Amphenol RF AUTOMATE Mini-FAKRA: Small Footprint Interconnects for Automotive Systems

Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS), 360-degree camera arrays, autonomous driving sensors, and other automotive systems generate several terabytes of data daily, exceeding what typical automotive RF connectors can handle. The Amphenol RF AUTOMATE Mini-FAKRA Series meets this constraint with connectors that are significantly smaller than standard FAKRA and support data speeds up to 20 Gbps across two tiers. This next-generation interconnect technology is already enabling the transition to software-defined vehicles and zonal architectures.

Figure 1: Amphenol RF AUTOMATE FAKRA.

Standard FAKRA connectors have hit their limits

Connector infrastructure in modern vehicles is hitting a limit and requires an upgrade to keep up with automotive system protocols. For example, an 8 megapixel forward-looking ADAS camera operating at 60 frames per second generates up to 8 Gbps of raw data, consuming nearly the entire bandwidth capacity of a single FAKRA connection. High-resolution surround-view camera systems ramp this up even further by maintaining four or more simultaneous feeds. Meanwhile, camera link protocols, such as MIPI A-PHY v2.0, require up to 32 Gbps downlink speeds, while automotive Ethernet can reach up to 10 Gbps.

FAKRA connectors have served the automotive industry for decades, delivering frequencies up to 6 GHz and data rates up to 8 Gbps. The Amphenol AUTOMATE RF FAKRA line is an enhanced version of the FAKRA connector. They also meet USCAR standards with 14 different mechanical and color codes and a minimum of 100 mating cycles.

Type A and Type B connector series for automotive applications

Figure 2: Straight and right-angle versions available for Type A connectors in single, dual and quad-port configurations for PCB and cable-mount designs. (Image source: Amphenol RF)

The Amphenol RF AUTOMATE Series offers two connector types with differentiated performance profiles. Type A offers a frequency range from DC (0 Hz) to 9 GHz and supports up to 20 Gbps data transmission in single-port, dual-port, or quad-port configurations. The Type A connectors are designed using a zinc alloy with a matte tin finish and feature gold-plated copper-nickel alloy contacts. The cable assemblies deliver a minimum of 500 mating cycles and work with TFC-302LL, RG-174, Dacar 302, and RTK-031 cable types.

Type B increases the frequency to DC - 15 GHz with 20 Gbps data throughput and is available in a quad-port configuration. These connectors operate across the -40°C to +105°C temperature range required for automotive environments. Moreover, the Type B Series is intermateable with TE Connectivity’s MATE-AX series, which ensures multi-vendor compatibility.

Figure 3: A quad-port Amphenol RF AUTOMATE series Type B connector. (Image source: Amphenol RF)

Both types feature color-coded housings with key codes A through E plus the universal Z code, which ensures intermateability with all other key configurations. Their Terminal Position Assurance (TPA) secondary locking mechanism ensures secure mating, while mechanical keying prevents connector mis-mating during assembly in high-volume automotive manufacturing environments.

Space savings improves automotive system architecture

Modern vehicles contain close to 40 different harnesses with roughly 700 connectors and over 3,000 wires. If taken apart and laid end-to-end, these wires would exceed 4 kilometers in length and weigh approximately 60 kg. S&P Global Mobility predicts that 38% of vehicles produced by 2034 will feature zonal architectures, up from 2% in 2022.

Due to this architectural shift, automakers need more compact, high-bandwidth connectors that can aggregate data streams at zone boundaries. Compared to standard FAKRA connectors, Amphenol RF AUTOMATE has an 80% smaller footprint, reducing installation space. This means that a single quad-port Mini-FAKRA connector replaces four discrete legacy connections while occupying a small fraction of PCB real estate. For EVs, the weight reduction from smaller connectors and shorter cable runs can meaningfully contribute to efficiency targets.

Key applications

Camera systems and visual processing

360-degree-view cameras are one of the most bandwidth-intensive applications in automobiles. These systems typically deploy four or more cameras to simultaneously capture high-resolution video feeds that must reach central processing units with minimal latency. Designers can utilize a quad-port Mini-FAKRA connector to aggregate camera feeds into a single compact interface point, eliminating the need for four separate legacy FAKRA connections. The 20 Gbps throughput capacity provides headroom for higher resolution sensors and increased frame rates as camera technology improves. The 80% space savings is especially valuable in smaller areas near bumpers and side mirrors where camera modules are mounted.

ECUs and compute modules

Unlike legacy power architectures utilizing distributed processing across dozens of small ECUs, modern zonal architectures concentrate computing power into a handful of domain controllers and zone modules. These processors are intended to handle simultaneous inputs from multiple sensor types, including cameras, radar, lidar, and ultrasonics coming in through RF connections. The compact housing of AUTOMATE connectors allows designers to route more connections in constrained board spaces.

Advanced Driver Assistance Systems

ADAS processing requires designers to balance between higher bandwidths and lower latency. Emergency Braking Systems, lane-keeping assist, adaptive cruise control, collision avoidance, etc., depend on real-time sensor data processing since transmission delays can directly impact safety. The DC to 15 GHz range of Type B connectors support high-speed SerDes protocols that camera and radar modules use to transmit preprocessed sensor data to ADAS compute units. The low engagement and disengagement forces also facilitate assembly line installation, while the mechanical keying prevents misconnections that could compromise safety-critical systems.

Infotainment and displays

Instrument clusters render 3D graphics, overlaying navigation instructions, ADAS warnings, and vehicle status information simultaneously. High-definition displays (4K and beyond) require reliable high-bandwidth connections to graphics processors. Similarly, infotainment head units streaming multiple audio and video sources also process touchscreen inputs, voice commands, smartphone integration, etc. With 20 Gbps capacity, the AUTOMATE Series can aggregate data streams via a single connection point. Their -40°C to +105°C operating temperature range also ensures reliability in a wide range of thermal conditions inside vehicle cabins and dashboards.

Conclusion

As zonal architectures proliferate and camera resolutions increase, the combination of compact form factor, high-frequency performance and industry compatibility positions the AUTOMATE connectors as critical components of next-generation automotive electrical systems.

Amphenol RF’s AUTOMATE Mini-FAKRA connectors provide higher throughput and significant space savings over standard FAKRA solutions. The Type A variant serves applications up to 9 GHz across flexible port configurations, while Type B offers 15 GHz with TE MATE-AX intermateability for ADAS, camera, and other compute module applications.

For more information, please visit Amphenol RF Automotive Solutions.