Contributed

Commercial Connectors Toughen Up for the Harshest Environments in the Universe

As priorities for deep-space applications change, demand is increasing for low-cost, commercial off-the-shelf connectors that can endure the rigors of space. Deep-space exploration keeps bringing us new information about the sun, the moon, and the planets. For example, data from NASA’s Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter recently helped researchers determine that the Moon isn’t dead because itRead More

Testing Microwave Coaxial Cable Assemblies for Deep Space Missions

A comprehensive test regimen can help determine the suitability of microwave coaxial cable assemblies for the final frontier. By Aidan Doran, Senior Product Manager, Space, and John Lewis, Director of Product Management, Defense and Space, Carlisle Interconnect Technologies test Reliability can be defined as performance over time, and in deep-space applications, nothing is more importantRead More

CIMON Says: Design Lessons from a Robot Assistant in Space

Designing a service bot to function in microgravity is a unique challenge. Engineers at Airbus developed an autonomous robot assistant for the International Space Station using commercially available interconnects. By Traci Browne and Paul Golata for Mouser Electronics robot Of the more than 225 visitors to the International Space Station (ISS) in the past 20Read More

How Smartphones and Miniature Device Design Shape the Wilderness

Most designated wilderness areas are uniquely and specifically devoid of human development. But even these remote places can’t escape the reach of smartphones and other technologies. Smartphones have become an indispensable part of everyday life as well as an important tool for serious scientific, educational, healthcare, and public safety pursuits. Early smartphones fused the functionalitiesRead More

Burn-In Testing 101: Testing Electronic Components for Real-Life Durability

This rigorous testing process helps ensure that connectors are durable enough to withstand temperature extremes, use cycles, and other operating conditions. Designers need to know that the components they specify will perform as promised in a finished product. Components reliability can be assured through a variety of testing protocols that are based on the typeRead More

Five Aspects of Modern Automotive Design That Depend on Connectors

Evolving connector design has helped transform the driving experience. Better lighting, greater comfort, and advanced safety are just the beginning. Today’s automobiles are more connected than ever before. Automotive electronics deliver the advanced communication needed for performance and comfort throughout the vehicle and enable a variety of safety features for the driver, passengers, and public. ElectronicRead More

Three Trends Point to the Convergence of Industrial Components for Transportation Systems

Electrification, automation, and connectivity across systems and command centers are changing the types of connectors that are used in many transportation vehicles.  By Aditya Sharma, Business Development Manager, North America, PEI-Genesis transportation Rapid innovation in the heavy transportation market is driving demand for an array of new product- and service-based responses from specialized connector distributors.Read More

Self-Aligning Magnetic Connectors Provide Optimal Power and Data Solutions for Medical Applications

Magnetic connectors designed to self-align, self-locate, handle a high number of mating cycles, and safely unmate can provide optimal solutions for power and data transmission. Technological advancements in healthcare have led to an increased demand for electronic devices for inpatient and outpatient medical care. These devices are used for a wide range of applications, includingRead More

Protecting Ethernet Connections in Industrial Environments

As Industrial Ethernet brings network connections into harsh environments, it’s essential to protect connectivity products from rugged conditions.  The proliferation of digital information, the Internet of Things, and Ethernet into every facet of our lives means that network connections are in more places than ever before, including the factory floor. Industrial Ethernet is replacing manyRead More

Five Things to Consider When Specifying Metal Contact Materials

Contact materials can make a critical difference in the integrity, reliability, and durability of connectors. But not every application requires the highest-quality option. By Steve Smashey, President, and Mike Conte, General Manager, SOS Engineering, Inc. contact materials Small details in the quality and construction of interconnects can make a big difference in a system’s performanceRead More

Wire Connections Then and Now

Electrical splicing connections have constantly changed over the last 130 years as engineers and manufacturers innovate to ensure safe, secure, and reliable wire and cable connections. In the early days of wiring, single-sheathed copper wires ran within the walls or ceilings of homes and buildings and were supported by a porcelain knob insulator or flexibleRead More

Fiber Optics Move into Military Backplanes

The recent Embedded Tech Trends conference highlighted a trend: Boards and subsystems for military applications are increasingly employing optical cable. Fiber optic technology is continuing its push into high-end military systems as engineers increasingly choose it to meet accelerating speed demands. This marks a change from its traditional role as a technology for long-distance communications.Read More

Analysis of the World’s Top 100 Electronic Connector Manufacturers
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