Microcontrollers and sensors are generally seen as the dominant devices leading the growth of automotive electronics. But basic electromechanical components like connectors are key enablers in the drive to add more features and functions.   The digital revolution in autos wouldn’t be possible without continued improvements in connectors, which are seeing stable growth. The connectorRead More

Huge growth in sensors is helping fuel a shift to Ethernet and other alternatives as a way to reduce the bulk of wiring harnesses. Connector demand should grow as more modules are added.   Vehicle Networking The number of sensors on passenger cars has exploded over the past few years, and there’s no sign ofRead More

Miniature, high-reliability interconnect products with enhanced resistance to shock, vibration, and ingress provide essential electrical and mechanical connections between the wires, cables, PCBs, IC packages, and batteries critical to the operation of an increasingly interconnected system of intelligent automotive technologies. Check out this week’s product roundup for some of the latest and most impactful introductionsRead More

Semiconductor suppliers and data center managers keep increasing the volumes of data flowing through cables. That’s putting a lot of pressure on connector makers who have to meet these demands while reducing size. Optics may provide a solution.   The semiconductor industry has done an incredible job of increasing data rates and memory capacity, twoRead More

Technical sessions at DesignCon 2017 in Santa Clara will examine next-generation technologies for speedy, compact connectors, while booths on the show floor will give users a place to see the newest commercial implementations for a broad range of applications.   The soaring demand for more data is putting pressure on connector makers who need toRead More

Fiber optic connectors are used to mechanically couple and align the ends of optical fibers in wide bandwidth applications that require connect/disconnect capabilities.   Widely employed throughout the telecom, datacom, industrial networking, test and measurement, aerospace, and avionics industries, fiber optic connectors are available in a variety of connector styles with different dimensions and methodsRead More

Design engineers and purchasing personnel want to use the best connector companies for their design and purchasing requirements. However, identifying the best companies is not an easy task. Asking the following questions helps narrow the field.   Identifying the Top 10 Connector Manufacturers Which companies offer the required products and services? Which companies offer fasterRead More

Robots are rolling into new applications, from personal companions to an expanding industrial base. Their complexity and ranges of motion make rugged connectors a pivotal component. Mention robots to most people today and they think in terms of humanoids similar to those featured in movies such as Star Wars and ExMachina. Few would think thatRead More

GM is investing $1 billion in US factories, possibly foretelling a strong market for industrial products. Record setting robot sales also portend growth for connector makers that focus on the severe demands for ruggedized components.   A General Motors plan to invest $1 billion in its US factories may herald an expansion in manufacturing. TheRead More

Innovative industrial interconnect products drive new designs capable of satisfying ever-increasing productivity, embedded computing, power distribution, energy efficiency, and always-on communications demands in a range of critical industrial applications, including: alternative energy (EVs, wind power, and solar power), broadband communications, factory automation, heavy equipment, instrumentation, motion control, mass transportation, and natural resource exploration. Check out thisRead More

Designing handhelds, wearables, and tomorrow’s smaller medical devices comes with a unique set of design challenges. Engineers and designers are striving to drive size, weight, and cost from their devices, looking critically at every component, including medical device connectors.   Handhelds, wearables and more: Smaller medical devices mean smaller, multi-tasking connectors New technology in connectorRead More

From Monitoring to Disease Fighting: Software and Analytics are Revolutionizing Medical Sensors Electronic sensors have been in use in medicine for decades, but their status is currently being elevated from monitoring tools to one of the most powerful sources of data used in disease fighting. This revolution is not being spurred directly by innovations inRead More