Featured Articles
  • USB-C Serves Industrial Design with Rugged Variants 

    The USB-C connector has quickly moved from consumer applications into harsh environments. With 20 Gb/s data rates and IP-rated sealed variants, this connector can handle industrial conditions and serve in controllers, robotics, and peripherals for the factory floor. A new class of rugged USB-Cs and cables elevates this ubiquitous interface. It’s been nearly two years sinceRead More

  • The Power of Having Options

    The input/output panel of AI equipment is a prime example of how evolving demands have spawned the introduction of alternative solutions that address bandwidth demand, signal density, field serviceability, energy efficiency, thermal management, and utilization of both copper and fiber optic options. Most people would agree that having multiple choices to solve a problem isRead More

Technology

Is Boosting the Current the Solution to Faster EV Charging?

Rated boost current, in which short-term currents exceed the rated continuous current, reduces EV charging times. New innovations in contact technology make it a viable solution. By Joydip Sanyal, a Chartered Mechanical Engineer, Smiths Interconnect Expanding and updating the EV charging infrastructure to deliver ultrafast CCS (combined charging system), particularly along highways and in majorRead More

OSFP-XD Pluggable Connectors are Finding a Home

OSFP-XD pluggables are targeting AI applications in data centers, high-performance computing (HPC), and select telecom networks. Connectors designed to transfer information in and out of a server, switch, or router have long been recognized as a potential data bottleneck. Processing chips often spend half their time waiting to receive information necessary to function, resulting inRead More

PCI Express 7.0 Specification Released

At twice the speed of PCIe 6.0, the new specification supports AI, machine learning, data centers, and high-speed and high-performance computing across numerous application areas. The PCI-SIG (Peripheral Component Interconnect Special Interest Group) has released the PCI Express 7.0 (PCIe 7.0) specification to members, marking a major advancement in high-speed interconnect performance. Designed to meetRead More

Antenna Evolution Leads Connectivity Advancements

Faster, smaller, and lighter interconnect technologies are transforming electronics. This evolution isn’t limited to connectors; antenna designs are changing rapidly and leading the way for future transformation. As electronic systems become increasingly compact and powerful, the need for faster, more reliable wireless communication is driving innovation in antenna technology. In tandem with advances in high-speedRead More

Designing 5G Installations With Innovative RF Interconnects

5G small cell deployments are booming — and redefining the requirements for coaxial cables and connectors. Global connection and data sharing depends on a high performance communication infrastructure that supports 5G and sets the stage for future 6G network connectivity. Next generation technologies, including increased streaming, automation, and AI depend on accelerating data speeds, ultra-lowRead More

Cable Backplanes Come of Age

Cable backplanes have been a longtime feature of high-performance computing, undergoing several evolutions to keep up with speed and bandwidth requirements. However, as next-generation AI computing systems take hold, the practical limits of copper have been reached, pushing connector suppliers to create products that include optical solutions. Traditional backplane and daughtercard design has been aRead More

Flexible Alternatives to Semi-Rigid Cable Assemblies

As system complexity increases and space constraints tighten, a more adaptable solution has become necessary — without compromising the critical electrical performance requirements that make semi-rigid cables the current standard. In the demanding environments of aerospace, defense, and telecommunications systems, reliability is not just desirable, it’s essential. For decades, semi-rigid coaxial cable assemblies have beenRead More

Robust and Reliable Connectors for Residential Energy Storage Systems

Residential energy storage systems (RESS) are one of the growing ways to realize this vision. Designed for use in homes, a RESS stores excess energy generated by renewable sources, such as solar panels, for use on demand when a residence needs it. The All Electric Society (AES) envisions a world where renewable electrical energy isRead More

Connecting the High-speed Data Networks of Autonomous Vehicles

As advanced driver-assistance systems redefine the driving experience, innovations including software-defined vehicles and high-performance computing are reshaping the automotive industry, with interconnects representing the critical link Most electronic systems deliver and optimize predefined functionality through closely coupled hardware and software elements. Therefore, the perceived natural order of things is for functionality to define the design.Read More

Rail Passenger Information Systems Keep Riders Informed

The hyper-connected nature of modern railways means that even the slightest issue can affect the overall timetable. To keep riders in the loop, both network and train operators have invested greatly to advance passenger information systems. The hyper-connected nature of today’s sophisticated rail services means that a hitch with one train or line can haveRead More

Making Subways Safer with Versatile, Reliable Interconnects

Fire protection systems in 27 underground rail stations are currently being updated. Fieldbus couplers and I/O modules from the WAGO-I/O-SYSTEM 750 and 753 are playing an important part. Passenger safety is the central focus for the Frankfurt Transportation Authority (VGF – Verkehrsgesellschaft Frankfurt). This mission extends from the public transportation lines to points along theRead More

The Expanding Influence of AI

Generative AI, with its massive training workloads, is having a huge impact on a broad range of technologies and related hardware supply chains. It is nearly impossible to avoid hearing about how artificial intelligence has begun impacting nearly every aspect of our lives. Already, AI is being applied to everything from medical diagnostics to judgingRead More

Analysis of the World’s Top 100 Electronic Connector Manufacturers
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