New silver alloys address the issues of durability and conductivity through a fundamental difference in crystalline structure. Dr. Bob takes a closer look at nanocrystalline silver contact platings.   Two papers* were published last year that introduced nanocrystalline silver alloy contact platings – one a silver-palladium alloy and the other silver-tungsten. Both papers cite theRead More

Need to brush up on the latest info about USB 3.0? John MacWilliams explains the pros, cons, history, and future of USB 3.0 technology at a glance.   The Universal Serial Bus standard has been one of the most successful connector specifications ever, shepherded by the USB Implementers Forum. USB dates back to 2008 andRead More

As we begin to expand usage of USB 3.0 to reap the many benefits, we must pay attention to how the connectors and cables affect circuit operation. Here, Omnetics’ Bob Stanton explains how to use USB 3.0 connectors and cables.   As we begin to tap into the potential of USB 3.0 speeds that run upRead More

The need for high-speed connections has expanded from office environments to remote and sometimes outdoor implementations, including those for the military. Here, ODU looks at the rugged high-speed data connector requirements to consider for such applications.   We’re all familiar with the types of connectors required to transfer high-speed data in our everyday lives, whether weRead More

The latest connector technology fuels growth in embedded computing as system efficiency is a critical component for today’s embedded industry.   Regardless of the modern mobile application in question, whether it be fleet management of agricultural machines, passenger information in buses or video surveillance of trains, the trend is clear – system efficiency is aRead More

TE recently announced the intent to form a new MSA to create a standard for a new pluggable form factor that will deliver four duplex channels at 25Gb/s NRZ per channel.   The race to ever-faster I/O interfaces continues to heat up. Design engineers are looking for ways to avoid a data bottleneck at the I/O panelRead More

Elimination of solder from electronic circuit assembly has been suggested as one way to avoid solder’s many shortcomings. Here, Joe Fjelstad makes the case for solderless assembly.   Soldering is a key step in the manufacturing process of electronic assemblies and has been since the earliest days of the electronics industry. It is also one ofRead More

DesignCon celebrated its 20th anniversary this year, and Bob Hult was there to report on the newest developments in high-speed connector technology.   DesignCon 2015 celebrated its 20th anniversary as the premier showcase for high-speed chip, connector, and PCB board technology. More than 170 technical sessions organized in 14 conference tracks and three keynote addresses provided attendees with the latestRead More

While traditional crimping press designs work very well, manufacturing costs are often higher than desired. Rob Boyd of Schleuniger explains the benefits of a new paradigm in crimping press design.   It goes without saying that manufacturing companies want the highest possible quality at the lowest possible cost. These days, everyone is trying to doRead More

The Continental Automated Buildings Association and Communication Planning Corporation have developed a cable test guide to assist you in testing copper cabling. The excerpt below examines the types of tools available for proper testing.   Copper testing tools can be classified into one of three broad hierarchical groups – verification, qualification, and certification. There is also aRead More

Technology disrupters or paradigm shifts often pose serious threats to existing technology, but also open entirely new opportunities to those that recognize and espouse them. Bob Hult examines the drivers and the results when wireless connectivity cuts the cord.   Progress in just about every field of human endeavor tends to advance at a measuredRead More

The connector industry grew in 2014, and that was a result of both evolving product lines and cutting-edge technology. Here, Bob Hult looks back at the year’s trends and products in the annual 2014 Connector Technology Review. Shrinking the size of electronic devices has always been a given in the world of electronic equipment. TheRead More