Automotive Electrical Connectors

How Formula E Contributes to e-Mobility Innovation 
New technology
How Formula E Contributes to e-Mobility Innovation 
Lessons learned in the high-stakes performance racing market transfer to the evolution of automotive and autonomous technologies. High-speed interconnects are key to these designs. In the rapidly changing landscape of motorsports, Formula E has redefined the boundaries of racing by combining adrenaline-fueled competition with a commitment to sustainable…
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How Formula E Contributes to e-Mobility Innovation 
How Formula E Contributes to e-Mobility Innovation 
Lessons learned in the high-stakes performance racing market transfer to the evolution of automotive and autonomous technologies. High-speed interconnects are key to these designs. In the rapidly changing landscape of motorsports, Formula E has redefined the boundaries of racing by combining adrenaline-fueled competition with a commitment to sustainable…
Alerts and Alarms: Connecting Horns and Backup Alarms
Alerts and Alarms: Connecting Horns and Backup Alarms
These simple but essential vehicle functions can be incorporated into automotive designs with a combination of custom and legacy interconnects. While much of the attention on automotive innovation today is focused on electrification and drivetrain technologies, if you really want to attract attention in a car, automotive horns…
Accelerating into the Future of Mobility as a Service
Accelerating into the Future of Mobility as a Service
In the years to come, it is projected that consumers worldwide will pivot from owning private cars, that they only use a fraction of the time to instead accessing mobility as a service (MaaS). With the breathless coverage of electric vehicles (EVs), it would be easy to believe…
What are solderless terminals? 
What are solderless terminals? 
What are solderless terminals? Meet the Connector: Solderless Terminals Solderless terminals provide a simplified wire joining solution. Whereas soldering provides a permanent connection, solderless terminals are advantageous in applications where connections may need to be disconnected for repair or if a change in design or components is imminent.…
FFC/FPC Solutions Product Roundup
FFC/FPC Solutions Product Roundup
This week’s Product Roundup highlights FFC/FPC power connectors from connector manufacturers and suppliers. Power connectors Axon’ flat flexible cables are designed for board-to-board connections in electronic systems. From 0.30 mm to 1.25 mm pitch, these flat flexible cables provide a space saving solution for PCB connection. They are…
Jan 2024 Connector Industry News
Jan 2024 Connector Industry News
Upcoming industry events, as well as recent award, partnership, promotion, personnel, facility, distribution, standards, association, and certification news from across the connector industry. Jan 2024 Connector Industry News Jan 2024 Connector Industry News > Award News DigiKey ranked #121 on the Forbes 2023 list of America’s Largest Private Companies.…
Next-Generation EV Cell Contacting System Drives Vehicle Innovations
Next-Generation EV Cell Contacting System Drives Vehicle Innovations
The reliable and easy-to-implement interface solution connects cells to the control board in an EV battery module, eliminating the need to daisy chain wires. Eight years ago, Molex took a leap and heavily invested in the equipment and capabilities to develop its cell contacting system in support of…
Five Important Considerations in Electric Vehicle Battery Manufacturing for 2023
Five Important Considerations in Electric Vehicle Battery Manufacturing for 2023
EV batteries have come a long way, with improvements in energy density, charging speed, safety, and cost. Five considerations are top of mind for engineers working on the next generation of battery solutions. The vehicle energy transition is underway. By the end of 2023, the International Energy Agency…
Software-Defined Vehicles: A New Era of Vehicle Customization
Software-Defined Vehicles: A New Era of Vehicle Customization
In April, automotive and component manufacturers, suppliers, and the media flocked to China to participate in Shanghai Auto Show, the world’s largest car show. This year’s theme was “Embracing the New Era of the Automotive Industry,” and the show did not disappoint. Manufacturers showcased 1,500 state-of-the-art vehicles across…
Connector Supplier’s Latest eBook Explores the Vast World of Connectivity
Connector Supplier’s Latest eBook Explores the Vast World of Connectivity
From aviation to energy, military to medical, the connector industry is at the heart of efforts to meet the demand for connectivity that has taken hold across markets and in a plethora of applications. Download your copy of our latest eBook here! Success is tied to the speed…
What are pin headers?
What are pin headers?
Meet the Connector: Pin Headers Pin headers are a type of electrical connector that consists of one or more rows of metal pins or contacts molded into a plastic base. They serve as a bridge between various elements in an electronic device, enabling the distribution of power, data, and…
Wire-to-Board Product Roundup  
Wire-to-Board Product Roundup  
This week’s Product Roundup highlights wire-to-board connectors from leading suppliers. Wire-to-board connectors Avnet supplies Amphenol's FlexLock FPC-to-Board and Flex-to-Wire. The compact design addresses the growing demand for the automotive application market. The connector design is compliant to USCAR- T2V2 and LV-214 S3 specifications.     Anderson Power Products…
Testing Automotive Connectors
Testing Automotive Connectors
For the companies that make and supply them, testing automotive connectors is an important step in their design and production. Electronics make up over 35% of the cost of a modern car, with tens of thousands of electronic components inside each vehicle. If any of them fail to…
The EV Revolution Will Be Connectorized
The EV Revolution Will Be Connectorized
A new category of e-mobility connectors for use in vehicles and charging infrastructure will help create our EV future. E-mobility, or electromobility, is the use of electric propulsion to power vehicles. Over the last decade, e-mobility has rapidly evolved with the adoption of electric cars, buses, trucks, and…
Tesla’s NACS Connector Poised to Standardize U.S. EV Charging Landscape
Tesla’s NACS Connector Poised to Standardize U.S. EV Charging Landscape
The interface is now leading a global field of competitors, simplifying the EV charging process and bringing a future single standard into focus. U.S. automakers Ford and General Motors will adopt Tesla’s North American Charging Standard (NACS) charging connector as the interface of choice for their upcoming EV…
What are CHAdeMO EV Charging Connectors?
What are CHAdeMO EV Charging Connectors?
Meet the Connector: CHAdeMO Connectors The CHAdeMO (CHArge de MOve) EV charging connector, developed by the CHAdeMO Association, is a fast-charging standard interface for electric vehicles. It is primarily used by Japanese automakers, including Nissan, Mitsubishi, KIA, and French companies Peugeot and Citröen. The connector was introduced in…
Headers Product Roundup  
Headers Product Roundup  
This week’s Product Roundup highlights headers from leading suppliers. Headers Avnet supplies Molex's MX150 sealed and unsealed connector system. This field-proven platform offers high-quality, reliable connections in harsh environments to support compact automotive and commercial vehicle applications. With an USCAR interface, class 4 temp ranges (-40 °C to…
Light and Motion: New Automotive LED Technologies Take to the Roads
Light and Motion: New Automotive LED Technologies Take to the Roads
Advances in automotive lighting like laser-powered and adaptive headlights technologies, OLED panels, and micro-LEDs are lighting up the automotive world with the help of miniaturized interconnects. While transformative innovations like automation and electrification are drawing the most attention in the automotive industry, new automotive lighting technologies are also…
Shock, Vibration, and Corrosion: Rugged Materials Help Avoid Damaging Effects in High-Performance Automotive Connectors
Shock, Vibration, and Corrosion: Rugged Materials Help Avoid Damaging Effects in High-Performance Automotive Connectors
Connector material selection plays a critical role in ensuring that automotive connectors deliver reliability and performance over the lifespan of a vehicle. The rigors and extremes these systems are exposed to makes it important for designers to consider many factors to specify the right solution. Electronic architectures in…
What are butt contacts and high-current probes?
What are butt contacts and high-current probes?
Meet the Connector: Butt Contacts and High-Current Probes A butt contact is an energizing connector that functions as a high current probe by directly pressing it to an electrical current-carrying surface, according to Globetech, a Tokyo-based supplier of custom connectors for industrial electrical machinery. Traditionally, a screw or…
LED Product Roundup  
LED Product Roundup  
This week’s Product Roundup highlights connectors from leading suppliers that are used in applications involving LEDs. LEDs The new Dialight 657 PMI from RS is designed for a 11/16” mounting hole diameter and is available with a flat or domed lens. It has 6” wire leads and comes…
Secure Connectors Rev Up Automotive Safety
Secure Connectors Rev Up Automotive Safety
As automotive manufacturing advances, high-speed, press-fit, and other connector technologies evolve to meet current industry demands. Today’s cars are essentially high-end computers on wheels. A decade ago, vehicle electronics centered on basics like power windows, anti-lock braking systems (ABS), and satellite radio. Today’s cars contain a full suite…
New SPE Standard Revolutionizes Automotive Manufacturing
New SPE Standard Revolutionizes Automotive Manufacturing
Single-pair Ethernet technology has been integrated into recent models of automobiles, replacing controller area network (CAN) and other bus systems, with an eye towards a future in which controls, communication, and safety functions will run on Ethernet. Meanwhile, these advantages can also serve industrial automation and automotive manufacturing. …
What are USCAR-Approved Interconnects?
What are USCAR-Approved Interconnects?
Meet the Connector: USCAR-Approved Interconnects USCAR connectors are part of a wide range of interconnect products that meet the specifications of the United States Council for Automotive Research (USCAR), a collaborative automotive research company founded in 1992 to “strengthen the technology base of the U.S. auto industry through…
FAKRA Connectors Product Roundup
FAKRA Connectors Product Roundup
This week’s Product Roundup highlights FAKRA connectors from leading suppliers. FAKRA connectors Mouser Electronics supplies TE Connectivity's FAKRA Automotive Connector System, which features an 800VAC voltage rating, 1A current, 50Ω impedance, and a frequency range of DC up to 6GHz. This comprehensive connector system is fully compatible and…
Formula E’s Gen 3 Car Embraces the E-mobility Racing Mission
Formula E’s Gen 3 Car Embraces the E-mobility Racing Mission
Connector companies play a big role in advancing the technology behind electric powertrains and battery management systems. The Formula E race series showcases the progress in the high-performance vehicle market. The ABB FIA Formula E World Championship electric car racing series is a proving ground for electric mobility,…
Solutions for Vehicle Communications and Power Interconnectivity
Solutions for Vehicle Communications and Power Interconnectivity
The increasing demand for mobile tactical power and communications capabilities presents new interconnect and cable assembly design challenges. The increasing demand for mobile tactical power and communications capabilities for military use presents new interconnect and cable assembly design challenges. In addition to demanding the utmost in durability and…
What are ECU Connectors?
What are ECU Connectors?
Meet the Connector: ECU Connectors ECU Connectors, also called PCM connectors, are used to connect different types of controllers, particularly in vehicle applications. An electronic control unit (ECU) or electronic control module (ECM) is an embedded system that controls one or more of the electrical systems or subsystems in a car or other vehicle. One side of…
USCAR-Approved Interconnects Product Roundup
USCAR-Approved Interconnects Product Roundup
This week’s Product Roundup highlights USCAR-approved interconnects from leading suppliers. USCAR-Approved Interconnects The MX72 squib connector from JAE is a controlled miniature explosive device integrated into an air bag or mechanical retraction system for the SRS. When the sensor detects a collision, an electric current flows through the…
Range and Charge Time are Key in Battery Management System Design
Range and Charge Time are Key in Battery Management System Design
Weight, vibration, and temperature are significant challenges in meeting the goals of long range and fast charging in electric vehicles and battery management system design.  Range and charge time are the main concerns of makers and buyers of electric vehicles (EVs) — how to go farther on a…
Rapid Innovation Puts Pressure on EV Battery Connectors
Rapid Innovation Puts Pressure on EV Battery Connectors
“We’re in the midst of a revolution,” say TE Connectivity’s e-Mobility experts, as automakers make exponential gains in battery performance and electric drivetrain efficiency. The EV battery ecosystem is changing quickly. Automotive OEMs and battery cell and battery pack manufacturers are investing in innovative battery chemistries, new form…
EV Battery Connectors Go the Extra Mile
EV Battery Connectors Go the Extra Mile
EV batteries are improving and the new interconnect products that support them are optimized to manage the high voltage flow of power throughout the vehicle with great safety and efficiency.  Range anxiety — the fear that an electric car’s battery will run out of power and leave you…
EVs Herald a Shift in Powertrain Connectivity
EVs Herald a Shift in Powertrain Connectivity
Innovation in electric vehicle technologies — including the integration of new rugged board-to-board connectors — have expanded mileage ranges and decreased charging time. Despite the negative impacts of supply chain issues and the COVID pandemic on the automotive market, EV registrations are rapidly increasing in major global markets.…
Automotive Displays Accomplish More with Less Wiring
Automotive Displays Accomplish More with Less Wiring
Heavy and complex cables present a problem in today’s efficient vehicle designs. As more operational functions move to the screen, automotive display standards help streamline connectivity solutions. Soon, nearly every new vehicle will include at least one screen. Cars built since May 1, 2018, for the North American…
Automotive Ethernet is a Key Enabler for Connected Cars
Automotive Ethernet is a Key Enabler for Connected Cars
Automotive Ethernet interconnect solutions need to be miniaturized, lightweight, modular, optimized for high-speed automotive systems, and compatible with automated assembly processes.  Connectivity is enabling safer, greener, and more enjoyable driving experiences. As connected car technologies within vehicles continues to rise in support of these features, so too does…
What is an EV Charging Connector?
What is an EV Charging Connector?
Meet the Connector: EV Charging Connectors As the name implies, EV charging connectors are used to charge electric vehicles. Several types of EV charging connectors currently exist, each with specific characteristics. EV charging connectors (or charging plugs) are available for AC or DC. AC Charging Plugs are either…
Wire-to-Board Automotive Connectors Product Roundup
Wire-to-Board Automotive Connectors Product Roundup
This week’s Product Roundup highlights wire-to-board automotive connectors from leading suppliers. Wire-to-Board Automotive Connectors Greenconn’s wire-to-board connectors are offered in two assembly methods: fixed type and plug-in type. Both types adopt IDC piercing technology, which makes production more economical and allows for a more stable connection. Once the…
New Market Research Report Explores the World Automotive Connector Market
New Market Research Report Explores the World Automotive Connector Market
The automotive industry is the second-largest market for connectors, with increasing production of both conventional and electric vehicles. Bishop & Associates’ new research report explores the products, technologies, supply chain challenges, and other factors impacting the automotive market.   The World Automotive Connector Market The automotive market is…
European Cities Make Space for Electric Vehicle Charging
European Cities Make Space for Electric Vehicle Charging
European cities are meeting the call to expand the electric vehicle charging network with some creative ideas — and versatile charging connectors — where space is tight. The widespread adoption of electric vehicles has hit several bumps in the road. However, things are changing rapidly; sales in Europe…
Insulation Displacement Technology Meets SKEDD to Deliver Superior Benefits for Many Industries
Insulation Displacement Technology Meets SKEDD to Deliver Superior Benefits for Many Industries
From RAST to SKEDD: Insulation displacement technology (IDT) offers solutions for crowded PCBs, including direct mating, flexible placement, compatibility with numerous cable types, and other benefits.  The international terminal block standard for consumer appliances, RAST (Raster Anschluss Steck Technik or Raster Connection Plug Technology) connectors have been in…
What Are FAKRA Connectors And How Do They Work?
What Are FAKRA Connectors And How Do They Work?
Meet the Connector: FAKRA Connectors A mainstay of automotive connectivity for the past two decades, FAKRA connectors are a variation of subminiature version B (SMB) coaxial RF connectors developed by Rosenberger and standardized by the German Committee of Automobile Manufacturers. FAKRA is an acronym for Fachkreis Automobile or…
Connectors for Electric Vehicles Product Roundup
Connectors for Electric Vehicles Product Roundup
This week’s Product Roundup highlights connectors for electric vehicles from leading suppliers. Connectors for Electric Vehicles Allied Electronics & Automation supplies the SurLok Plus compression lug from Amphenol. SurLok Plus for EVs and HEVs is a field installable, highly reliable alternative to common compression lugs. Using industry-standard crimp,…
Formula-E Racing Takes Another Spin Despite Delay of New Car
Formula-E Racing Takes Another Spin Despite Delay of New Car
The pandemic delayed the release of the Gen3 racing car, but a souped up Gen2 car is ready for the races. In 2022, electric car technologies will make a dramatic impact as automakers introduce the largest ever field of new EVs. But leading the way are the high…
Electric Vehicles Move into the Mainstream with New EV Battery Technologies
Electric Vehicles Move into the Mainstream with New EV Battery Technologies
Improving EV battery technologies, expanding ranges, and growing charging networks are bringing electric automotive technologies into reach for more consumers, requiring development of new electronic connectors. Battery electric vehicles (BEVs) are moving into the mainstream. This shift is led by government mandates like China’s goal to hit 26…
How Integrated Ethernet Technology Can Increase Functionality in Automotive Applications
How Integrated Ethernet Technology Can Increase Functionality in Automotive Applications
Ethernet is an ideal technology for automotive applications because of its extensive bandwidth, ability to handle high-speed data, security advantages, high reliability, and efficiency. By Chief Enterprises The connected car is a concept that has propelled the automotive industry into the future. The technologies that enable today’s automobiles…
Connected Car Technologies Require Reimagined Transportation Networks
Connected Car Technologies Require Reimagined Transportation Networks
The rise of connected car technologies will have enormous implications for the way people and goods travel. This mass exchange of data will create business efficiencies, safer travels, and faster deliveries. But persistent challenges remain before these technologies can be fully implemented. Not so long ago, the only…
Automotive Testing Puts Connectors Through a Lifetime of Intense Demands
Automotive Testing Puts Connectors Through a Lifetime of Intense Demands
Interconnects used in automotive testing processes endure the rugged conditions of life on the road, before a car is even assembled. Modular rack and panel connectors offer durability, flexibility, and dependability under test conditions. Auto buyers expect new cars to provide a smoother, quieter, and easier driving experience…
High-Voltage Automotive Connectors Product Roundup
High-Voltage Automotive Connectors Product Roundup
This week’s Product Roundup highlights high-voltage automotive connectors (800V+) from leading suppliers. High-Voltage Automotive Connectors  The LSH rack and panel connectors from Smiths Interconnect include leading-edge Hypertac hyperboloid contact technology that ensures LSH connectors are immune to shock, vibration and fretting. In addition, the polyphenylene sulfide (PPS) insulators…
The Instrumentation Connector Market
The Instrumentation Connector Market
It’s all about higher speeds and higher bandwidths. As many economies begin to emerge from the pandemic, instrumentation companies are bracing for a surge in test equipment. Semiconductor companies will require testing of the latest 5G chips, and Analytical & Scientific labs are gearing up for the vast…
Modular Connector Solutions Enable Designers to Create Affordable Custom Connectors
Modular Connector Solutions Enable Designers to Create Affordable Custom Connectors
Connector suppliers are delivering flexible and modular solutions that enable customers to meet their connector needs without the expense of a truly custom connector product. The connector market is made up of astounding complexity. From rugged power connectors used on ships at sea to the high-speed connectors used…
Top 12 Technology Trends: The Evolution of Proprietary to Open Source Connectors
Top 12 Technology Trends: The Evolution of Proprietary to Open Source Connectors
Sometimes a custom connector design will remain a limited-use product. Other times, it may become a popular proprietary connector. In some instances, the evolution continues and the connector experiences widespread use as a commercial or open-source product. This is the eighth installment in the Technology Trends series by…
30 Years of Automotive CAN
30 Years of Automotive CAN
In 1991, the new Mercedes S-Class debuted as an engineer’s luxury sedan with dozens of innovations, including the first automotive CANbus on a production car. What started in luxury is today indispensable. Cars with internal combustion engines are essentially mechanical devices that, in theory, need little to no…
Three Key Connectivity Trends Improving Performance and Reducing Costs in e-Mobility Applications
Three Key Connectivity Trends Improving Performance and Reducing Costs in e-Mobility Applications
Innovations in connectivity component materials, wiring designs, and modularization are three key drivers that are helping to improve the productivity, efficiency, and costs of e-mobility systems.  By Shawn D’Gama, Field Applications Engineer, ERNI Electronics Americas, and Christine Knable, President, C Things Differently e-mobility Although we tend to think…
Cable-Terminated Automotive Connectors Product Roundup
Cable-Terminated Automotive Connectors Product Roundup
This week’s Product Roundup highlights cable-terminated automotive connectors from leading suppliers. Cable-Terminated Automotive Connectors Lumberg designs and develops several series of RAST connectors that are widely employed in OEM and Tier 1 automotive applications. These field-proven RAST series encompass an extensive range of cable-terminated automotive connectors, including the…
2021 High-Reliability, Harsh-Environment Connectivity eBook
2021 High-Reliability, Harsh-Environment Connectivity eBook
Our first 2021 eBook features 13 technical articles and 40+ product features that address connectivity trends and specification tips for high-reliability connectors, cables, and sensors deployed in harsh-environment applications spanning land, sea, air, and space. Learn from experts at more than 20 leading connectivity companies. Our new 2021…
ECIA Charts a Resilient Electronics Industry
ECIA Charts a Resilient Electronics Industry
We talk to ECIA’s chief analyst Dale Ford about how the electronics industry weathered a challenging year with success and how the lessons learned will impact the way it operates in the years ahead. Dale Ford, chief analyst at the Electronic Components Industry Association (ECIA), described 2020 as…
EV Charging Connectors are Key to Power and Security
EV Charging Connectors are Key to Power and Security
As e-mobility continues to gain acceptance in both consumer and commercial markets, EV charging infrastructure equipped with safe and secure charging connectors provides a critical link between the power grid, vehicles, and payment systems. The number of electric vehicles (EVs) on the roads is expected to rise dramatically…
EV Charging Connectors are the Foundation of Advancing Vehicle and Charging Technologies
EV Charging Connectors are the Foundation of Advancing Vehicle and Charging Technologies
A growing number of automakers are set to turbocharge electric vehicle adoption in the years ahead. Charging connector designs support this evolution. By Levon Altunyan, Product and Marketing Manager, and Stuart Denny, Sales Manager, JAE Europe  Although electric vehicle (EV) technology has made great strides in recent years,…
Five Technology Trends Driving New Connector Designs
Five Technology Trends Driving New Connector Designs
The connector world is constantly evolving to support dynamic market trends. Emerging high-speed connectivity products are currently responding to a number of technology trends and, once released to market, will serve, inspire, and enable a multitude of next-gen, high-speed applications for many years to come. As businesses and…
Finding the Right Route for 5G RF Connectors
Finding the Right Route for 5G RF Connectors
The arrival of 5G RF networks will bring safe, reliable autonomous vehicles closer to reality. To make this possible, the integrity of RF transmissions must be protected. 5G RF networks promise to transform the driving experience. The ability to handle high-speed data from multiple sensors within both our…
Four Key Features to Consider When Choosing Automotive Connector Systems
Four Key Features to Consider When Choosing Automotive Connector Systems
Legacy connectors have served automotive connector systems through many design evolutions. Now, however, as new technologies make it possible to design safer, smarter, and greener cars, a new generation of connectors is needed to serve these systems. Vehicle designers and manufacturers rely on many connector systems that have…
Top 10 Automotive Connector Manufacturers
Top 10 Automotive Connector Manufacturers
The automotive market is the largest market for connectivity products. As connected, autonomous, and electric automotive technologies continue to advance, demand for connectors and other key connectivity products continue to accelerate.  The world’s top 10 automotive connector manufacturers ranked by 2019 sales collectively recorded total worldwide sales of…
The Automotive Industry is on the Brink of Total Transformation
The Automotive Industry is on the Brink of Total Transformation
In 10 years, the automotive experience will be vastly different than it is today. Automotive capabilities, fueling strategies, usage and ownership patterns, and the overall driving experience are rapidly changing, in large part to innovations that begin at the connector level. The automotive industry is undergoing an incredibly…
Automotive Connectors Meet New Challenges as Vehicle Technologies Improve
Automotive Connectors Meet New Challenges as Vehicle Technologies Improve
Connectors used in automotive applications enable everything from stereo systems to drivetrains. As these systems become more connected, more automated, and more energy-efficient, they require connectors that can deliver high-speed connectivity in rugged, lightweight, and easy-to-install designs. Harsh-environment connectivity has extended to various mobility applications including passenger and…
Growing Demand for Data is Fueling the Automotive Ethernet
Growing Demand for Data is Fueling the Automotive Ethernet
The connected vehicle brings freedoms for drivers and passengers but takes a toll on in-vehicle network design and performance. A new Ethernet standard enables lighter, more powerful systems. The old cliché about a car being only a means of getting from A to B doesn’t apply in the…
MIPI A-PHY Automotive Interface Helps Integrate Advanced Connectivity
MIPI A-PHY Automotive Interface Helps Integrate Advanced Connectivity
As automotive applications expand to include complex sensor, camera, and infotainment capabilities, a more powerful, design-friendly connectivity specification will help manage the required power and data. As the connected car continues to evolve, essential operational systems are being augmented with new capabilities, such as autonomous functions, driver-assist technologies,…
Connector Contact Materials for Elevated-Temperature Applications
Connector Contact Materials for Elevated-Temperature Applications
Applications that reach high temperatures require rugged connectors that can withstand these harsh operating environments. A variety of spring and contact materials should be considered.  The consumer electronics market segment dominates product manufacture. Consequently, vast sums of design, packaging, and reliability criteria are focused on meeting consumer market…
Connectivity is the Future of Automotive Design
Connectivity is the Future of Automotive Design
In 2020, the world is adjusting to new automotive use patterns and considering competing fueling strategies. Only one thing is certain: Cars are becoming more connected. The future of automotive design centers on the continued development of electric vehicles and the integration of connected technologies within non-electric vehicles.…
Five Aspects of Modern Automotive Design That Depend on Connectors
Five Aspects of Modern Automotive Design That Depend on Connectors
Evolving connector design has helped transform the driving experience. Better lighting, greater comfort, and advanced safety are just the beginning. Today’s automobiles are more connected than ever before. Automotive electronics deliver the advanced communication needed for performance and comfort throughout the vehicle and enable a variety of safety features…
Standards Help Ensure Peak Performance for Wire Harness Assemblies
Standards Help Ensure Peak Performance for Wire Harness Assemblies
IPC/WHMA-A-620 updates manufacturing requirements for cable and wire harness assemblies to ensure performance as cross-market demand for these specialty components increases. [caption id="attachment_29262" align="alignleft" width="300"] Cable-laced wire harness assemblies in a private automatic branch exchange (PABX) system. (Image courtesy of Sir Boris per CC BY-SA 3.0)[/caption] Cable assemblies and…
Vehicle Technologies in Transition
Vehicle Technologies in Transition
JAE and Yazaki are two companies on the forefront of automotive innovation. We talk to experts from both about the challenges of autonomous and electric vehicles. By Gale Morrison and Connector Supplier vehicle Technology is dramatically changing every aspect of modern car design and function. Electric drive trains are…
A Systems-Based Approach to Driverless Cars
A Systems-Based Approach to Driverless Cars
Internal and external systems that include an expanded range of connected technologies will bring autonomy to the automotive world and make driverless cars a reality. By Guido Dornbusch, Senior Director, Network Connected Devices Segment, Molex CMS; Alex Bormuth, Director Business Development, Molex CMS; and Dr. Ayman Duzdar, Senior…
Five Key Trends Linked to High-Voltage Electric Powertrains
Five Key Trends Linked to High-Voltage Electric Powertrains
As high-voltage electrification and automation drive the greatest period of automotive innovation in a century, the electronics that serve the industry must balance material properties and design to achieve safer and higher-performing end products. By Maurizio Mercurio, Senior R&D Product Development Engineer, Transportation Solutions, TE Connectivity electric powertrains…
Formula E Racing Takes Another Spin
Formula E Racing Takes Another Spin
The world’s premier electric car racing series has become an important R&D experience for electronics companies. The 2019–20 ABB FIA Formula E Championship racing season is underway. The globe-spanning electric car racing series kicked off its sixth season with a double header in Diriyah, Saudi Arabia, in November.…
Electric Vehicles Reach a Fork in the Road
Electric Vehicles Reach a Fork in the Road
Sales of electric vehicles are growing, but still account for only 2.1% of new car sales worldwide. What does the industry need to address to reach a tipping point for mass adoption? Electric vehicles (EVs) are a popular theoretical choice but few countries are seeing the driving public’s…
How the Rise of Edge Computing will Reshape the Data Center Landscape
How the Rise of Edge Computing will Reshape the Data Center Landscape
As the connected world of the 21st century comes into existence, the next decade will give rise to new technologies like connected vehicles that will continue to transform and automate our everyday lives. To fully realize the potential of these technologies, we still need to overcome some key…
The NAV Alliance Wants to Bring Autonomy Closer to Reality
The NAV Alliance Wants to Bring Autonomy Closer to Reality
Fleets of autonomous cars and trucks aren’t taking over the roads quite yet, but several technology companies are combining forces to solve the remaining challenges to making autonomy a reality. [caption id="attachment_26790" align="aligncenter" width="600"] An autonomous Uber prototype in San Francisco. (Image courtesy of Dllu per CC BY-SA…
Automotive Wiring Undergoes an Architectural Revolution
Automotive Wiring Undergoes an Architectural Revolution
The electronic content in cars has exponentially expanded, leading to more than 150 pounds of wiring in a single vehicle, all assembled by hand — for now. As vehicles increase in complexity, a new wiring paradigm is needed. Automotive wiring is experiencing a revolution. From the explosive growth…
Safety, Comfort, and Drivetrain Innovations Boost Automotive Connector Market Growth
Safety, Comfort, and Drivetrain Innovations Boost Automotive Connector Market Growth
The automotive connector market continues to expand and diversify as the electronic content in cars increases. A new report by Bishop & Associates takes a closer look. By Bishop & Associates, Inc. automotive connector market The worldwide automotive connector market grew at an average CAGR of 5.5% over…
FAKRA Connector Products
FAKRA Connector Products
This week’s Product Roundup highlights FAKRA connector products from leading suppliers. FAKRA Connector Products Rosenberger’s FAKRA RF connectors are used as standard interfaces for high-frequency automotive applications including radio antenna, telematics, navigation, mobile communications, Bluetooth, auxiliary heating, and keyless entry systems, and are also widely employed in non-automotive…
Hydrogen Fuel Cells Offer Alternative to Batteries
Hydrogen Fuel Cells Offer Alternative to Batteries
Connector makers are helping automobile makers in their push to make hydrogen fuel cells a clean-energy option for cars. Falling lithium-ion battery prices, continuous hydrogen fuel cell technology advancements, changing consumer preferences, government support for alternative fuel research in China and Europe, and the impact of Elon Musk’s…
Connectors for Automotive LED Applications are Lighting the Way
Connectors for Automotive LED Applications are Lighting the Way
Connector solutions for automotive LED applications must combine ruggedness, reliability, long-term operation, increased functionality, apex performance, and ease of assembly — and all within a miniature and lightweight package. Automotive lighting uses one of three technologies for the headlamps: LEDs, high-intensity discharge (HID) Xenon, or halogen. LED technology…
Standards for Automotive Connectors Differ in Europe and the US
Standards for Automotive Connectors Differ in Europe and the US
In a global economy, we see many of the same cars on the roads in Europe and the US. But the electronics packages inside them may differ due to differences in standards for automotive connectors and components. The global automobile market is not constrained by borders, national pride,…
The Connected Car is Closer Than it Appears
The Connected Car is Closer Than it Appears
The technologies that make the connected car possible are on an accelerated evolutionary path. Some technologies are already on the roads and others are heading out in the near future, fueled by component innovations and high-speed access. When General Motors first introduced OnStar on its vehicles in 1996,…
New Electronics Fuel Formula E Racing
New Electronics Fuel Formula E Racing
As the racing series continues, we take a closer look inside the new Gen2 Formula E race car to learn about the new electronics packages that make this machine faster, safer, and more powerful than previous versions. The electronics industry takes a special interest in Formula E racing,…
New Connectors Deliver Lightning Fast Charging Solutions
New Connectors Deliver Lightning Fast Charging Solutions
Electric vehicle charging stations that can provide a full charge in less than five minutes are about to eliminate one of the key roadblocks to EV acceptance. Connectors that can handle the current and dissipate the heat are a key component of the technology. The electric vehicle (EV)…
Top Technology Trends and Disruptions for 2019
Top Technology Trends and Disruptions for 2019
A new wave of technologies including e-mobility, Industry 4.0, edge computing, artificial intelligence, and augmented reality will bring about big changes to society. The technology trends we are watching with great anticipation in 2019 isn’t a cool new device or a smaller, faster, better version of something we’ve…
5G Brings Future Transportation Scenarios Closer to Reality
5G Brings Future Transportation Scenarios Closer to Reality
High-speed 5G communications are key to widespread adoption of autonomous ridesharing. High-speed connectors, fiber cabling, and the Internet of Things will all play a role. By Neil Shurtz Today, there’s widespread investment in the idea that someday private car ownership will be a thing of the past. Instead,…
The Top Three Trends in the Electronic Components Segment of the Transportation Market
The Top Three Trends in the Electronic Components Segment of the Transportation Market
New automotive technologies are changing the ways that cars are wired. Here’s a look at some of the systems that are rising in importance as automation, electrification, and connectivity take the wheel. By Gabe Osorio, Regional Sales Engineer, Transportation Business Unit, TTI Inc. Rugged, Modular Connector Systems A…
Automated Vehicles Drive Change in Warehouse Work
Automated Vehicles Drive Change in Warehouse Work
Efforts to improve automotive safety are trickling down to the smallest vehicles, including those that never hit the roads. Automated Vehicles The quest to develop safer cars is also influencing the design of smaller vehicles, benefitting manufacturing companies, warehouses, and the people who work in them. A new…
High-Reliability Automotive Connector and Cabling Products
High-Reliability Automotive Connector and Cabling Products
This week’s Product Roundup highlights leading high-reliability connector and cabling solutions for critical automotive applications, including advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS). AVX’s 53-8702 Series IDC/Press-Fit WTB connectors combine the two most reliable contact technologies in the automotive industry in a single package that delivers robust, double-ended, cold-welded, and…
New Product News: November 2018
New Product News: November 2018
Summary coverage of the latest, new-to-market connector and cable products, including interconnects, cable assemblies, development kits, tools, and materials. Interconnects, etc. Molex launched the new stAK50h Connection System — the industry’s first through-hole, single- or multi-bay, USCAR-2 compliant hybrid connector system in standard automotive footprints based on 0.5mm,…
Hermetically Sealed Connector Products
Hermetically Sealed Connector Products
This week’s product roundup highlights hermetically sealed connector solutions from leading suppliers. Newark element14 stocks MIL-DTL-38999 Series III Hermetic Connectors from SOURIAU. These stainless steel, high-density connectors have a compact footprint with a low profile that delivers up to 30% space savings, threaded couplings for quick, reliable mating,…
LED Car Exterior & Interior Lights - Adoption Accelerates in Automotive Industry
LED Car Exterior & Interior Lights - Adoption Accelerates in Automotive Industry
Automakers are moving away from incandescent bulbs at increased speeds, eliminating a longstanding connector market. Opportunities for interconnect suppliers to shift gears and merge into more advanced automotive LED lighting applications abound. [caption id="attachment_22489" align="alignright" width="300"] LEDs give lighting designers new opportunities to create distinctive lights.[/caption] Much of…
Dependable Quality for Automotive Wire Harnesses
Dependable Quality for Automotive Wire Harnesses
To make the connected car and autonomous driving possible, quality wire harnesses are essential. Since quality assurance is a complex and largely manual manufacturing process, the use of a specialized manufacturing execution system (MES) is paramount. By Bernd Jost, Managing Director, DiIT AG, and Pete Doyon, VP Product…
More Power to the HEV/EV Connector for Electric and Hybrid Vehicles
More Power to the HEV/EV Connector for Electric and Hybrid Vehicles
Innovative, high-density connectors deliver higher current-carrying capacity and help usher in new levels of performance for electric and hybrid vehicles. By Kirk Nelson, Director of Sales – Automotive, Hirose Electric The continued development of hybrid vehicles (HEV) and electric vehicles (EV) is central to most car manufacturers’ future…
Vibration-Resistant Connector Products
Vibration-Resistant Connector Products
This week’s product roundup highlights vibration-resistant connector solutions from leading suppliers. Vibration-Resistant Connector Products AirBorn’s RZ® Series Connectors provide users with a reliable, single-piece, surface-mount contact system that is ideal for use in high-density, high-vibration board-to-board and flex-circuit-stacking applications. Designed to meet strict performance and reliability requirements, the…
Automotive Complexity Sparks Shift in Design Tools
Automotive Complexity Sparks Shift in Design Tools
The growing complexity of automotive electronics and wiring is prompting automakers to augment geometric models with functional tools. By Terry Costlow Modeling and Simulation Tools Automakers are relying more on electronic technologies to differentiate products and add safety systems that pave the way to autonomous driving. The resulting…
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