FIRST Robotics has become an important force in the development of future engineers. Many of the young professionals working on the latest automotive technologies, from EVs to automation, got their start on a FIRST team, and many interconnect professionals volunteer as mentors with the organization. In an exclusive interview, FIRST founder Dean Kamen and MouserRead More

Vehicle systems produce and consume vast amounts of data, raising concerns around data integrity and security, and the ever-present challenge of electromagnetic compatibility. In this fast-changing scenario, which industry standards do designers need to keep in mind? The growth of plug-in hybrid and electric vehicles and the ever-greater sophistication of advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS)Read More

What are automotive terminals? Meet the Connector: Automotive Terminals Today’s automobiles contain about a mile of wire and thousands of electrical connections. These connections power and control the vehicle and its accessories, including safety and infotainment features. They link the battery and the vehicle’s electrical system to provide efficient power transfer and maintain the integrityRead More

As the data humans create and consume reaches once unimaginable volumes, a new nomenclature has been created to describe it. Carl Sagan, the eminent American astronomer, planetary scientist, cosmologist, astrophysicist, science communicator, author, and professor, invited people to imagine the huge number of stars in our galaxy. His famous quote, “billions upon billions of stars,”Read More

This week’s product roundup highlights FFC and FPC connector solutions from top suppliers. I-PEX Connectors’ DW5 two-way FPC and discrete wire connectors can accommodate 0.2mm-thick (±0.3mm) FPC cables or 34AWG discrete wire using the same PCB and receptacle combination, making them ideal for use in a variety of space-constrained portable electronics, including laptop screens. TheseRead More

This week’s product roundup highlights some of the highest-performance compression connector products currently available on the market. Compression Connector Products AVX Interconnect’s 9155-400 Series two-piece battery connectors have a 4mm pitch and a unique angled contact lead-in on both sides, which, unlike most other connectors in this category, allows pluggable devices to engage from eitherRead More

If you have not attended a theatrical performance recently, you may be surprised by the extent that advanced digital lighting contributes to your experience. Theatrical lighting has evolved from candlelight foot lamps to laser video projection systems. Until late in the 17th century, theatrical performances were held outdoors in the daytime using only natural light.Read More

Consumer connectivity helped drive miniaturization trends. Now R&D is focused on doing more within existing form factors. We talk to a supplier on the cutting edge of consumer design to learn what’s coming next. Consumer design has been a key driver of the miniaturization of electronic components. Guided by Moore’s Law, the evolution of computingRead More

Compact wearable devices often lack sufficient PCB space for the additional hardware that increases device capabilities. Hybrid connectors offer a solution. Consumers desire sleek and comfortable wearable electronics with reliable performance and a long battery life. However, compact wearable devices often lack sufficient PCB space for the integration and mating of systems such as displayRead More

As more companies see the financial and environmental benefits of net zero, connector suppliers continue to develop product solutions to help meet those goals. Single-pair Ethernet is one solution. It has a smaller footprint than traditional Ethernet connectors and uses less materials to enable field devices to connect directly to the network. Single-pair Ethernet, orRead More

Smart factories are at the forefront of transforming the manufacturing industry through innovations in automation, robotics, and data-driven solutions. Manufacturers play a pivotal role in this evolution by providing cutting-edge connector solutions tailored to the needs of modern manufacturing. Smart factories have emerged to meet the increasing demands of modern manufacturing, optimizing production and efficiency,Read More

Internet connectivity, digital business models and data-driven services, remote access, and data analytics all contribute to needs and challenges across nearly every industry. Domink Merli, author of the new book, Engineering Secure Devices: A Practical Guide for Embedded System Architects and Developers, explores ways to design security measures into embedded systems. Most modern products needRead More

Connector companies are bringing new technology advances, including AI, to railways in the U.S. and abroad, making them safer, more efficient, and more cost-effective. Much of the current rail infrastructure in the U.S. is based on systems that have been in use for half a century or more, due to the industry’s notable hesitation toRead More

High-performance vehicle technologies require new electrical design strategies and advanced connectors to meet these challenges. As the transportation world integrates high=performance vehicle technologies into vehicles of all types and transitions to electromobility, the traditional decentralized electrical system architecture is reaching its limits. The complexity and high-speed properties required for technologies such as advanced infotainment, safetyRead More

UMP (Ultra Miniature Push-Pull) connectors are compact, high-performance connectors designed for applications where space is limited and reliability is crucial. These connectors feature a push-pull mechanism, which allows for easy insertion and removal while ensuring a secure connection. UMP connectors are often used in medical devices, industrial equipment, military applications, and other industries that requireRead More

Magnetic and breakaway connectors are highly valued for their quick-connect and quick-release usability. In medical devices, they enhance safety, efficiency, and reliability in fast-paced environments. In medical equipment, the use of specialty connector types including push-pulls, keyed and coded interfaces, and magnetic connectors can make a difference in quality of care. There’s a direct connectionRead More

Today’s small, wearable CGM devices challenge design engineers with ensuring greater functionality in much less space. Miniaturized interconnect solutions with ultra-low profiles and enhanced pin density deliver more discreet and comfortable monitoring solutions. A new generation of wearable continuous glucose monitors (CGMs) is dramatically improving medical care and quality of life for people with diabetes.Read More

What are Micro TCA connectors? The rise of mobile telecommunications and text messaging in the early 2000s created a need to upgrade from existing carrier grade computing architectures. MicroTCA connectors addressed the need for more compact systems that were less expensive, but still maintained reliability and data throughput. Meet the Connector: MicroTCA Connectors MicroTCA (microRead More

Computer-intensive applications have stimulated the growth of a large-scale purpose-built AI infrastructure. The connector industry will benefit from the AI evolution due to demands for exceptional speed, reduced latency, and energy efficiency. Artificial intelligence exploded into public awareness on November 30, 2022, with the release of ChatGPT and its influence has grown exponentially ever since. ThisRead More

High quality headers and feedthrough plates assisted in the successful mission to gather information on auroras and high-altitude winds. The results will potentially improve satellites and communication systems. At 12:41 a.m. on November 8, 2023, NASA launched the DISSIPATION sounding rocket from the Poker Flat Range in Fairbanks, Alaska, to determine how auroras heat theRead More

What are TCA connectors? Meet the Connector: TCA Connectors  TCA connectors, or thermal compression anisotropic (TCA) connectors, are technically not connectors, but rather a termination technique. This seldom-used process was devised in the 1970s for use in electronics and telecommunications applications. TCA connectors use a liquid strip or solid pad of conductive material to createRead More

Engineers are rethinking system architecture to accommodate increasing data rates and performance demands. Emerging technologies like co-packaged optics and OSFP-XD pluggables promise higher bandwidth and improved efficiency. Unless you have spent the last two years living in a remote cave in the Himalayas, the emergence of artificial intelligence has likely caught your attention. There isRead More

Advanced connectivity solutions are emerging to support new AI data center architectures. High-speed board-to-board connectors, next-generation cables, backplanes, and near-ASIC connector-to-cable solutions operating at speeds up to 224 Gb/s-PAM4 will accelerate the future of computing. By Wai Kiong Poon, Senior Global Product Manager for Mirror Mezz, Molex Artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) applicationsRead More

The U.S. Commerce Department has released its strategic vision for the U.S. Artificial Intelligence Safety Institute to advance AI with safety and responsible innovation. Hardware development is an important part of the conversation.  The rapid development and integration of artificial intelligence (AI) into various aspects of society necessitate the development of standards and guidelines toRead More

This week’s product roundup highlights RF connector solutions from top suppliers. I-PEX Connectors’ MHF® I LK Connector System delivers simple, secure connections in applications exposed to high shock and vibration, including: automobiles, aircraft, and drones, and is the only RF connector/harness system with a built-in locking feature that doesn’t require epoxy or tape to keepRead More

This week’s product roundup highlights push-pull connectors from leading suppliers. Heilind Electronics offers the MediSpec™ Medical Plastic Circular (MPC) Interconnect System from Molex, which delivers high-reliability electrical performance especially designed to meet stringent medical standards at a fraction of the cost of competing machined-contact systems. This system features lightweight, medical-grade plastic housings compatible with autoclave,Read More

This week’s product roundup highlights some of the most robust, reliable, and highest-performance wire and cable products available on today’s market. Stewart Connector’s SealJack™ Cable Applied Series preassembled cable assemblies provide high-reliability connectivity in harsh-environment Ethernet applications, including those within the IoT umbrella. They can be customized with IP67 and RJ45 ends using CAT 5eRead More