Case Study: The Supply Chain Path Behind Digital Farming Solutions By DigiKey Today’s growers are using innovative technology to combat issues related to rising input costs, climate change, soil degradation, water scarcity, and other challenges.  Digital farming tools monitor soil moisture, manage fertilizer and watering systems, and strategically guide plant maturation to improve crop yieldsRead More

Vehicles face some of the harshest conditions imaginable. From mud to salt, this equipment requires every component inside to be rugged and reliable to keep systems running smoothly. In today’s transportation industry, vehicles and machinery face some of the harshest conditions imaginable. From navigating muddy construction sites to braving salt-laden marine environments, this equipment requiresRead More

The PCI standard continues to evolve to meet the challenges of PCB design and offers the flexibility to play a role in future high-speed applications. By Florian Guglhör and Martin Adamczyk, ept connectors GmbH The PCI (Peripheral Component Interconnect) standard originated in the early 1990s as a bus protocol for chip-to-chip communication and the connectionRead More

Understanding the connectivity issues common to electric vehicles and aircraft can help designers handle the multiplying number of electrification projects. The trajectory of innovation in electric vehicles (EVs), electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft, and aerospace applications seems to be going everywhere all at once. The expanding number of electrification projects makes it challengingRead More

When choosing a connector for a medical application, one must consider not only the typical ratings for voltage and current, but also the constraints on physical size, temperature, and durability. Article contributed by KYOCERA AVX Medical devices include a broad range of equipment, ranging from small implantable stimulators to room-sized MRI machines. This equipment fallsRead More

Ruggedized, heavy-duty connectors are an essential element in remote tower installations. The structure and its electronics must be able to endure continuous outdoor environmental conditions. Heavy-duty connectivity solutions are an essential part of successful outdoor communications infrastructure. Tower Solutions, located in Pine City, Minnesota, a manufacturer of mobile tower platforms for surveillance, communications, tactical support,Read More

Wiring harnesses save installation time, optimize space, and help protect circuits from shock, vibration, debris, and other hazardous conditions. Good decisions at the design stage can protect the harness and the application. Wiring harnesses save installation time, optimize space, and help secure and protect electrical circuits from shock, vibration, debris, and other hazardous conditions. AlsoRead More

Safe and reliable power distribution is critical in industrial, energy storage, renewable energy, transportation and agricultural equipment. Selecting among the many good connector choices can be challenging. Designers of power distribution systems must look beyond the foundational specifications of voltage, current, operating temperature, and basic shock and vibration needs when selecting industrial connectors to alsoRead 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

Design is a multi-faceted challenge. Not only are engineers expected to deliver products with higher performance and more features in ever smaller form factors, they must also complete designs in short timeframes to secure competitive advantage. In addition, there is a growing need for designs to be manufactured at high speeds without compromising quality orRead More

The use of non-standard connectors is more common than most designers think. Many common connectors can be modified to achieve the performance, features, and format needed in high-performance systems. Designers typically try to use standard interconnects in their end products. Most cite availability as to why they stick with standard, off-the-shelf products. However, there are timesRead More