Micro Coaxial Cable Complete Classification+Typical Applications
The Micro Coaxial industry is collectively referred to as Micro Coaxial/Ultra Fine Coaxial,
Definition: The outer diameter is generally less than 1.5mm, and the minimum can reach 0.1mm (hair level), with a complete four layer structure (inner conductor+dielectric insulation+outer shielding+outer cover),
Core value: High speed differential signal, RF microwave, high-definition image high shielding, low crosstalk, impedance precise transmission in a small space.
Category 1: Classification by Mechanical Flexibility Structure (the most mainstream classification in the industry)
1. Flexible Micro Coax (with the largest usage and a market share of 42.5%)
Structural characteristics
Inner conductor: multi strand silver plated copper/silver plated copper-clad steel stranded wire;
External shielding: single-layer/double-layer silver plated copper braided mesh, copper foil wrapping;
Insulation media: FEP, PFA, PTFE, ETFE fluoroplastics, with a few PVC/TPE;
The sheath is ultra-thin and can be bent over a million times with a very small bending radius.
Subdivision of subcategories
1) Electronic high-speed wire harness type micro coaxial (LVDS/eDP specific)
Outer diameter 0.26/0.3/0.37/0.46mm, impedance 100 Ω differential impedance, bundled cable (20P/30P/40P).
Typical Applications
Folding screen phone internal and external screen connection cable, laptop eDP screen cable, tablet screen cable;
Internal 4K/8K image transmission of AR/VR headset and micro camera module for wearable devices;
High speed video cable for drone gimbal camera and industrial endoscope image harness.
2) Medical ultra flexible medical micro coaxial
Medical grade PFA biocompatible sheath, resistant to high temperature and high pressure steam sterilization, ethylene oxide disinfection, with a bending life of ≥ 10 million times.
Typical Applications
Soft endoscope, capsule endoscope, intravascular ultrasound IVUS catheter;
Signal lines for cardiac intervention probes and minimally invasive surgical robot actuators;
Internal array sensing connection line of B-ultrasound/color ultrasound probe.
3) Universal RF flexible micro coaxial (mainly 50 Ω)
HRF0.75, HRF1.05, HRF1.50 series, low loss fluoroplastic insulation.
Typical Applications
5G macro base station Massive MIMO antenna array interconnection, small base station RRU internal RF jumper, portable spectrum analyzer test line.
2. Semi Rigid Micro Coax
structural characteristics
The outer conductor is seamless copper/aluminum/stainless steel tube, solid PTFE medium, with extremely high impedance accuracy, shielding effectiveness up to -130dB, and extremely low RF loss; Only one-time shaping bending is allowed, and repeated bending is not allowed.
Typical Applications
Internal wiring of military radar, satellite payloads, and unmanned aerial vehicle RF modules;
Vector network analyzer VNA internal precision RF link;
Millimeter wave radar, 6G prototype testing equipment, semiconductor probe station testing cables;
Low temperature vacuum equipment, aerospace grade cabin RF interconnection (stainless steel outer tube resistant to low temperature).
3. Semi Flexible Micro Coax (compromise)
The outer conductor is made of corrugated copper tube/spiral copper strip, with performance between semi-rigid and fully flexible, and can be slightly adjusted for shape. Its electrical performance is close to semi-rigid.
Typical Applications
Fixed RF wiring inside the communication equipment chassis, jumper wires inside the on-board millimeter wave radar PCB board, and laboratory fixed testing links.
Category 2: Divided by characteristic impedance (core electrical selection)
1. 50 Ω Micro Coax (RF microwave absolute mainstream)
Suitable for high-frequency RF, millimeter wave, and RF power signals.
Applications: 5G antenna, radar, ultrasound probe RF signal, military communication, testing and measuring instruments.
2. 75 Ω Micro Coax (video/analog RF)
Applications: Miniature high-definition camera for analog video transmission, small RF receiver module, early standard definition image transmission for endoscopes.
3. 100 Ω Differential Micro Coaxial (High speed Digital Signal)
Twinax, dedicated for LVDS/eDP high-speed differential bus, suppresses differential crosstalk.
Application: High speed wiring for all consumer electronics screens, eDP wiring harness for large car screens, and high-speed camera cables for machine vision.
Category 3: subdivision by insulation medium material (high temperature resistance/environmental resistance classification)
PTFE (polytetrafluoroethylene)
Temperature resistance -200~260 ℃, minimum dielectric loss, optimal RF performance; Semi rigid cables are standard for high-end medical, aerospace, and millimeter wave equipment.
FEP/PFA fluoroplastic
Temperature resistance of 200 ℃, easy to extrude ultra-thin wall thickness, flexible micro coaxial main force; Medical endoscopes and foldable mobile phone cables are preferred (biocompatible, sterilized).
ETFE
Chemical corrosion resistance, high mechanical strength, miniature wiring harness for automotive electronics and industrial robots.
PVC / TPE
Low cost, temperature resistance of only 80-105 ℃, only used for ordinary low-speed internal weak signal connection lines.
Category 4: Special customized derivative categories
1. Twinax dual core micro coaxial (paired differential micro coaxial)
Two independent micro coaxial parallel packages, strictly controlling the internal Skew (delay difference<10ps/m).
Application: eDP 4K/8K screen cable, high-speed machine vision camera, server high-speed backplane interconnection.
2. Armored metal protective micro coaxial
The outer layer is equipped with stainless steel spiral armor, which is resistant to compression, rodent bites, and drag.
Application: Industrial pipeline endoscope, downhole detection probe, military field portable equipment.
3. Aerospace Low Gas Micro Coax
Low precipitation Low out gassing formula PTFE, non-volatile pollutants in vacuum environment.
Application: Electronic interconnection in satellites, space telescopes, and spacecraft cabins.
Industry wide summary: Micro Coaxial's five core application areas
1. Medical equipment (with the highest added value and the strictest craftsmanship)
Minimally invasive intervention: endoscope, IVUS vascular imaging catheter, ablation electrode probe;
Imaging diagnosis: Color Doppler ultrasound probe, portable Doppler detector;
Surgical robot: miniature sensors at the end of the robotic arm and visual transmission wiring harness.
Requirements: biocompatibility, repeated bending, resistance to multiple sterilization methods, extremely small insertion outer diameter.
2. Consumer Electronics&Smart Terminals (Maximum Shipment Market)
Folding phone, flip phone: eDP screen with extremely thin coaxial cable bundle at the hinge;
Laptops, tablets, all-in-one machines: ultra-thin screens with internal LVDS/EDP high-speed cables;
AR/VR/MR glasses: miniature camera body, high-speed transmission of display screen;
Wearable device: The smartwatch has a built-in micro heart rate/blood oxygen sensor RF cable.
3. Communication and 5G/RF Microwave
5G Massive MIMO Base Station: Massive 0.3~1mm Micro Coaxial Interconnection with Antenna Array;
Small base stations, indoor distribution, and RF jumpers inside filters;
Internal wiring of millimeter wave radar, satellite communication module, and wireless testing instruments.
4. Automotive Electronics
ADAS autonomous driving: vehicle mounted surround view camera, millimeter wave radar internal RF line;
Vehicle mounted central control screen, rear seat entertainment screen eDP high-speed micro coaxial cable bundle;
Signal lines for car mounted endoscope and transmission pressure microsensor.
5. Military, aerospace, and industrial testing
Micro RF cable for high-definition image transmission and radar guidance head on unmanned aerial vehicles;
Low loss micro coaxial for satellite and rocket borne aerospace stages;
Industrial pipeline endoscope, non-destructive testing NDT probe, semiconductor probe testing cable.
Quick summary of selection
1. Repeated bending, imaging/high-speed digital → flexible 100 Ω differential FEP micro coaxial;
2. RF high frequency, low loss, fixed installation → 50 Ω semi-rigid PTFE micro coaxial;
3. Medical intervention, disinfectable, ultra flexible → medical grade PFA high flexibility micro coaxial;
4. Vehicle/industrial wear-resistant → ETFE medium flexible micro coaxial.
