Meet the Connector: SMP Connectors Subminiature push-on (SMP) connectors are highly shielded, very small interconnects commonly used in miniaturized high frequency coaxial modules and high data rate applications such as antennas, broadband installations, Test & Measurement, and quantum computing. The product was developed by Gilbert (now Corning Gilbert) in the late 1980s and marketed asRead More

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 market feature a mandatory backup camera systemRead More

Meet the Connector: Interposers Interposers, or interposer connectors, are compression-mounted interconnect devices that are positioned between boards or sockets to allow an electrical signal to pass through very quickly. They have a wider pitch than a traditional connector, thus enabling the easy rerouting of connections, and provide designers with a flexible, removeable interface. The wideRead More

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

The COBO MWIS Working Group aims to advance the increase of bandwidth and reduce power consumption for printed circuit board interconnect systems.     As streaming video, IoT technologies, industrialized automation, and the rapid addition of billions of new connected devices push data center workloads to exponentially higher levels, the need to move activity fromRead More

Meet the Connector: Hermetic Connectors Hermetic connectors are completely sealed against ingress of air or liquid using a glass, ceramic, or composite sealing device or material. Hermetic sealing offers the highest level of protection available against air, gases, chemicals, moisture, debris, and other contaminants. It is an essential feature for many harsh environment connectors, particularlyRead More

Updated: January 2023 The Sensor Open Systems Architecture (SOSA) Consortium has created an agile, modular, open reference standard for designers of sensor-rich military and commercial applications as they integrate these powerful connectivity components into new embedded designs. Compliance testing is now underway on connectivity products that support embedded computing systems in military and aerospace applicationsRead More

An emphasis on mil/aero, RF and microwave, and materials and processing capabilities drove significant moves in 2021, as connector companies brought new expertise into their organizations through strategic acquisitions.  In 2021, the connector industry continued to experience shifts in ownership and expertise as companies moved to bring new capabilities in-house with acquisitions. Although the daysRead More

A MIL-DTL-24308 connector, commonly known as a D-Sub (D-subminiature), is a rectangular, polarized-shell electrical connector standardized primarily under MIL-DTL-24308 for military and aerospace use and IEC 60807-3/DIN 41652 for commercial and industrial use. It features a trapezoidal metal shell and two or more parallel rows of pin-and-socket contacts. It carries signal, low-level power, or dataRead More

Meet the Connector: FAKRA Connectors FAKRA connectors have been a mainstay of automotive connectivity for the past two decades. An average connected car contains at least 15 FAKRA connectors, and these versatile connectors are designed into telematics, GPS navigation, entertainment systems, Bluetooth, cellular, keyless entry, climate controls, radio antennas, safety systems, communications applications, and sensorRead More

The RoHS and REACH directives, along with rising material costs, have led to innovative new processes and materials for contact plating. In the world of electronics design, great challenges lead to great innovation. Take the Restriction of Hazardous Substances (RoHS) and Reach directives, for example. These European environmental directives disrupted decades of common processes andRead More

For special installations like the Winter Olympics, as well as applications such as vehicles and devices that routinely operate in cold climates, electronics must be ruggedized against low temperatures. The 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics showcased human endurance in the most extreme cold conditions as athletes performed on ice, in snow, and in frigid air. TheRead More