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Shielded data link connector

Shielded data link connector is a computer science topic covered in the lgStudy science library. This page brings together a partial reference excerpt, illustrations, worked examples, real-world applications and a short study plan, so you can understand Shielded data link connector rather than just read about it. In short: A shielded data link (SDL) connector is a type of electrical connector in which the signal pins are surrounded by a metal shield. The connector was designed by AMP (now TE Connectivity) and is available with a range of pins (4 to 16).

Shielded data link connector — main illustration
Shielded data link connector — illustration

Key takeaways

  • Shielded data link connector belongs to computer science; place it in that map before memorising details.
  • Learn the definition first, then one example that makes the definition concrete.
  • Connect Shielded data link connector to a quantity you can measure, compute or draw — that is where exam questions come from.
  • Reproduce the core statement of Shielded data link connector from memory before moving on to harder problems.

Reference excerpt

A shielded data link (SDL) connector is a type of electrical connector in which the signal pins are surrounded by a metal shield. The connector was designed by AMP (now TE Connectivity) and is available with a range of pins (4 to 16). It also features a locking mechanism and is available in differently keyed plugs that correspond to the proper socket. It has been used by several different products, most notably on the original IBM Model M keyboard with a detachable cable, on the IBM SurePos line of devices, and on HP HIL devices (such as keyboards and mice). The connector was also used by AMF for their line of Accuscore automatic scoring systems for bowling. Some of the SDL connectors are still manufactured but are no longer common on consumer electronic devices.

See also Modular connector

External links TE catalogue entry for SDL connectors

Illustrations

Shielded data link connector: SDL plug with six pins
SDL plug with six pins
Shielded data link connector: A 4-pin SDL socket used for a HIL bus connector for keyboards next to a HP-IB connector on an HP9000-310 workstation
A 4-pin SDL socket used for a HIL bus connector for keyboards next to a HP-IB connector on an HP9000-310 workstation

Worked examples

Example 1 — a first encounter with Shielded data link connector

Start with the simplest possible case. Write down what Shielded data link connector claims or describes in one sentence, then invent the smallest concrete situation in which that sentence is true. In computer science, the smallest case is usually a single object, a single equation or a single measurement. Check that every symbol or term in your sentence has a meaning in that case.

Example 2 — changing one variable

Take the situation from Example 1 and change exactly one quantity: double it, halve it, or set it to zero. Predict what should happen to Shielded data link connector before you calculate. Comparing your prediction with the result is the fastest way to find out whether you understand the idea or only the words.

Example 3 — an exam-style question

Typical questions about Shielded data link connector ask you to (a) state it precisely, (b) apply it to given data, and (c) explain a limitation. Practise writing all three answers in under five minutes; the third part is what separates a full-mark answer from an average one.

Applications of Shielded data link connector

In research
Shielded data link connector appears in computer science research whenever the underlying quantities have to be modelled precisely. Papers usually cite it as a starting assumption and then explore where it breaks down.
In technology and industry
Engineering practice reuses Shielded data link connector in design rules, simulations and safety margins. Knowing the idea lets you read a specification sheet and understand why the numbers look the way they do.
In the classroom
Shielded data link connector is common in secondary-school and first-year university syllabi. It links to neighbouring topics Computing stubs, Electrical signal connectors, so understanding it makes those chapters shorter.
In everyday life
Look for Shielded data link connector outside the textbook — in sport, cooking, traffic, electronics or the sky above you. An example you found yourself is remembered far longer than one you were given.

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How to study Shielded data link connector in 20 minutes

  1. Read the reference excerpt below once, without taking notes.
  2. Close the page and write down what Shielded data link connector means in your own words.
  3. Compare your version with the excerpt and mark what you missed.
  4. Work through the three examples above with pen and paper.
  5. Explain Shielded data link connector out loud to somebody else — or to Teacher Smith in the lgStudy chat.

Frequently asked questions

What is Shielded data link connector in simple terms?

A shielded data link (SDL) connector is a type of electrical connector in which the signal pins are surrounded by a metal shield. The connector was designed by AMP (now TE Connectivity) and is available with a range of pins (4 to 16).

Why does Shielded data link connector matter?

Because it connects several computer science ideas at once: it gives you a definition you can apply, a quantity you can calculate, and a way to check whether a result is plausible.

How should I study Shielded data link connector?

Read the excerpt, restate it from memory, then work through the examples and applications listed on this page. The five-step study plan above takes about twenty minutes.

What does this page cover?

It gives you a compact reference excerpt plus original lgStudy explanations, examples, applications and study material on Shielded data link connector.

Tags

  • Computing stubs
  • Electrical signal connectors

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