Meet the Connector: Single-Pin DC Connectors This common barrel-type plug is widely used in portable devices ranging from consumer radios to basic medical devices. But it’s not as simple as it looks. The term single-pin DC connector (also called single-pole connector) typically refers to a circular or barrel-shaped plastic connector with one electrical terminal orRead More

New-to-market connectivity products, including interconnects, wire, cable, and cable assemblies, sensors, antennas, materials, accessories, tools, and development kits. August 2023 New Connectivity Products August 2023 New Connectivity Products > Interconnects, etc. Smiths Interconnect launched Kepler contact technology for IC testing. Whether for testing high performance computing, wearables, or other automotive chips, Kepler is the only solution that provides two-axis of motion during a single actuation of the socket,Read More

Rigorous testing of every element in an integrated circuit, from connectors to PCBs, is a critical step in the product design process. As more electronics move into complex and high-reliability application environments, the need to measure their attributes and performance, and test their endurance over time and under specific conditions, has become a critical stepRead More

Advances in semiconductor functionality, density, and chip-level integration are generating new challenges in testing. A test socket solution overcomes the challenges posed by traditional vertical spring probes and cantilever scrubbing contact designs, providing a new level of performance and reliability. Integrated circuit (IC) designers are increasingly migrating to quad flat no-lead (QFN) packages to meetRead More

For Test & Measurement applications, hybrid connectors enable effective and precise testing and monitoring. Learn how a vacuum manufacturer uses its industrial gas “sniffer” device with these versatile interconnects. Hybrid connectors move signal, power, and data — plus one or more other fluidic media such as gas, air, or liquids. In Test & Measurement applications,Read More

Meet the Connector: Test & Measurement Connectors As systems become more complex and integrate more functions on a circuit. semiconductor testing has become a particularly significant area for connectors used in Test & Measurement. Test equipment measures the electrical or mechanical properties, performance, and behavior of components or systems. Connectors of all types are subjectRead More

Because the electronics market moves so quickly, any opportunity to eliminate delays in the production process is crucial. Significantly speeding up the development of prototypes for testing, qualification, and, ultimately, production is a huge advantage for parts suppliers and their customers. Quick Design for Connector Prototypes Customers’ needs for connector prototypes continue to evolve. ToRead More

To meet the needs of high-frequency and high-performance applications as well as those with smaller, lighter, and more dense packaging, it is often necessary to modify existing connector designs or design completely new connectors. As RF/microwave technologies find increasing use in high-speed digital data exchange applications, the mix of connector and cable technologies included inRead More

Meet the Connector: Custom Connectors Despite the millions of commercial interconnects ready to serve every market and application type, certain situations call for something entirely, or just slightly, new.  When off-the-shelf connectors aren’t the right fit for a new application, custom solutions come into play. Because connectors are often the last consideration in product design,Read More

IMS 2023, the premier worldwide RF microwave symposium, revealed exponential gains in next-generation interconnects for wireless communications technologies. Take a tour of the highlights with RF expert Dave Shaff. This year’s International Microwave Symposium (IMS) reestablished the event as the premier world level expo for RF through THz technology, engineering, and products. IMS 2023, heldRead More

Space deployment involves major engineering challenges. Evaluating risks and potential problems is an essential part of the process when specifying space connectors. Space deployment brings a multitude of major engineering challenges, and an essential part of the component selection process involves correctly specifying space connectors. Before deciding on what high-reliability connectors and cable assemblies toRead More

Meet the Connector: MIL-DTL-32689 MIL-DTL-32689 is a relatively new MIL-spec that defines high-density, lightweight circular connectors well-suited for military and aerospace applications because of their quick disconnection, tri-start threaded coupling, and environment-resistant features. MIL-DTL-32689 provides multi-sourcing for Mini/Micro-D38999 Series III connectors, miniature versions of MIL-DTL-38999. At about 70% lighter and typically 50% smaller than D38999 connectors with similar contact layouts,Read More