consumer electronics

Consumer Design Priorities Favor Connector Performance

Consumer connectivity helped drive miniaturization trends. Now R&D is focused on doing more within existing form factors. We talk to a supplier on the cutting edge of consumer design to learn what’s coming next. Consumer design has been a key driver of the miniaturization of electronic components. Guided by Moore’s Law, the evolution of computingRead More

Connector Solutions Simplify Design of Wearable Devices

Compact wearable devices often lack sufficient PCB space for the additional hardware that increases device capabilities. Hybrid connectors offer a solution. Consumers desire sleek and comfortable wearable electronics with reliable performance and a long battery life. However, compact wearable devices often lack sufficient PCB space for the integration and mating of systems such as displayRead More

UKCA Mark Deadline Extended

The implementation of the new CA mark for use in products sold in Great Britain will now take effect at the end of 2024. Here’s what you need to know. Great Britain is developing its own independent regulatory framework for goods sold in England, Scotland, and Wales. As part of this process, products — includingRead More

From Phones to Wearables, Device Battery Connectors Deliver Secure Power

As more products go cordless, durability has become an imperative for battery connectors. Batteries enable devices to operate using stored energy instead of a wired connection to an energy source. As more devices that once were wired become available in cordless versions for high-reliability purposes such as medical equipment or industrial equipment, the connectors thatRead More

FFC Vs. FPC Connectors: Which is Right For You?

Meet the Connector: FFC/FPC Connectors FFC connectors are used to mate ribbon-type flat flexible cables (FFCs) to PCB circuitry in cable-to-board applications. They are also available in cable-to-cable configurations. These connectors have a high-density, very narrow form factor and fit in tight spaces. They are commonly used in consumer applications such as laptops, cameras, computerRead More

Miniaturized Smart Devices Pose Larger Design Challenges for Interconnects

Smaller, more powerful, and connected new device designs call for more antennas, PCB connectors, and other components. The challenge is to make them all fit. Strategic antenna selection and positioning is the first step in preserving performance and reliability. Electronic devices are increasingly utilizing one or more wireless technologies to become connected to the InternetRead More

The Sweeter Sound of Precision AV Interconnects

Precision interconnects help deliver the superb audio clarity and exciting video displays that make live events memorable, whether you have great seats or are following along at home. It’s an incredible time to be a live music fan. After a long stretch of closed venues, thousands of musicians, comedians, and other live performers from acrossRead More

Connectors in Concert

Specialty audio connector types each play a different role in creating a full sound. Learn more about the reliable standards and the new connectors that make live entertainment possible.  To be human is to be entertained. It is a necessity, not a luxury. And so, with some Covid protocols in place, live events are back.Read More

Right to Repair Electronics Legislation Update

You own it. Can you fix it? Not yet. But depending on where you live, electronics repair businesses and hobbyists stand to gain new rights. In many parts of the world, it’s illegal or intentionally difficult to fix your own electronics. That is about to change in some key markets, where independent repair businesses andRead More

Pitch Perfect: Creating Ever-Smaller Connectors to Enable the Latest Consumer Devices

Connectors that once were market leaders now are too large for most consumer applications. The next level of refinement in design comes in the form of fine-pitch alternatives. The world of consumer electronic devices has expanded enormously in the last decade. With applications in the leisure market as well as personal healthcare and industry, handheldRead More

What are RAST Connectors?

Meet the Connector: RAST Connectors RAST connectors are an international standard originally developed for the home appliances market. The initial design featured a crimp-style contact, but today most iterations employ insulation displacement contact (IDC) technology, which simplifies the installation process, eliminates mis-mating errors, and improves connection quality by eliminating the need to cut, strip, andRead More

USBs Armor Up for Hard Use and Rugged Applications

Consumers treat USBs roughly — there’s no way around it in the constant cycle of plugging and unplugging, so these ubiquitous connectors are up to the challenge. But as USBs move into even more rugged environments (and into the hands of ever-younger consumers), tough new versions are ready. The Universal Serial Bus (USB) is theRead More

eBook 2023 The Age of Connected Technology
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