Mergers and acquisitions have dramatically reshaped the connector industry. An important new report documents the evolution of these companies and their impact on the greater electronics ecosystem. Mergers and acquisitions, along with product discontinuations, have had a dramatic effect on the connector industry over the last 40 years, and specifically over the last two andRead More

Meet the Connector: XT Connectors XT connectors are a type of high-current connector commonly used in radio-controlled (RC) models, drones, and micromobility modes. The XT connector was originally designed by Amass, a Chinese manufacturer, with a goal of providing an easy to use, compact, and durable connector with a high current capacity and minimal resistanceRead More

Minimally invasive medical procedures have many advantages over open surgery. Medical sensors provide surgeons with necessary feedback, improving outcomes and reducing the risk to patients. Minimally invasive medical procedures have many advantages over open surgery, such as less damage to the body, less pain, fewer complications, less time in the hospital, and quicker overall recovery.Read More

Minnesota med-tech innovators with the Mayo Clinic, Medtronic, Boston Scientific, 3M, and others congregated at the annual MD&M regional trade event to explore miniaturization, automation, and bio-compatible technologies. The pacemaker, the mechanical heart valve, and the heart-lung machine for open heart surgeries are among the lifesaving technologies that originated in Minnesota. The state’s reputation asRead More

Using a spring probe grid array allows designers to customize the number of ground pins used to optimize the performance of connectors used in MRI systems, serving specific frequencies/coil designs, saving size, weight, and cost while maintaining the performance of a coax channel where needed. MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging) systems provide a clear and detailedRead More

Meet the Connector: Multiport Connectors Multiport connectors integrate multiple coaxial contacts into a single connector module, which achieves higher interconnection density while shortening installation time. Multiport connectors also reduce the form factor and the system’s overall complexity. The choice of multiport connector depends on the required frequency range, signal integrity, and space constraints all necessaryRead More

Heat has a direct effect on device reliability. As the internal temperature of a chip exceeds its maximum rating, reliability begins to drop off. This results in a shortened life or complete chip failure. Advancing the limits of computing performance has been a constant defining objective of system designers since the first commercial computers wereRead More

Eye diagrams are an indispensable tool for optimizing digital communications systems and components. They enable engineers to diagnose issues, fine-tune performance, and ensure compliance with industry standards. Eye diagrams are a test used to analyze the fidelity of high-speed digital transmissions. By overlaying multiple instances of a signal’s waveform, the test provides a visual representationRead More

A new series of articles from Bishop & Associates will explore the global connector industry to identify the top 10 companies in world connector sales, by geographic region, manufactured products, and by markets served. In this first article in the series, learn about the leading companies by total world connector sales. Note: This article showsRead More

Meet the Connector: VITA 57.4 FMC+ 57.4 FMC+, the VITA 57.4 standard, provides specifications describing an I/O mezzanine module with connection to an FPGA (Field Programmable Gate Array) or other device with reconfigurable I/O capability. 57.4 is the latest extension of the FMC (VITA 57.1) standard and defines the FMC+ (FPGA Mezzanine Card) specification, whichRead More

From advanced visors with augmented reality to biometric sensors and real-time data integration, modern pilot helmets are revolutionizing air combat and aviation safety. Early pilot helmets served the sole and essential purpose of protecting the heads of aviators. However, with every decade of aviation history, additional functions and technologies have become integrated into this essentialRead More

MIL-STD-1553 has been incorporated in every type of air, land, and sea vehicle built by the U.S. military in the last half-century. There is something eminently satisfying about a technology that simply works. One of the more enduring standards in the mil-aerospace industry is MIL-STD-1553, which defines the mechanical, electrical, and functional characteristics of aRead More