Comment 1 by Nikolaus Schaller, Dec 14, 2013
Mechanical drawings: http://www.molex.com/pdm_docs/sd/5000244071_sd.pdf
Comment 2 by Huang, Dec 15, 2013
There's always Alibaba... http://www.alibaba.com/product-gs/509784380/Board_to_board_connector_ Molex_5000246471_.html
Comment 3 by Joerg Reisenweber, Dec 15, 2013
of course we contacted them (on eof them at least), they answered "component obsolete and not on stock, hard to find"
Comment 4 by Yves Martin, Dec 22, 2013
I would say this one has exactly same specification: http://www.digikey.com.au/product-detail/en/5000246491/5000246491-ND/ 2818747 Or else, isn't possible to use a larger connector with 2 or 4 pins more.
Comment 5 by Nikolaus Schaller, Dec 22, 2013
Thanks for the DigiKey link, but it is (almost) a repetition of the first comment for this issue. There are two versions (most likely differences in materials or durability specs) denoted by a 71 or a 91 suffix. Both are discontinued. And all other pin numbers as well. Neither DigiKey, Arrow, Avnet etc. can order them at Molex. We have asked (DigiKey says "Call" status) and got all the same obsolescence notice. The problem is less the number of pins but the exact distance of the two rows and the shape of each contact spring. If the cross-section matches we might be able to use a different length. Nevertheless there is the option to ask a connector manufacturer to build some according to the original specs. This is of course expensive and only becomes realistic if we reach the 1k goal.
Comment 7 by Joerg Reisenweber, Dec 22, 2013
on a sidenote: due to the shape of the plug it's not exactly simple to use same series but with higher pincount. There are two 'bars' one at each end, which defeat using a plug with higher pincount on a receptacle with 64pins. Unless we *very* precisely cut off one end of plug, and even then I doubt this will fly. Then OTOH the whole series is obsolete, so not much use in this sort of speculations
Comment 8 by Yves Martin, Dec 22, 2013
At Molex, current products with same pitch and height are not available with 64 contacts (closed are 54 and 70 pins)
Comment 9 by Yves Martin, Dec 22, 2013
I look at HRS (Hirose), BM14 series has 64 contacts, with either 0.8mm or 1.3mm height http://www.hirose-connectors.com/connectors/H204SeriesListCompare.asp x?snprm=BM14 So if there is some margin in height. BM14 may fit, but it has 1.98mm depth. References: BM14C(0.8)-64DP-0.4V(51) 684-8032-3 51 BM14C(0.8)-64DS-0.4V(51) 684-8024-5 51 .. but such an option is likely to requires to change the connector on ribbon too.
Comment 10 by Joerg Reisenweber, Dec 22, 2013
>>equires to change the connector on ribbon too. Sorry we cannot do that. Please note that we need to find a compatible receptacle to the existing plug which we can't change. Otherwise the whole issue wouldn't have shown up here in tracker.
Comment 11 by Nikolaus Schaller, Dec 22, 2013
The BM14 series looks similar and has indeed 64 contacts, but it is not easy to find a data sheet to check if it is really compatible (likelyhood is very very low). Secondly, there is no stock as well: http://octopart.com/partsearch#!?q=BM14C(0.8)-64DP-0.4V Page 2 of the mechanical data sheet linked in comment 1 shows how both connectors must match (cross-section of mated connectors) to ca. 20um precision. The one we have on the display flex cable is soldered to the upper PCB drawn there and the one we are looking for is on the lower PCB (to be soldered to our board). So we should start to look for someone who can a) laser cut contact springs with 10-20 um precision (we could design a similar shape of the contact springs as shown on the page 2) b) build the plastic part for a connector with 10-20 um precision c) assemble connectors (so that we can feed a pick&place machine with complete connectors) We *might* be successful to find a connector that uses the same contact springs so we *might* be able to skip step a) (by dissolving the plastics in Acetone and collecting the springs).
Comment 12 by Joerg Reisenweber, Dec 24, 2013
http://www.netcomponents.com/de/sitemap/5000246471.html http://www.netcomponents.com/de/sitemap/5000246491.html ---- quote digikey ---- Digi-Key Part Number 5000246471-ND 0.4 BTB REC HSG 64CKT http://www.molex.com/pdm_docs/sd/5000244071_sd.pdf looks correct Mating: 5000276441-ND - 0.4 B/B PLUG 64CKT 5000246491-ND - 0.4 B/B REC HSG 64CKT (!!!) Digi-Key Part Number 5000246491-ND 0.4 B/B REC HSG 64CKT http://www.molex.com/pdm_docs/sd/5000241691_sd.pdf looks correct too Mating: 5000246471-ND - 0.4 BTB REC HSG 64CKT (!!!) 5000276491-ND - 0.4B/B PLUG HSG HI-RETN 64CKT 5000276441-ND - 0.4 B/B PLUG 64CKT Digi-Key Part Number 5000276491-ND 0.4B/B PLUG HSG HI-RETN 64CKT http://www.molex.com/pdm_docs/sd/5000275091_sd.pdf high-retention-force but PLUG Digi-Key Part Number 5000276441-ND 0.4 B/B PLUG 64CKT http://www.molex.com/pdm_docs/sd/5000272441_sd.pdf also PLUG Mating: 5000246491-ND - 0.4 B/B REC HSG 64CKT 5000246471-ND - 0.4 BTB REC HSG 64CKT ---- end quote ---- we NEED either of 5000246471 5000246491 (99% certain) which one is "high ret force" and mates to what is pretty cloudy. =============================================== *TODO*: find *one* single sample of a device or component that is KNOWN to be either of the both Molex above, to make 100% certain we are talking about the right component. =============================================== European suppliers might be a better deal than those alibaba scam. If we can NOT source any original ones of these components, there are companies that can build them to order, for sure for horrible pricetag. Up to 10EUR per device might be "no problem", starting at maybe 50EUR per device it must be considered a showstopper killing the project. Alternative: find used connectors in devices we can recycle (N900?) Alternative-2 was to build a new flex ribbon FPC cable with a Neo900 specific display connector, but that seems to only move the problem away from mainboard towards LCD connector plus other parts on the FPC like camera, ALS etc, which probably are not much easier to source. Plus this would need customers of swap board to also disassemble display half and swap the FPC, a really relatively tricky operation. So I think we can rule out alternative-2.
Comment 13 by Yves Martin, Dec 28, 2013
Sorry for such a naive question, but is there really no chance some pieces are left sleeping in a R&D lab ? Have you already tried to reach such a potential "invidual" owner: twitter, g+, or a mobile hardware specific worldwide forum ?
Comment 14 by Nikolaus Schaller, Dec 28, 2013
We do not need "some pieces" from an R&D lab, but at least 250 (or even 1000 pieces) for series production. This means they are stores properly and come i.e. in a format (plastic tape on a reel) that a pick&place machine can handle it. Getting some connectors for our lab is just removing them from a broken N900. This would suffice our prototyping needs, but not the final mass production. But there are some ideas in the pipeline (thanks to some useful hints from the community) to be worked on after New Year.
Comment 15 by Yves Martin, Jan 1, 2014
OK. I just thought it may be worth to query world-wide in case an half-used tape is getting dust somewhere...
Comment 17 by E, Jan 6, 2014
I came across these trying to find an unrelated obsolete part and entered the Molex part #5000246491. http://www.hobid.com/electronic-component/5000246471/ lists a distributor (http://www.parkeli.com) having 20000, or manually searching the site for 5000246471 shows another source claiming to have nearly 600 of them. http://parts.harrykrantz.com/?part=5000246471&Submit1=Search (there seems to be a few of these icsource.com part search powered sites - this one had more results). Shows sources with >10000, 787, 110. Perhaps some of them really have the connectors.
Comment 18 by Nikolaus Schaller, Jan 7, 2014
It looks as if Xmas and New Year holidays are over and we got some quotations today. It appears that we finally have identified remaining stock (thanks to some of the recommendations by you) - but still have to secure it for us :)
Comment 19 by aaron bourgeois, Oct 28, 2014
You can actually find what you need here: http://componentsearch.com/search/searchResults?keyword=50002
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Reported by Nikolaus Schaller, Dec 10, 2013