Learning Tools Articles

Corrosion Considerations in Connector Development

Learn more about the technical guidelines that drive connector development for corrosive environments to ensure a long-lasting and reliable solution in harsh conditions.   Corrosion Considerations in Connector Development Corrosion is a process known to everyone who owns a car. In essence, rust is the corroded product of iron: Iron atoms slowly detach from theRead More

Extreme Materials: Robust Performance from Cable to Connector

From specifying the correct stranding configuration to creating specialty extreme material blends to ensure optimal jacket performance, selecting the right combination of variables plays a critical role in the success of products.   In all environments, especially extreme conditions, high reliability and zero downtime are imperative; even the smallest factor can be the difference betweenRead More

Design Considerations When Terminating Aluminum Wire

It may be necessary to replace copper wiring with aluminum in automotive applications to reduce vehicle weight and achieve the aggressive future fuel-economy standards, but design engineers must be mindful of the significant differences between aluminum and copper wire terminations.   Aluminum wiring has been used for many years in several different industries. Utility companies have successfullyRead More

How to Test an RJ45 Pinout

The way the RJ45 connector is wired to Cat 5, 5e, and 6 cables differs depending upon the type of cable required. To understand why, it’s necessary to understand how computers communicate with the network.   RJ45 modular connectors, also known as 8P8C connectors, are used to connect computers to local area networks. The wayRead More

Great Connector Inventions: High-Speed Performance without Ground Planes

FCI took the next step in the development of high-speed backplanes when it developed a cost-efficient way to deliver higher speed and density. While Teradyne and its partner Molex were increasing speed with successive generations of large, expensive, heavily shielded waferized connectors, FCI was listening to its large base of telecom, storage, and low-end computingRead More

Great Connector Inventions: Wafers with Integrated Ground Planes

Teradyne Connector Systems’ innovative VHDM connectors combined ground-plane and lead-frame wafers. You may remember that AMP’s patent associated with the Z-pack 2mm HM (hard metric) with ground planes between wafers was not tooled for the 2mm HM connector, primarily because it was difficult to justify the additional cost and complexity with just two pairs per chicklet.Read More

Great Connector Inventions: Backplane Stiffeners

Backplane connectors with large molded housings existed in the late 1980s but were expensive and very difficult to make. True position for all of the pins had to be accurate or the connector could not be placed easily on the boards and mated. Teradyne Connector Systems found a solution. Teradyne Connector Systems (TCS) was a divisionRead More

Great Connector Inventions: Connector “Chicklets” Revolutionize Backplanes

Chicklets revolutionized automation by increasing the overall speed and efficiency of designing in backplane connectors. The Germans are renowned for developing and enforcing mechanical standards that are used worldwide. German companies developed the DIN 41612 connector family and the Eurocard chassis standards, which remain the basis for many other standards, such as VME architectures usedRead More

Where Do New Connector Ideas Originate?

What sources play a role in determining the idea for the next great connector? Bill Garver of APEX looks at the information that helps determine gaps in the market.   One of the most difficult aspects of the new product development process is determining when a new product idea is marketable, if it would be profitable, andRead More

Great Connector Inventions: Compliant Press-Fit Pins

Compliant press-fit pins are a key achievement in the development of backplane connector technology. Here’s how they work. Compliant pins, waferized connector designs, modular connectors, egg-crate shielding, air-dielectric designs – we can now look back on inventions like these and put them in perspective. It is interesting to see how a real understanding of the technologyRead More

The Case for Custom Cable Assemblies

Choosing off-the-shelf cable as an afterthought comes with big risks, according to Northwire Inc.   Making cable and connector decisions an afterthought and then choosing a quick off-the-shelf option can result in additional costs with negative outcomes for OEMs, contract manufacturers, and product and design engineers. The many risks of choosing a cable assembly not suited specificallyRead More

Patent Litigation Concerns and Considerations

If you feel secure because your exclusive design contains unique and patented components, you may want to think again, according to APEX Electrical Interconnection Consultants.      Patent infringement litigation is on the rise. A patent owner may view its intellectual property as a strategic asset. Although it has a limited lifespan, and may beRead More

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