Featured Articles
  • Optics Outpace Copper at OFC 2024

    Bob Hult shares the phenomenal advances in high-speed optical communications showcased at OFC 2024, including interconnects for 200G per lane optical transmission, liquid cooling, co-packaged optics, PAM6, and other technologies that take us far beyond the reach of copper. The 2024 Optical Networking and Communication Conference and Exposition March 24-April 3 in San Diego nearlyRead More

  • 3D Printing Offers Design Flexibility and Manufacturing Possibilities 

    3D printing technology is reaching new levels of quality, giving electronics engineers a powerful prototyping and design tool. But is 3D printing ready for component manufacturing?   Can you 3D print a connector? Certainly. But is it any good—can you actually use it in a circuit? Increasingly, the answer is yes. Recent improvements in industrial gradeRead More

New Technologies

Antennas: The Heart of the IoT

Antennas are crucial to the function of connected devices. Address them early in the design process for a smooth and successful outcome. Antenna systems are gaining prominence as new opportunities emerge to meet the expanding telecommunications needs of IoT and 5G applications. According to a survey by TE Connectivity, the top drivers of antenna developmentRead More

As 5G Moves Towards 6G, Waveguides Will Supplement Connectors

Smaller and higher frequency assemblies add to the complexity of next-generation wireless equipment. Waveguides offer a powerful alternative to coax connectors. Although 5G equipment is just beginning to roll out in production volume, the leading edge of wireless communications research and development and associated standards is looking towards 6G (sixth-generation wireless). The goal of 5GRead More

Automotive Displays Accomplish More with Less Wiring

Heavy and complex cables present a problem in today’s efficient vehicle designs. As more operational functions move to the screen, automotive display standards help streamline connectivity solutions. Soon, nearly every new vehicle will include at least one screen. Cars built since May 1, 2018, for the North American market feature a mandatory backup camera systemRead More

Onboard Technologies Chart Plain Sailing for Autonomous Shipping

Onboard technologies, including networks of instruments and high-tech navigation equipment, have prepared boats and ships for the next step: autonomous operation. A proven history of semi-autonomous operation using networked instruments means that the maritime industry is well prepared for the next autonomous phase. Companies like Garmin supply chart plotters and auto-pilots for commercial vessels, cruisers,Read More

Passenger Information Systems Keep Rail Riders Informed

Passenger Information Systems technologies that deliver timely and accurate travel information help make commuter rail networks efficient and user-friendly. Reliable and rugged interconnects are an essential link in the network. Passenger Information Systems In today’s sophisticated rail networks, timeliness is designed into the tightly controlled system. That means even the slightest hitch with one trainRead More

Industrial Laser Processing Fuels Today’s Modern Electronic Devices

Automated manufacturing processes are integrating industrial lasers for precision processing, inspecting, and testing of materials. Fiber optic connectors help make these systems possible.  Fiber optic technology is enabling a new generation of high power, ultrafast industrial lasers. These precision beams of light are used in testing, inspection, and processing, making the production of components andRead More

Wireless, Wearable, and Implantable Medical Technologies Saved My Life

Wearable consumer-grade technology provided valuable diagnostic information, which led to a successful therapeutic treatment that saved my life. In mid-February, one of my doctors detected an irregular heartbeat during a routine office visit and suggested I see a cardiologist. The cardiologist requested approval from my medical insurance provider for a routine resting electrocardiogram (ECG) andRead More

OFC Live Returns

The Optical Fiber Communication conference presented a hybrid virtual and in-person event packed with the next generation of optical networking technologies and the connectivity solutions needed to support them. The Optical Fiber Communication (OFC) conference and exposition celebrated over 45 years of innovation and progress with the 2022 edition. Recognizing much reduced Covid infection rates,Read More

Nano-Circular Connectors for Sensor Designs in Rugged Applications 

As we place sensors in more rugged environments and extend their uses beyond flat mounting applications, nano-circular connectors and round cable rise to lead in solution-based design strategies. New data-acquisition and information-monitoring technologies have given rise to a completely new field of high-speed image detectors, material sensors, pressure monitors, and even inertia monitors. Today, drones,Read More

European Cities Make Space for Electric Vehicle Charging

European cities are meeting the call to expand the electric vehicle charging network with some creative ideas — and versatile charging connectors — where space is tight. The widespread adoption of electric vehicles has hit several bumps in the road. However, things are changing rapidly; sales in Europe more than doubled in 2021 over 2020,Read More

The Trouble with Solder: Warpage

The shift from tin lead to lead-free solder has created an unintended consequence that has experts exploring multiple avenues for solutions. Soldering is the process used to secure connections on a printed circuit board using metal alloys and heat. The two most common types of soldering are reflow and wave. Traditionally, solder was made fromRead More

New Contact Plating Processes Cut Costs, Improve Environmental Impacts

The RoHS and REACH directives, along with rising material costs, have led to innovative new processes and materials for contact plating. In the world of electronics design, great challenges lead to great innovation. Take the Restriction of Hazardous Substances (RoHS) and Reach directives, for example. These European environmental directives disrupted decades of common processes andRead More

eBook 2024 Bright Ideas
x