Meet the Connector: FAKRA Connectors FAKRA connectors have been a mainstay of automotive connectivity for the past two decades. An average connected car contains at least 15 FAKRA connectors, and these versatile connectors are designed into telematics, GPS navigation, entertainment systems, Bluetooth, cellular, keyless entry, climate controls, radio antennas, safety systems, communications applications, and sensorRead More

COTS connectors have an attractive price point and availability, but they may not hold up to harsh environment challenges. Rigorous testing helps engineers specify non-MIL-Spec connectors that can provide high reliability. By Brian Niehoff Electronic devices are proliferating in harsh operating environments across every industry. As a result, many OEMs require extensive testing on theRead More

Meet the Connector: IC Test Sockets IC test sockets are electromechanical interfaces that have evolved to meet the needs of the booming semiconductor industry. They are used initially to perfect the IC design and later to weed out faulty circuits, all to ensure that the ICs in the final product will perform as intended. InRead More

For special installations like the Winter Olympics, as well as applications such as vehicles and devices that routinely operate in cold climates, electronics must be ruggedized against low temperatures. The 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics showcased human endurance in the most extreme cold conditions as athletes performed on ice, in snow, and in frigid air. TheRead More

Meet the Connector: Terminal Blocks Terminal blocks are connectors used to secure two or more wires to each other (wire-to-wire) or to a PCB (wire-to-board). They consist of an insulated body within a modular housing. Often used in industrial applications, they are appropriate wherever electrical systems need to stay safely connected, organized, and secure. TerminalRead More

Meet the Connector: Push-in Wire Connectors Push-in wire connectors are insulated wire connectors that are used in electrical systems, including commercial and residential lighting, digital signage, and other building electrical systems. They are used in place of traditional twist-on connectors or wire nuts. This connector type is easy to use, enables fast connections, and oftenRead More

Harsh operating conditions and challenging installation scenarios make it important to specify rugged, reliable, and application-specific interconnects for industrial equipment. Industrial Connectors The extreme temperatures and humidity often present in industrial settings place considerable strain on electronic components and can cause equipment to malfunction. Interconnects used in industrial equipment and systems are also subjected toRead More

Meet the Connector: M12 Circular Connectors M12 connectors are a metric circular connector with 12 mm locking threads used in industrial automation and other harsh environment applications where compact, rugged, and reliable power, signal, and data connections are needed. One of the most commonly specified connectors in the industrial market, the M12 is considered theRead More

Do we need yet another single-pair Ethernet interface? Advocates say twisted-pair technology in an M8 or M12 interface would bring huge benefits to autonomous systems.  Single-pair Ethernet (SPE) will greatly improve the flexibility of automation within the connected industrial environment. Previously, Ethernet connections allowed the cloud to talk to the main control room (where software controls the entireRead More

A new high-density MT-based optical interconnect is coming soon. With up to four MT ferrules accommodating up to 96 optical channels, VITA 87 brings big bandwidth in a small footprint.     The addition of complex embedded systems to the next generation of multi-functional military equipment is driving a new wave of development in associated components. More speed, greater density, and higher levelsRead More

What is a 38999 Connector? The 38999 connector, also known as also known as MIL-DTL-38999, D38999, or simply the “38-triple-nine” is a subminiature high-speed circular connector used for military, aerospace, and other rugged, high-reliability applications. This connectors are ruggedized and environmentally resistant and feature removable crimp or fixed solder contacts, six keying options per shellRead More

Meet the Connector: NEX10 Compact Low PIM Coaxial Connectors NEX10 connectors are a small, rugged PIM-stable RF coax connector interface primarily used in datacom installations, including small cell (4G and 5G), building wiring architectures, MIMO, and distributed antenna systems (DAS). These connectors meet the complex needs of 5G and MIMO installations in a small, lightweightRead More