Over the next decade, combined sales of UAVs are expected to top $90 billion dollars, with annual sales rising from $8 billion in 2015 to between $12 and 14 billion in 2025.   The military market will continue to lead the way, with an anticipated dollar market share of around 70%. The remaining market shareRead More

Check out this week’s product roundup for information about some of the latest and greatest hermetically sealed connectors.   PA&E’s Hermetic 38999 BMA (Blind Mate Attach) RF/Microwave Connectors deliver high-speed solutions in harsh environment applications. Rated for operating temperatures spanning -65°C to 200°C, the series features industry-standard MIL-DTL 38999/23 Series III shell interfaces with #8Read More

As data speeds rise, the need for shielding can also increase. But shielding adds weight, cost, and can reduce flexibility, so it’s important to shield only when it’s necessary.   Determining When to Shield Aircraft Wiring A common question when it comes to designing an aircraft’s electrical wiring interconnect system (EWIS) is which of theRead More

Check out this week’s transportation product roundup for information about some of the newest and most impactful transportation solutions available in the connector and cabling industry.   Transportation Products Murrelektronik recently released the new xtreme DB distribution blocks. Currently available in five configurations, the series delivers three times the current capacity of comparably sized blocks,Read More

Two conferences highlighted the ongoing changes in wiring, thermals, backplanes, and many more connector technologies. Bob Hult provides the buzz from VITA’s 2017 Embedded Tech Trends forum, and then another look at DesignCon 2017.   Embedded computers have existed in the shadow of much larger computer markets for commercial and communication applications. Unlike general purposeRead More

In heavy industries, vibration, temperature extremes, chemicals, and fluids take their toll on electrical systems. Just one small leak or fault in an electrical system can stop farming operations, cripple a military vehicle, or immobilize a fire truck. Harsh environment connectors feature several design elements to help protect connections. These features include durable contacts, watertightRead More

Circuit board modules used for watch band concept   The ability to cram more powerful electronics into smaller spaces has made portable equipment a pace-setting field for the electronics industry. Smartphones have become the flag bearer for this movement, but smart watches are rapidly ramping up the competition. Early generation watches were fairly large, soRead More

USB Type-C connectors bring bi-directional power and data transmission, simpler connectivity   Since its introduction in the 1990s, Universal Serial Bus (USB) has become a ubiquitous connector protocol, enabling standardized connections between computers and peripheral devices, such as keyboards, printers, and external disk drives. USB connections are now commonly used for smartphones, portable electronics, andRead More

Check out this week’s product roundup for information about some of the newest and most impactful USB product solutions available.   USB Products TE Connectivity’s USB Type-C connectors offer one of the smallest dual-row SMT footprints available on the market. The compact, splash-proof, mid-mounting receptacles deliver 25% space savings, industry-leading EMI and IP4X-rated ingress protection,Read More

Several trends were apparent at last week’s DesignCon 2017 conference. Foremost among them was the advance of copper solutions that include wiring as an alternative to PCB traces.   DesignCon 2017 opened amid a thoroughly drenched Bay Area, but did not deter more than 5,000 attendees to this premier exhibition of leading edge electronic design,Read More

Huge growth in sensors is helping fuel a shift to Ethernet and other alternatives as a way to reduce the bulk of wiring harnesses. Connector demand should grow as more modules are added.   Vehicle Networking The number of sensors on passenger cars has exploded over the past few years, and there’s no sign ofRead More

Miniature, high-reliability interconnect products with enhanced resistance to shock, vibration, and ingress provide essential electrical and mechanical connections between the wires, cables, PCBs, IC packages, and batteries critical to the operation of an increasingly interconnected system of intelligent automotive technologies. Check out this week’s product roundup for some of the latest and most impactful introductionsRead More