics.

The recent introduction of a Dual USB2 connector which provides two isolated and independent fully USB compliant sockets in a panel space-saving single XLR receptacle has generated demand for further variants.

A further two new Digital XLR connector types have now been introduced. These are USB2 gender changer feed-through sockets available as either USB2 A to B or B to A versions. 

The XLR housings are constructed from rugged zinc/nickel metal fitting the universally popular 23.6mm diameter XLR panel cut-outs. These connectors can be mounted at the rear or front of the panel.

The original Cliff Dual USB2 connector has signal output pins configured to facilitate either direct soldered PCB mounting or connection by header cable and Cliff Electronics are happy to provide customers with standard or custom designed header cables to meet individual system requirements. Cliff will soon be offering further variants of these Dual USB2 XLR sockets.

The XLR connector style body shell was selected by Cliff as it is widely used in the audio/broadcast industries, is an industry standard panel cut-out and offers maximum panel mounting density to system designers.