Connector Basics

The Future of Military Interconnects: Migrate Away From the “Golden Hammer”

Old solutions and ways of thinking get in the way of truly innovative solutions. As designers of military interconnects look for ways to shrink down products while adding functionality, many are turning to the semiconductor test industry for the new approaches needed to create optimal solutions. “The Psychology of Science” by Abraham Maslow introduces theRead More

Power Connectors for Medical Equipment Prioritize Safety

The first point of connection is the first opportunity to establish rigorous safety standards for medical technologies used in home healthcare and clinical settings. The base electrical standard for medical equipment, IEC/UL 60601-1, guides the design of safe and effective power supplies. As medical equipment becomes more powerful, more portable, and more accessible to usersRead More

Top 12 Technology Trends: The Evolution of High-Speed Data Transfer

The connector industry continues to refine backplane and I/O connectors to provide a migration path to the next generation of high-speed architectures. This is the fourth in a series of articles that review leading technology trends that have had a significant impact on the electronic connector industry. high-speed 112Gb/s 3.125Gb/s NRZ to 112Gb/s PAM4 ItRead More

Small Military UAVs Demand Smaller, Lighter Connectors

A new generation of more powerful unmanned aerial vehicles carry a payload that includes sensors, cameras, processors, and other electronics. Small, lightweight connectors help make their missions possible. Small unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) for military use are getting even smaller and more powerful as trends toward miniaturization in modern military equipment extends to the skies.Read More

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 21st century. Today’s cars do so muchRead More

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 buying patterns at the lowest possible cost.Read More

High-Tech e-Bikes Become the Perfect Alternative to Public Transportation

Innovations from the electric vehicle world, like refined battery systems, sensor-rich technologies, and data gathering capabilities, have helped electric bicycle sales boom in 2020. Electric bicycle manufacturers expected 2020 to be a subdued year, as tariffs pushed up prices on their products. Instead, it has turned out to be a record-setting time for sales. PeopleRead More

Four Key Technology Trends Affecting Medical Device and Connector Manufacturers

Medical device manufacturers depend on innovative connectivity products to keep ahead of changes to the regulatory environment, as well as ongoing demand for low-cost, disposable solutions, reusable medical devices, and high-resolution imaging products.  While the quality and reliability of electronic equipment is vital for every industry, it is most critical in the medical industry, whereRead More

Four Key Areas Where Wearable Technologies are Pushing Innovation

Miniature interconnects combined with sensors and antennas give designers powerful new means of integrating Internet of Things into flexible new forms.  Tiny wearable technologies are becoming huge. The incredible miniaturization of electronic components, combined with the powerful Internet of Things (IoT) capabilities brought to these systems by miniature sensors and antennas, has resulted in a new wave of wearable technologies. Flexible, stretchable circuits and interconnects bring additional possibility toRead More

New Network Architectures: Cloud and Fog Computing on the Edge

As the global volume of internet data increases, relying on the cloud for computing resources poses challenges. Edge and fog computing architectures offer alternatives.  The concept of sharing information technology (IT) resources via a network of linked devices has experienced incredible growth since the early 2000s. Instead of investing in local computing and storage equipment,Read More

Five Factors to Consider When Selecting Rugged Fiber Optic Connectivity Solutions

Rugged fiber optic connectors are available in a range of sizes, form factors, densities, termini, cabling options, and more. Evaluate your project goals and operating environment to narrow down the field. 1. Understand Your Target and the Technology Tradeoffs Needed to Hit It  As with any project involving electronics, the kinds of components selected dependRead More

Waterproof Connectors Can Survive a Splash or the Sea

Demand for waterproof connectors is large and growing, driven by undersea exploration and data transmission, as well as by the demand for connectivity in harsh environments. Waterproof connectors are seeing exponential demand in applications that range from consumer devices to oil and gas exploration to outdoor and marine technologies that have high exposure to varyingRead More

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