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 cooperative research and development.” Comprised of aRead More

Meet the Connector: Spring Probes (Contact Probes) Spring probes, also called contact probes or spring-loaded probes, are an essential component in the testing of electronic components. In Test & Measurement applications, they are used to make contact with test points, connecting the DUT (device under test) with the test equipment. Spring probes are also usedRead More

Sleek designs, subtle colors, and hidden locations help connectors blend in when applications need to look good or not be seen at all. A visible connector is easier to mate than a hidden connector. Color coding, accessible positioning, and LEDs help operators make the correct selection in environments where multiple cables and ports are present.Read More

Connector companies expanded their services, capabilities, products, and supply chains with 2022’s round of acquisitions. Movement continues in the interconnect industry as connector companies expanded their services, capabilities, products, and supply chains with 2022’s round of acquisitions. Interconnects related to military and aerospace, fiber optics, Test & Measurement, as well as materials access and manufacturingRead More

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 the connector interfaces with the ECU (orRead More

Europe’s preeminent electronic components trade show made a great return after a long pandemic hiatus with exhibits aimed at e-mobility, energy, and future high-speed applications. After four long years, electronica 2022 reconvened to show off a host of new components aimed at an interconnected and sustainable future. Energy solutions, e-mobility, and automation took the focusRead More

Meet the Connector: SCSI Connectors The Small Computer Systems Interface, or SCSI connector, (pronounced “scuzzy”) is a veteran of the small computing world. In the 1980s, this fast I/O connector served as a bus to link computers with components or peripherals such as disk drives. SCSI connectors typically feature two rows of pins in aRead More

Meet the Connector: MIL-C-5015/SAE-AS50151 Connectors With nearly a century of service in harsh environment equipment, this connector family has proven performance in military and other rugged electronics. MIL-C-5015 connectors, now formally known as SAE-AS50151, are heavy-duty, medium-density circular electrical connectors with soldered or crimped contacts. This military standard product family is used for digital andRead More

Meet the Connector: PCIe Connectors Peripheral Component Interconnect Express (PCle), also called PCI Express, is a high-performance and high-bandwidth serial communication I/O interconnect bus standard. Interconnects that meet the PCIe standard include mezzanine and board-to-board connectors, over-the-board solutions, high-speed edge card sockets that support 1, 4, 8, and 16 PCIe links, and PCIe optical cableRead More

Meet the Connector: QMA Connectors The internal construction of the QMA is identical to the SMA and, like that connector, it delivers excellent performance up to 18 GHz and has the same power handling capabilities. The main difference is in the coupling mechanism. Instead of a threaded coupling, QMAs have a snap-on design with aRead More

Meet the Connector: EMI/EMP Connectors EMI/EMP connectors, also called filter connectors, help protect electric and electronic systems from emitting or receiving disruptive “noise,” including radio frequency interference (RFI), electromagnetic interference (EMI), electromagnetic pulses (EMP), voltage spikes, and other radiated emissions that can distort or interrupt a signal. EMI, EMP, and RFI commonly occur in environmentsRead More

Meet the Connector: LC Connectors LC connectors are small form factor fiber optic connectors designed for making fast connections in high-density applications. They are a miniaturized version of the earlier SC fiber connector (50% smaller) and feature a square plastic housing with a 1.25 mm ceramic ferrule. Like the SC, LCs utilize a push-pull design,Read More