From multifunctional fitness trackers and smartwatches to tiny medical devices that deliver medicine or vital information, consumers have embraced wearable technologies. Consumers have embraced the concept of wearable devices and the industry is responding in a big way. From step counters to heart monitors, consumers have shown a strong interest in monitoring their health andRead More

Small, lightweight, and wearable doesn’t cut it for designers of e-textiles. New flexible, conductive fabrics make wearable electronics even more comfortable and connected. The continuous downscaling of connectivity products has opened up new possibilities in the world of e-textiles. In this emerging area of electronic design, engineers have moved beyond small and lightweight wearables that can be attachedRead More

Enhanced versions of pluggable I/O connectors are providing a clear migration path from current 40 and 100 Gb/s Ethernet and InfiniBand EDR specifications to 800 Gb and beyond. A spectacular escalation of data rates has been a hallmark of computing equipment over the past 50+ years. The ability to create literally billions of transistors onRead More

Innovative connector solutions are needed to address space and heat limitations for high-density data centers as digital growth continues to escalate. More power and higher speeds are needed but keeping heat and energy use down is a pressing priority.  The COVID-19 global pandemic has dramatically altered the way we live, work, and connect. Across theRead More

The cable assembly industry has rebounded after a challenging pandemic year. Every market depends on these critical connectivity components, but some headwinds remain in the complex global electronics industry.  2020 was a surreal year in many ways. In the cable assembly industry, it started with modest expectations for growth. The overall U.S. economy was headedRead More

Technology advancements and material selection play an important role in the evolution of today’s innovative power, signal, hybrid, copper, and fiber optical cable designs. The trends influencing cable design today begin with material options, extend to performance and capability, and continue to evolve as applications become more demanding. As more powerful and precise connected technologiesRead More

Copper and fiber optic cable have long been the go-to options for a variety of applications, but they fall short in harsh environments. RAOCs combine the benefits of each for an optimal, real-world solution. Typically, in harsh environments such as industrial production facilities, refineries, process manufacturing plants, commercial aircraft, and even the far reaches ofRead More

Bob Hult looks at how a commitment to backward compatibility, choice of copper and fiber optic media, and adoption of new signaling protocols have enabled Ethernet to keep pace with increasing bandwidth demands. This is the eighth installment in the Technology Trends series by Bob Hult, a collection of articles that review leading technology trends thatRead More

Heavy-duty machinery is essential for a range of energy, infrastructure, and development projects. Today, construction equipment is including more smart technologies and the interconnect solutions in these powerful machines need to facilitate high-level connectivity under rugged conditions. A period of massive construction and redevelopment is about to transform the global built environment. New roads, bridges,Read More

Off-highway vehicles require heavy-duty connectors that can handle demanding power requirements, withstand the elements, and stay connected through the jostling and vibrations that this rugged category of vehicles experiences in the field. Off-highway vehicles used for construction, agriculture, mining, or other demanding applications require connectors that differ significantly from those used in consumer vehicles. JustRead More

M12s and M8s deliver even in the most disruptive conditions. These workhorse connectors are available with extensive options that serve many different industrial environments.  Challenging Conditions  Today, electronic connections and communications are needed in harsh environments at sea, in space, and in various conditions on Earth. These activities include manufacturing, robotics, agriculture, food and beverageRead More

With millions of connector products ready for order from trusted suppliers and distributors, designers should be able to find a suitable solution for their project. But sometimes, they can’t. That’s when customization comes in. A quick search of any major distributor’s inventory turns up millions of connector products. Every size, shape, configuration, and capability imaginableRead More