DIN41612

DIN 41612 is a standard for electrical connectors used to connect plug-in cards to backplanes in Eurocard-based systems. Originating in Germany and published by the Deutsches Institut für Normung (DIN), the standard defines a three-row, high-density card-edge connector family designed for 0.1 inch (2.54 mm) pitch interfaces. The arrangement supports multiple configurations, with common variants offering 32, 64, or 96 contact positions, among others, arranged across three rows to form a compact backplane connection.

The connectors are intended for PCBs in rack-mounted equipment and backplanes used in industrial, telecommunications, and computing applications. A backplane carries the mating half of the connector, while the plug-in Eurocard carries the corresponding half on its edge. DIN 41612 specifies mechanical dimensions, contact geometry, polarization and keying features, insertion depth, and tolerances to ensure reliable mating and alignment across modular systems. The standard also covers mounting options and the general electromagnetic compatibility considerations relevant to backplane interfaces.

Variants of DIN 41612 exist to accommodate different backplane densities and mounting heights, and, over time, the standard has been complemented or superseded for newer equipment by related IEC standards and families of connectors. Despite the emergence of newer high-speed backplane connectors, DIN 41612 remains in use in legacy equipment and certain markets where Eurocard backplanes are still prevalent.

See also: Eurocard, VMEbus, IEC 60603-2, backplane connector.