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 Bob Hult, a collection of articles thatRead More

Applications that routinely experience harsh-environment conditions require connector solutions with the appropriate materials, shells, contacts, ingress protection rating, standards compliance, and assembly features. By Steve Smashey, President, SOS Engineering, Inc.; Mike Conte, General Manager, SOS Engineering, Inc.; and Randy Cameron, Director, Technical Services, Inova Geophysical Designing connector solutions for the harshest environment conditions is noRead More

Ultrasound equipment requires components that can deliver reliable connectivity under extremely demanding conditions, including rough use environments, harsh sterilization techniques, and repeated mating cycles. Medical connectors and cables are essential components in digital medical technologies such as ultrasound equipment. Ultrasound probe cable assemblies typically use fine-gauge micro-coaxial cable ranging from 42–36AWG to reduce equipment weightRead More

Connectors that have demonstrated reliable performance in the tough medical market help designers achieve first-pass regulatory approvals. These selections can be invaluable when it comes to successfully balancing stringent regulatory compliance with fluctuating market trends. Design engineers, sales reps, and connector manufacturers all understand the complexity of medical designs and the need for long-term, high-reliabilityRead More

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 of electric-powered mobility, or e-mobility, as aRead More

Reliable, screw-machined parts help ensure the optimal operation of connectors employed in mission-critical applications. It’s important to select a supplier that understands the unique requirements of this market. High-precision screw-machined parts are critical components of advanced interconnect products. Screw-machined parts include PCB tail pins and sockets, crimp barrel pins and sockets, closed-entry solder cup pinsRead More

Can you identify the basic parts that make up a connector? In this excerpt from the new book, “Electrical Connectors: Design, Manufacture, Test, and Selection,” two professors share fundamental knowledge about the principals of interconnect technology. By Michael Pecht and San Kyeong Separable connectors are a vast and diverse components group. Each connector type andRead More

When it comes to sealing, not all connectors are created equal. Sealed connectors destined for use in transportation equipment must be rugged and protected in order to provide reliable performance. A variety of sealing strategies ensure smoother travels. The world of transportation represents a combination of some of the harshest conditions anywhere on planet Earth.Read More

Terminal blocks are a simple, inexpensive, and useful type of connector. They are a good choice for simple circuits and have a long history of use in transportation and industrial equipment. Terminal blocks or terminal connectors are a simple, useful, cost-effective, and often crucial component in transportation applications. You need to know a few thingsRead More

Do you know your connector basics? In this excerpt from the new book, “Electrical Connectors: Design, Manufacture, Test, and Selection,” two professors share fundamental knowledge about the principles of interconnect technology. By Michael Pecht and San Kyeong electrical connectors An electronic system is a hierarchical interconnection network that enables communication among different electronic devices. SeveralRead More

Inventive humans have always sought better, faster methods of communications. Today’s high-speed communications are enabled by high-speed cabling and connectors that are rapidly evolving to give us connectivity on a level we couldn’t imagine only a few years ago — and that will inevitably be left in the dust by future iterations. For centuries, innovatorsRead More

Small portable and wearable medical technologies give patients and healthcare providers a safer, more flexible tool for collecting vital biometric data and delivering care. These devices handle the harsh operating conditions of the home and clinic with the help of pogo-pin connectors. As the medical world turns to technology to deliver healthcare in new ways,Read More