I-PEX — MHF I LK and MHF 4L LK Micro-RF Connectors

The I-PEX MHF® series of micro-miniature RF solutions is ideal for connections in high-speed RF systems including Wi-Fi®, 4G mobile, 5G at mmWave and sub-6 GHz frequencies, Bluetooth®, GPS, WiGig, M2M, IoT, SigFox, WiSUN, NB-IoT and LoRa networking. 

The MHF I LK and MHF 4L LK micro-RF connectors feature a patented locking mechanism to maintain secure antenna connections in environments subject to high levels of shock and vibration. These plugs mate to the standard I-PEX MHF I and MHF 4/4L receptacles. 

With the lock engaged, the MHF I LK and MHF 4L LK connectors offer an initial mating force of 35 N and 23 N respectively. This high retention force remains substantially higher than standard non-locking connectors even after 30 mating cycles. 

In addition to ensuring high signal integrity in applications prone to shock and vibration, the MHF I LK and MHF 4L LK connectors’ locking feature reduces manufacturing time by eliminating the requirement for adhesive, tape, or epoxy to keep the connector engaged. This also makes rework and maintenance easier, as no solvents are required to remove the connector. 

The MHF 4L LK is the smaller of I-PEX’s MHF locking connectors. It offers high RF performance in space-constrained designs and a good balance between electrical and mechanical factors thanks to its low insertion loss. 

The MHF series of products is suitable for any micro-RF antennas operating at frequencies up to 15 GHz.