Contributed

The Evolution, Proliferation, and Future of PCIe

PCI Express is set to release its Generation 6.0 specification in 2021, expanding speeds and bandwidth, and enabling new capabilities needed for cloud-based architectures. A new generation of PCIe connectors is ready now. PCI Express (PCIe) is a popular peripheral bus architecture widely employed in enterprise servers, storage devices, cloud computing equipment, PCs, mobile devices,Read More

Finding the Right Route for 5G RF Connectors

The arrival of 5G RF networks will bring safe, reliable autonomous vehicles closer to reality. To make this possible, the integrity of RF transmissions must be protected. 5G RF networks promise to transform the driving experience. The ability to handle high-speed data from multiple sensors within both our vehicles and the urban infrastructure around themRead More

Four Key Features to Consider When Choosing Automotive Connector Systems

Legacy connectors have served automotive connector systems through many design evolutions. Now, however, as new technologies make it possible to design safer, smarter, and greener cars, a new generation of connectors is needed to serve these systems. Vehicle designers and manufacturers rely on many connector systems that have been on the market for decades. EvenRead More

New Technologies Force Heavy Equipment OEMs to Rethink Connector Solutions

As new technologies are introduced in transportation, agriculture, and heavy equipment markets, traditional connector choices are being challenged. Are M8 and M12 connectors still the right choice? By Mike Schreiner, DC Solutions Engineering and Market Development Manager, Phoenix Contact USA Should heavy equipment OEMs try to wedge traditional connectors into new digital technologies or shouldRead More

Magnetic Connectors: The Latest in Hybrid Connectivity for e-Mobility Applications

Hybrid magnetic connectors provide the same power and signal capabilities as traditional connectors in a robust, self-aligning, zero-force, self-mating interface designed to address the needs of various e-mobility applications. Hybrid magnetic connectors with self-locating designs offer an innovative alternative to standard mechanical coupling connectors for powering and light electric e-mobility vehicles (LEVs) such as wheelchairs,Read More

Underwater Connectors Get Smaller and Tougher for Submarines and UUVs

Undersea applications for connectors used by the U.S. Navy are expanding. Not only are submarines now joined by unmanned underwater vehicles, but a third emerging category includes devices used in seabed warfare and communications. The undersea environment is one of the harshest that military electronics systems must withstand. Submarines must stand up to constant pressureRead More

The Importance of Manufacturability in New Connector Product Designs

When new or custom connectivity products are the right solution for a design challenge, connector suppliers must meet complex design requirements and develop efficient manufacturing processes to produce high-quality products at a reasonable cost. Manufacturability is a critical consideration in the design of a new connector product. In addition to supply chain factors such asRead More

Small, Lightweight Connectors Enable Today’s Powerful Optical Electronics

The latest generation of high-tech digital cameras has been sized down for small, lightweight military, medical, and surveillance equipment. High-speed miniature interconnect products make it possible to capture and send images in even the most rigorous operating conditions. High-speed cameras, machine learning, and robotics are changing the world for interconnects that support data services toRead More

Choosing the Right Board-to-Board Connectors for Your Device

Consider robustness, flexibility, and processing requirements in your design to be confident that you are choosing the right board-to-board connectors for your application. A primary concern for device designers is how to get signal and power to the device in a way that doesn’t interfere with functional goals, such as portability, wearability, or size. ManyRead More

Combating Corrosion in High-Reliability Connectors

Galvanic corrosion can be significantly attenuated through thoughtful connector design, materials selection, manufacturing, and handling practices designed to maintain high-quality contact surface integrity and minimize connector exposure to adverse conditions.  Metal contact surfaces are subject to corrosion in the form of galvanic attacks, which take place when high humidity and ambient trace chemicals combine toRead More

Five Things to Consider When Specifying RF Connectors for Harsh Industrial Environments

RF connectors that operate in industrial environments must maintain a clean signal under harsh conditions. To specify the right connector, you need to evaluate the particular challenges the application will endure and select a connector that is up to the job.  Understanding the characteristics of the environments in which connectors are to be stored andRead More

Choosing the Right PCB Mounting Method for High Shock and Vibration

Electronics that are subject to harsh military and aerospace operating environments require secure mounting. Several popular specifications give designers options. A few weeks ago, I was discussing work with an engineer friend, and we got onto the subject of connectors that are subjected to high shock and vibration loads. Exciting, I know. It all stemmedRead More

Analysis of the World’s Top 100 Electronic Connector Manufacturers
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