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

The battle between AC and DC power may be fought all over again as rising demand for power and new technologies converge, bringing attention to direct current’s technical and economic advantages. After a nasty publicity battle between George Westinghouse and Thomas Edison, alternating current (AC) was selected as the electrical power transmission standard for theRead More

Growing volumes of cable and wire in electronic systems have created a need to create order through cable management accessories such as clips, clamps, tubing, braiding, trays, or more complex integrated connectivity solutions. Demand for cable is growing exponentially as electronic systems and devices expand across every market. As automotive systems add electric and autonomousRead More

As government and commercial missions into space become more prevalent, connectivity suppliers are challenged to deliver space-grade connector products that can handle uniquely extreme operating conditions. The joint mission between SpaceX and NASA to send a team of astronauts to the International Space Station (ISS) is one of the technology world’s 2020 highlights. In aRead More

IPC is known as the premier standards organization in the electronics manufacturing industry. But as the industry faces tariffs, COVID, and other complex challenges, it’s also become a problem-solving enterprise. When John Mitchell became the president and CEO of IPC in 2012, the organization’s focus was on standards development for the electronics assembly industries, withRead More

Intelligent and efficient LED lighting makes smart buildings, warehouses, and other industrial settings safer and more comfortable, energy efficient, and cost-effective. As bulb pricing and light quality has reached parity with other modes, LED lighting technology is now widely used in homes, where it is valued for its energy efficiency and cost-effectiveness. It is alsoRead More

How do you connect two Ethernet cables to each other while maintaining environmental ratings, signal integrity, and data speeds? We examine the capabilities, pros, and cons of five common solutions. By Nate Owens, Product Marketing Manager, Industrial Field Connectivity, and Sam Hartman Product Marketing Specialist, Industrial Field Connectivity, Phoenix Contact USA Industrial Ethernet How doRead More

New battlefield strategies that network dismounted soldiers for “any-sensor, any-shooter” tactics are driving technological changes in digital gear enabled in part by advanced interconnects. By Matt McAlonis, Engineering Fellow, Aerospace Defense and Marine, TE Connectivity, and Franck Kolczak, Senior Business Development Manager-Defense Market, TE Connectivity combat Today’s entertaining real-time-strategy (RTS) games and virtual-reality (VR) headsetsRead More

This week’s Product Roundup highlights mil-spec cable and cable assemblies from leading connectivity suppliers. Mil-Spec Cable and Cable Assemblies Mouser Electronics stocks TE Connectivity’s Raychem Cat 5e cable for high-data-rate, harsh-environment military, marine, and aerospace applications, including shipboard, satellite, C4ISR, weapons, avionics, soldier-worn, and in-flight entertainment (IFE) systems. The mil-spec cable is designed in accordanceRead More

Summary coverage of upcoming industry events, as well as recent award, partnership, promotion, personnel, facility, distribution, standards, association, and certification news from across the connector industry. July 2020 Connector Industry News July 2020 Connector Industry News > Event News Phoenix Contact’s fifth annual Smart Communities conference will be presented as a three-part, online-only series ofRead More

IPC/WHMA-A-620 updates manufacturing requirements for cable and wire harness assemblies to ensure performance as cross-market demand for these specialty components increases. Cable assemblies and wire harnesses are complex, multipart systems comprised of various discrete components and designed to transmit data, power, and signal. These self-contained packages offer multiple advantages to system designers and installers. Wire harnessRead More

Adding a patch cable, patch cord, or jumper solution gives designers greater flexibility in system design. Patch cables are relatively simple connectivity devices: They consist of a length of cable that connects two optical or electronic devices and transmits signals through a physical conduit. In applications including data centers, industrial systems, and healthcare equipment, physicalRead More