Meet the Connector: XLR Connector XLR connectors are a type of electrical connector commonly used in professional audio and video (AV) applications, with limited application in medical video technologies and industrial AV equipment. The name “XLR” stands for “eXternal Line Return.” The XLR is sometimes referred to simply as an audio connector. This circular connectorRead More

Component backlogs are easing, the end of the chip shortage is in sight, and the electronics supply chain is starting to recover from its long COVID disruption. Distributors say flexibility is the secret to OEM success during this recovery phase. Anyone in the market for a vehicle will not be surprised to learn that theRead More

Wearable and portable technologies are giving soldiers superhuman strength, night vision, and powerful battlefield intelligence. In conflicts around the world, soldier wearables and portable military technologies help military personnel enhance their physical capabilities, stay in contact with command centers and fellow soldiers, maintain situational awareness, reduce risks on the battlefield, and monitor their health. TheseRead More

Copper and fiber cabling runs through the grittiest environments and powers the most rugged electronic applications with the help of protective armor. Behold the armored cable! When rugged conditions are at hand, armoring is ready to protect the wires or fibers inside of a cable —and ultimately protect the entire system. This heroic feature isRead More

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 making a difference in vehicle design andRead More

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 in an array of color combinations. TheRead More

New-to-market connectivity products, including interconnects, wire, cable, and cable assemblies, sensors, antennas, materials, accessories, tools, and development kits. May 2023 New Connectivity Products May 2023 New Connectivity Products > Interconnects, etc. Hirose Electric has launched the IT14 Series, a stackable ball grid array (BGA) mezzanine connector designed for high-speed and high-density server applications. The hermaphroditic IT14 Series features a self-mating design to eliminate the needRead More

Development platforms like Arduino and Raspberry Pi enabled an explosion of creativity among electronic designers at every level. Development kits make it easier to design, build, perfect, test, and manufacture electronic products. In little more than a decade since its release, the tiny British single-circuit computer board known as the Raspberry Pi and the Italian controller boardRead More

Meet the Connector: Circular Connector Coupling Types Circular connectors are first defined by their cylindrical shape. Both sides of the mating pair meet in a circular format, with pins on one side and sockets on the other. However, within this category a variety of coupling types exists to make the connection secure. Coupling type refersRead More

Connector Supplier marks the passing of one of the electronics industry’s great innovators. Gordon Moore’s theory drove exponential advancements in semiconductor and circuit design, and the miniaturization of connectors and other electronic components. Three years before Gordon Moore co-founded Intel Corporation in 1968, he plotted out a prediction for the evolution of computer chips onRead More

Meet the Connector: Modular connectors This article refers to configurable modular rectangular interconnect products that allow a customer to incorporate multiple media in one housing or shell. Modular connectors are “build-your-own” interconnect products featuring structural elements that can be selected and configured to meet a specific application’s physical or performance requirements. Examples of modular products includeRead More

Data breaches are a billion-dollar problem, wreaking havoc with financial systems, medical records, businesses, and individuals. As supply chains and infrastructure also become increasingly connected, protecting cybersecurity is critical. Strategic hardware selection can help protect networks. Cybersecurity is often portrayed as a white hat hacker at a monitor, scanning code in search of vulnerabilities inRead More