Automotive Electrical Connectors

LEDs Illuminate New Automotive Designs
New technology
LEDs Illuminate New Automotive Designs
Superior performance, longer lifespans, efficiency, affordability, and design flexibility make LEDs the obvious choice for most automotive lighting applications, from headlights and taillights to interior ambient lighting, indicators, and controls. One of the most visible advancements in automotive design can be spotted from a mile away: LED lighting…
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LEDs Illuminate New Automotive Designs
LEDs Illuminate New Automotive Designs
Superior performance, longer lifespans, efficiency, affordability, and design flexibility make LEDs the obvious choice for most automotive lighting applications, from headlights and taillights to interior ambient lighting, indicators, and controls. One of the most visible advancements in automotive design can be spotted from a mile away: LED lighting…
E-Mobility's Impact on Energy Demand
E-Mobility's Impact on Energy Demand
Smart grids will support new applications that produce and monetize energy, facilitate EV return of energy to the grid, and export renewable-generated electricity to other countries. E-Mobility has grown fast over the past several years, particularly in Europe and Asia, due in large part to Electric vehicle (EV)…
What are Variable Reluctance Speed Sensors?
What are Variable Reluctance Speed Sensors?
Meet the Connector: Variable Reluctance Speed Sensors Engine speed and position sensing enhance vehicle performance and safety. Engine management, fuel efficiency, and emissions reduction all rely on the accurate measurement of rotational speed. The advancement of this technology is in line with increased demand for high-performance and eco-friendly…
EMI/EMP Connectors Product Roundup
EMI/EMP Connectors Product Roundup
This week’s Product Roundup highlights EMI/EMP connectors from leading connector manufacturers and suppliers. EMI/EMP connectors TE Connectivity Corcom filters, available from Avnet, are renowned for their reliability and effectiveness in mitigating electromagnetic interference (EMI) and radio frequency interference (RFI) in electronic devices. These filters are engineered to meet…
October 2024 Connector Industry News
October 2024 Connector Industry News
Upcoming industry events, as well as recent award, partnership, promotion, personnel, facility, distribution, standards, association, and certification news from across the connector industry. October 2024 Connector Industry News October 2024 Connector Industry News > Event News DigiKey’s popular Back2School Prize Giveaway offers college students a chance to win…
The Engineering Pipeline Begins with FIRST Robotics
The Engineering Pipeline Begins with FIRST Robotics
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…
Connectivity Standards Evolve For Electric, Autonomous Cars
Connectivity Standards Evolve For Electric, Autonomous Cars
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…
What are Automotive Terminals?
What are Automotive Terminals?
What are automotive terminals? Meet the Connector: Automotive Terminals Automotive terminals are used for connecting fuses, battery terminals, and vehicle sensors. They are found in cars, trucks, motorcycles, motorhomes, off-road and construction vehicles, and electric vehicles. Today’s automobiles contain about a mile of wire and thousands of electrical…
USCAR Connectors Product Roundup  
USCAR Connectors Product Roundup  
This week’s Product Roundup highlights USCAR connectors from leading connector manufacturers and suppliers. USCAR connectors Avnet’s Mini50 receptacles from Molex achieve 50% space savings over traditional USCAR 0.64 mm connectors. These single- and dual-row receptacles have smaller terminals to fit more low-current electrical circuits in interior vehicle environments.[market_ad…
August 2024 New Connectivity Products
August 2024 New Connectivity Products
New-to-market connectivity products, including interconnects, wire, cable, and cable assemblies, sensors, antennas, materials, accessories, tools, and development kits. August 2024 New Connectivity Products  August 2024 New Connectivity Products > Interconnects, etc. Hirose Electric’s newly developed BM54 Series board-to-board connector combines floating functionality and miniature size to meet automotive specifications. The BM54 Series takes compact design further with the…
University Students Race to Advance Solar Car Technology
University Students Race to Advance Solar Car Technology
For several decades, teams of students from universities around the world have been competing to build the best solar car, gaining valuable skills and building relationships along the way. Electric vehicles (EVs) continue to gain popularity, yet issues around charging speed, range, and accessibility are still deterrents to…
Automotive Electrification Brings Opportunity for Smart Cities
Automotive Electrification Brings Opportunity for Smart Cities
Automotive electrification, connected transportation infrastructure, and high-speed communication systems are converging to create a safer, more efficient, and more connected automotive ecosystem in cities around the world. Automotive electrification has transformed every vehicle, not just EVs. Safety systems, driver assist technologies, and connected entertainment, navigation, and communication tools…
Automotive SerDes Taps Ethernet for High-Speed Communications
Automotive SerDes Taps Ethernet for High-Speed Communications
The first wave of devices based on the Automotive SerDes Alliance Motion Link Ethernet (ASA-MLE) draft specification are coming out now. These devices will become components of critical infrastructure for the next generation of intelligent Software Defined Vehicles. A new automotive SerDes technology standard is rapidly coming into view: the…
What are HSL/high-speed link connectors? 
What are HSL/high-speed link connectors? 
Meet the Connector: HSL/High-Speed Link Connectors What are HSL/high-speed link connectors?  HSL/High-speed link connectors are used to facilitate high-speed data communication between different components within electronic systems, such as computers, servers, telecommunications equipment, and other digital devices. The term HSL refers to a broad category of high-speed, high-performance…
EV Charging Product Roundup  
EV Charging Product Roundup  
This week’s Product Roundup highlights EV charging interconnects from leading connector manufacturers and suppliers. EV charging interconnects TE Connectivity leverages its deep expertise and cutting-edge technology to present a comprehensive range of electric vehicle charging products. TE’s EV charging products, supplied by Avnet effectively address the challenges faced…
Telematics is the Data and Communications Superstar in Your Car
Telematics is the Data and Communications Superstar in Your Car
Telematics is having its moment as the key to an array of advanced data and communications capabilities— from lane retention and blind spot warnings (available today) to instant crash avoidance notifications and coordinated traffic lights (on the horizon). The practice of collecting vehicle operation data began in the…
Building a Better EV Battery Monitoring System
Building a Better EV Battery Monitoring System
New interconnect technologies help design more efficient, more powerful electric vehicles beginning with the battery pack. The foundation of any electric powertrain is the EV battery pack, as it is here that electrical energy supplied by charging infrastructure is stored. When the vehicle is moving, the battery is…
What is a Busbar?
What is a Busbar?
Meet the Connector: Busbars A busbar is a metallic strip or bar used to conduct electricity from a power source (such as a transformer or generator) to various electrical loads. Busbars provide connection points for electrical devices, such as circuit breakers, fuses, switches, and other components that are…
Automotive Connectors Product Roundup  
Automotive Connectors Product Roundup  
This week’s Product Roundup highlights automotive connectors from leading connector manufacturers and suppliers. Automotive connectors TE Connectivity's (TE) Heavy-Duty Sealed Connectors with MATEnet Inserts are now available from Mouser Electronics. Leverage the high performance of MATEnet terminals and the rugged reliability of heavy-duty connector series housings. This combination…
April 2024 New Connectivity Products 
April 2024 New Connectivity Products 
New-to-market connectivity products, including interconnects, wire, cable, and cable assemblies, sensors, antennas, materials, accessories, tools, and development kits. April 2024 New Connectivity Products April 2024 New Connectivity Products > Interconnects, etc. Amphenol Industrial Sustainable Technologies partnered with Melni Technologies to expand its RadCrimp series of solar splice connectors. The expanded series now includes connectors with current ratings…
How Formula E Contributes to e-Mobility Innovation 
How Formula E Contributes to e-Mobility Innovation 
2Lessons learned in the high-stakes performance racing market transfer to the evolution of automotive and autonomous technologies. High-speed interconnects are key to these designs.   [caption id="attachment_43658" align="aligncenter" width="650"] KYOCERA AVX, Molex, Mouser, and TTI sponsor the Dragon/Penske Autosport car.[/caption] In the rapidly changing landscape of motorsports, Formula…
Alerts and Alarms: Connecting Horns and Backup Alarms
Alerts and Alarms: Connecting Horns and Backup Alarms
These simple but essential vehicle functions can be incorporated into automotive designs with a combination of custom and legacy interconnects. While much of the attention on automotive innovation today is focused on electrification and drivetrain technologies, if you really want to attract attention in a car, automotive horns…
Accelerating into the Future of Mobility as a Service
Accelerating into the Future of Mobility as a Service
In the years to come, it is projected that consumers worldwide will pivot from owning private cars, that they only use a fraction of the time to instead accessing mobility as a service (MaaS). With the breathless coverage of electric vehicles (EVs), it would be easy to believe…
What are solderless terminals? 
What are solderless terminals? 
What are solderless terminals? Meet the Connector: Solderless Terminals Solderless terminals provide a simplified wire joining solution. Whereas soldering provides a permanent connection, solderless terminals are advantageous in applications where connections may need to be disconnected for repair or if a change in design or components is imminent.…
FFC/FPC Solutions Product Roundup
FFC/FPC Solutions Product Roundup
This week’s Product Roundup highlights FFC/FPC power connectors from connector manufacturers and suppliers. Power connectors Axon’ flat flexible cables are designed for board-to-board connections in electronic systems. From 0.30 mm to 1.25 mm pitch, these flat flexible cables provide a space saving solution for PCB connection. They are…
Jan 2024 Connector Industry News
Jan 2024 Connector Industry News
Upcoming industry events, as well as recent award, partnership, promotion, personnel, facility, distribution, standards, association, and certification news from across the connector industry. Jan 2024 Connector Industry News Jan 2024 Connector Industry News > Award News DigiKey ranked #121 on the Forbes 2023 list of America’s Largest Private Companies.…
Next-Generation EV Cell Contacting System Drives Vehicle Innovations
Next-Generation EV Cell Contacting System Drives Vehicle Innovations
The reliable and easy-to-implement interface solution connects cells to the control board in an EV battery module, eliminating the need to daisy chain wires. Eight years ago, Molex took a leap and heavily invested in the equipment and capabilities to develop its cell contacting system in support of…
Five Important Considerations in Electric Vehicle Battery Manufacturing for 2023
Five Important Considerations in Electric Vehicle Battery Manufacturing for 2023
EV batteries have come a long way, with improvements in energy density, charging speed, safety, and cost. Five considerations are top of mind for engineers working on the next generation of battery solutions. The vehicle energy transition is underway. By the end of 2023, the International Energy Agency…
Software-Defined Vehicles: A New Era of Vehicle Customization
Software-Defined Vehicles: A New Era of Vehicle Customization
In April, automotive and component manufacturers, suppliers, and the media flocked to China to participate in Shanghai Auto Show, the world’s largest car show. This year’s theme was “Embracing the New Era of the Automotive Industry,” and the show did not disappoint. Manufacturers showcased 1,500 state-of-the-art vehicles across…
Connector Supplier’s Latest eBook Explores the Vast World of Connectivity
Connector Supplier’s Latest eBook Explores the Vast World of Connectivity
From aviation to energy, military to medical, the connector industry is at the heart of efforts to meet the demand for connectivity that has taken hold across markets and in a plethora of applications. Download your copy of our latest eBook here! Success is tied to the speed…
What are pin headers?
What are pin headers?
Meet the Connector: Pin Headers Pin headers are a type of electrical connector that consists of one or more rows of metal pins or contacts molded into a plastic base. They serve as a bridge between various elements in an electronic device, enabling the distribution of power, data, and…
Wire-to-Board Product Roundup  
Wire-to-Board Product Roundup  
This week’s Product Roundup highlights wire-to-board connectors from leading suppliers. Wire-to-board connectors Avnet supplies Amphenol's FlexLock FPC-to-Board and Flex-to-Wire. The compact design addresses the growing demand for the automotive application market. The connector design is compliant to USCAR- T2V2 and LV-214 S3 specifications.     Anderson Power Products…
Testing Automotive Connectors
Testing Automotive Connectors
For the companies that make and supply them, testing automotive connectors is an important step in their design and production. Electronics make up over 35% of the cost of a modern car, with tens of thousands of electronic components inside each vehicle. If any of them fail to…
The EV Revolution Will Be Connectorized
The EV Revolution Will Be Connectorized
A new category of e-mobility connectors for use in vehicles and charging infrastructure will help create our EV future. E-mobility, or electromobility, is the use of electric propulsion to power vehicles. Over the last decade, e-mobility has rapidly evolved with the adoption of electric cars, buses, trucks, and…
Tesla’s NACS Connector Poised to Standardize U.S. EV Charging Landscape
Tesla’s NACS Connector Poised to Standardize U.S. EV Charging Landscape
The interface is now leading a global field of competitors, simplifying the EV charging process and bringing a future single standard into focus. U.S. automakers Ford and General Motors will adopt Tesla’s North American Charging Standard (NACS) charging connector as the interface of choice for their upcoming EV…
What are CHAdeMO EV Charging Connectors?
What are CHAdeMO EV Charging Connectors?
Meet the Connector: CHAdeMO Connectors The CHAdeMO (CHArge de MOve) EV charging connector, developed by the CHAdeMO Association, is a fast-charging standard interface for electric vehicles. It is primarily used by Japanese automakers, including Nissan, Mitsubishi, KIA, and French companies Peugeot and Citröen. The connector was introduced in…
Headers Product Roundup  
Headers Product Roundup  
This week’s Product Roundup highlights headers from leading suppliers. Headers Avnet supplies Molex's MX150 sealed and unsealed connector system. This field-proven platform offers high-quality, reliable connections in harsh environments to support compact automotive and commercial vehicle applications. With an USCAR interface, class 4 temp ranges (-40 °C to…
Light and Motion: New Automotive LED Technologies Take to the Roads
Light and Motion: New Automotive LED Technologies Take to the Roads
Advances in automotive lighting like laser-powered and adaptive headlights technologies, OLED panels, and micro-LEDs are lighting up the automotive world with the help of miniaturized interconnects. While transformative innovations like automation and electrification are drawing the most attention in the automotive industry, new automotive lighting technologies are also…
Shock, Vibration, and Corrosion: Rugged Materials Help Avoid Damaging Effects in High-Performance Automotive Connectors
Shock, Vibration, and Corrosion: Rugged Materials Help Avoid Damaging Effects in High-Performance Automotive Connectors
Connector material selection plays a critical role in ensuring that automotive connectors deliver reliability and performance over the lifespan of a vehicle. The rigors and extremes these systems are exposed to makes it important for designers to consider many factors to specify the right solution. Electronic architectures in…
What are butt contacts and high-current probes?
What are butt contacts and high-current probes?
Meet the Connector: Butt Contacts and High-Current Probes A butt contact is an energizing connector that functions as a high current probe by directly pressing it to an electrical current-carrying surface, according to Globetech, a Tokyo-based supplier of custom connectors for industrial electrical machinery. Traditionally, a screw or…
LED Product Roundup  
LED Product Roundup  
This week’s Product Roundup highlights connectors from leading suppliers that are used in applications involving LEDs. LEDs The new Dialight 657 PMI from RS is designed for a 11/16” mounting hole diameter and is available with a flat or domed lens. It has 6” wire leads and comes…
Secure Connectors Rev Up Automotive Safety
Secure Connectors Rev Up Automotive Safety
As automotive manufacturing advances, high-speed, press-fit, and other connector technologies evolve to meet current industry demands. Today’s cars are essentially high-end computers on wheels. A decade ago, vehicle electronics centered on basics like power windows, anti-lock braking systems (ABS), and satellite radio. Today’s cars contain a full suite…
New SPE Standard Revolutionizes Automotive Manufacturing
New SPE Standard Revolutionizes Automotive Manufacturing
Single-pair Ethernet technology has been integrated into recent models of automobiles, replacing controller area network (CAN) and other bus systems, with an eye towards a future in which controls, communication, and safety functions will run on Ethernet. Meanwhile, these advantages can also serve industrial automation and automotive manufacturing. …
What are USCAR-Approved Interconnects?
What are USCAR-Approved Interconnects?
Meet the Connector: USCAR-Approved Interconnects USCAR connectors are part of a wide range of interconnect products that meet the specifications of the United States Council for Automotive Research (USCAR), a collaborative automotive research company founded in 1992 to “strengthen the technology base of the U.S. auto industry through…
FAKRA Connectors Product Roundup
FAKRA Connectors Product Roundup
This week’s Product Roundup highlights FAKRA connectors from leading suppliers. FAKRA connectors Mouser Electronics supplies TE Connectivity's FAKRA Automotive Connector System, which features an 800VAC voltage rating, 1A current, 50Ω impedance, and a frequency range of DC up to 6GHz. This comprehensive connector system is fully compatible and…
Formula E’s Gen 3 Car Embraces the E-mobility Racing Mission
Formula E’s Gen 3 Car Embraces the E-mobility Racing Mission
Connector companies play a big role in advancing the technology behind electric powertrains and battery management systems. The Formula E race series showcases the progress in the high-performance vehicle market. The ABB FIA Formula E World Championship electric car racing series is a proving ground for electric mobility,…
Solutions for Vehicle Communications and Power Interconnectivity
Solutions for Vehicle Communications and Power Interconnectivity
The increasing demand for mobile tactical power and communications capabilities presents new interconnect and cable assembly design challenges. The increasing demand for mobile tactical power and communications capabilities for military use presents new interconnect and cable assembly design challenges. In addition to demanding the utmost in durability and…
What are ECU Connectors?
What are ECU Connectors?
Meet the Connector: ECU Connectors ECU Connectors, also called PCM connectors, are used to connect different types of controllers, particularly in vehicle applications. An electronic control unit (ECU) or electronic control module (ECM) is an embedded system that controls one or more of the electrical systems or subsystems in a car or other vehicle. One side of…
USCAR-Approved Interconnects Product Roundup
USCAR-Approved Interconnects Product Roundup
This week’s Product Roundup highlights USCAR-approved interconnects from leading suppliers. USCAR-Approved Interconnects The MX72 squib connector from JAE is a controlled miniature explosive device integrated into an air bag or mechanical retraction system for the SRS. When the sensor detects a collision, an electric current flows through the…
Range and Charge Time are Key in Battery Management System Design
Range and Charge Time are Key in Battery Management System Design
Weight, vibration, and temperature are significant challenges in meeting the goals of long range and fast charging in electric vehicles and battery management system design.  Range and charge time are the main concerns of makers and buyers of electric vehicles (EVs) — how to go farther on a…
Rapid Innovation Puts Pressure on EV Battery Connectors
Rapid Innovation Puts Pressure on EV Battery Connectors
“We’re in the midst of a revolution,” say TE Connectivity’s e-Mobility experts, as automakers make exponential gains in battery performance and electric drivetrain efficiency. The EV battery ecosystem is changing quickly. Automotive OEMs and battery cell and battery pack manufacturers are investing in innovative battery chemistries, new form…
EV Battery Connectors Go the Extra Mile
EV Battery Connectors Go the Extra Mile
EV batteries are improving and the new interconnect products that support them are optimized to manage the high voltage flow of power throughout the vehicle with great safety and efficiency.  Range anxiety — the fear that an electric car’s battery will run out of power and leave you…
EVs Herald a Shift in Powertrain Connectivity
EVs Herald a Shift in Powertrain Connectivity
Innovation in electric vehicle technologies — including the integration of new rugged board-to-board connectors — have expanded mileage ranges and decreased charging time. Despite the negative impacts of supply chain issues and the COVID pandemic on the automotive market, EV registrations are rapidly increasing in major global markets.…
Automotive Displays Accomplish More with Less Wiring
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…
Automotive Ethernet is a Key Enabler for Connected Cars
Automotive Ethernet is a Key Enabler for Connected Cars
Automotive Ethernet interconnect solutions need to be miniaturized, lightweight, modular, optimized for high-speed automotive systems, and compatible with automated assembly processes.  Connectivity is enabling safer, greener, and more enjoyable driving experiences. As connected car technologies within vehicles continues to rise in support of these features, so too does…
What is an EV Charging Connector?
What is an EV Charging Connector?
Meet the Connector: EV Charging Connectors EV charging connectors are used to charge electric vehicles. They connect the vehicle to charging infrastructure, whether that be a "pump" type charger or a suitable high-voltage outlet in a building. The plug end (or male connector) delivers power from an electricity…
Wire-to-Board Automotive Connectors Product Roundup
Wire-to-Board Automotive Connectors Product Roundup
This week’s Product Roundup highlights wire-to-board automotive connectors from leading suppliers. Wire-to-Board Automotive Connectors Greenconn’s wire-to-board connectors are offered in two assembly methods: fixed type and plug-in type. Both types adopt IDC piercing technology, which makes production more economical and allows for a more stable connection. Once the…
New Market Research Report Explores the World Automotive Connector Market
New Market Research Report Explores the World Automotive Connector Market
The automotive industry is the second-largest market for connectors, with increasing production of both conventional and electric vehicles. Bishop & Associates’ new research report explores the products, technologies, supply chain challenges, and other factors impacting the automotive market.   The World Automotive Connector Market The automotive market is…
European Cities Make Space for Electric Vehicle Charging
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…
Insulation Displacement Technology Meets SKEDD to Deliver Superior Benefits for Many Industries
Insulation Displacement Technology Meets SKEDD to Deliver Superior Benefits for Many Industries
From RAST to SKEDD: Insulation displacement technology (IDT) offers solutions for crowded PCBs, including direct mating, flexible placement, compatibility with numerous cable types, and other benefits.  The international terminal block standard for consumer appliances, RAST (Raster Anschluss Steck Technik or Raster Connection Plug Technology) connectors have been in…
What Are FAKRA Connectors And How Do They Work?
What Are FAKRA Connectors And How Do They Work?
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,…
Connectors for Electric Vehicles Product Roundup
Connectors for Electric Vehicles Product Roundup
This week’s Product Roundup highlights connectors for electric vehicles from leading suppliers. Connectors for Electric Vehicles Allied Electronics & Automation supplies the SurLok Plus compression lug from Amphenol. SurLok Plus for EVs and HEVs is a field installable, highly reliable alternative to common compression lugs. Using industry-standard crimp,…
Formula-E Racing Takes Another Spin Despite Delay of New Car
Formula-E Racing Takes Another Spin Despite Delay of New Car
The pandemic delayed the release of the Gen3 racing car, but a souped up Gen2 car is ready for the races. In 2022, electric car technologies will make a dramatic impact as automakers introduce the largest ever field of new EVs. But leading the way are the high…
Electric Vehicles Move into the Mainstream with New EV Battery Technologies
Electric Vehicles Move into the Mainstream with New EV Battery Technologies
Improving EV battery technologies, expanding ranges, and growing charging networks are bringing electric automotive technologies into reach for more consumers, requiring development of new electronic connectors. Battery electric vehicles (BEVs) are moving into the mainstream. This shift is led by government mandates like China’s goal to hit 26…
How Integrated Ethernet Technology Can Increase Functionality in Automotive Applications
How Integrated Ethernet Technology Can Increase Functionality in Automotive Applications
Ethernet is an ideal technology for automotive applications because of its extensive bandwidth, ability to handle high-speed data, security advantages, high reliability, and efficiency. By Chief Enterprises The connected car is a concept that has propelled the automotive industry into the future. The technologies that enable today’s automobiles…
Connected Car Technologies Require Reimagined Transportation Networks
Connected Car Technologies Require Reimagined Transportation Networks
The rise of connected car technologies will have enormous implications for the way people and goods travel. This mass exchange of data will create business efficiencies, safer travels, and faster deliveries. But persistent challenges remain before these technologies can be fully implemented. Not so long ago, the only…
Automotive Testing Puts Connectors Through a Lifetime of Intense Demands
Automotive Testing Puts Connectors Through a Lifetime of Intense Demands
Interconnects used in automotive testing processes endure the rugged conditions of life on the road, before a car is even assembled. Modular rack and panel connectors offer durability, flexibility, and dependability under test conditions. Auto buyers expect new cars to provide a smoother, quieter, and easier driving experience…
High-Voltage Automotive Connectors Product Roundup
High-Voltage Automotive Connectors Product Roundup
This week’s Product Roundup highlights high-voltage automotive connectors (800V+) from leading suppliers. High-Voltage Automotive Connectors  The LSH rack and panel connectors from Smiths Interconnect include leading-edge Hypertac hyperboloid contact technology that ensures LSH connectors are immune to shock, vibration and fretting. In addition, the polyphenylene sulfide (PPS) insulators…
The Instrumentation Connector Market
The Instrumentation Connector Market
It’s all about higher speeds and higher bandwidths. As many economies begin to emerge from the pandemic, instrumentation companies are bracing for a surge in test equipment. Semiconductor companies will require testing of the latest 5G chips, and Analytical & Scientific labs are gearing up for the vast…
Modular Connector Solutions Enable Designers to Create Affordable Custom Connectors
Modular Connector Solutions Enable Designers to Create Affordable Custom Connectors
Connector suppliers are delivering flexible and modular solutions that enable customers to meet their connector needs without the expense of a truly custom connector product. The connector market is made up of astounding complexity. From rugged power connectors used on ships at sea to the high-speed connectors used…
Top 12 Technology Trends: The Evolution of Proprietary to Open Source Connectors
Top 12 Technology Trends: The Evolution of Proprietary to Open Source Connectors
Sometimes a custom connector design will remain a limited-use product. Other times, it may become a popular proprietary connector. In some instances, the evolution continues and the connector experiences widespread use as a commercial or open-source product. This is the eighth installment in the Technology Trends series by…
30 Years of Automotive CAN
30 Years of Automotive CAN
In 1991, the new Mercedes S-Class debuted as an engineer’s luxury sedan with dozens of innovations, including the first automotive CANbus on a production car. What started in luxury is today indispensable. Cars with internal combustion engines are essentially mechanical devices that, in theory, need little to no…
Three Key Connectivity Trends Improving Performance and Reducing Costs in e-Mobility Applications
Three Key Connectivity Trends Improving Performance and Reducing Costs in e-Mobility Applications
Innovations in connectivity component materials, wiring designs, and modularization are three key drivers that are helping to improve the productivity, efficiency, and costs of e-mobility systems.  By Shawn D’Gama, Field Applications Engineer, ERNI Electronics Americas, and Christine Knable, President, C Things Differently e-mobility Although we tend to think…
Cable-Terminated Automotive Connectors Product Roundup
Cable-Terminated Automotive Connectors Product Roundup
This week’s Product Roundup highlights cable-terminated automotive connectors from leading suppliers. Cable-Terminated Automotive Connectors Lumberg designs and develops several series of RAST connectors that are widely employed in OEM and Tier 1 automotive applications. These field-proven RAST series encompass an extensive range of cable-terminated automotive connectors, including the…
2021 High-Reliability, Harsh-Environment Connectivity eBook
2021 High-Reliability, Harsh-Environment Connectivity eBook
Our first 2021 eBook features 13 technical articles and 40+ product features that address connectivity trends and specification tips for high-reliability connectors, cables, and sensors deployed in harsh-environment applications spanning land, sea, air, and space. Learn from experts at more than 20 leading connectivity companies. Our new 2021…
ECIA Charts a Resilient Electronics Industry
ECIA Charts a Resilient Electronics Industry
We talk to ECIA’s chief analyst Dale Ford about how the electronics industry weathered a challenging year with success and how the lessons learned will impact the way it operates in the years ahead. Dale Ford, chief analyst at the Electronic Components Industry Association (ECIA), described 2020 as…
EV Charging Connectors are Key to Power and Security
EV Charging Connectors are Key to Power and Security
As e-mobility continues to gain acceptance in both consumer and commercial markets, EV charging infrastructure equipped with safe and secure charging connectors provides a critical link between the power grid, vehicles, and payment systems. The number of electric vehicles (EVs) on the roads is expected to rise dramatically…
EV Charging Connectors are the Foundation of Advancing Vehicle and Charging Technologies
EV Charging Connectors are the Foundation of Advancing Vehicle and Charging Technologies
A growing number of automakers are set to turbocharge electric vehicle adoption in the years ahead. Charging connector designs support this evolution. By Levon Altunyan, Product and Marketing Manager, and Stuart Denny, Sales Manager, JAE Europe  Although electric vehicle (EV) technology has made great strides in recent years,…
Five Technology Trends Driving New Connector Designs
Five Technology Trends Driving New Connector Designs
The connector world is constantly evolving to support dynamic market trends. Emerging high-speed connectivity products are currently responding to a number of technology trends and, once released to market, will serve, inspire, and enable a multitude of next-gen, high-speed applications for many years to come. As businesses and…
Finding the Right Route for 5G RF Connectors
Finding the Right Route for 5G RF Connectors
The arrival of 5G RF networks will bring safe, reliable autonomous vehicles closer to reality. To make this possible, the integrity of RF transmissions must be protected. 5G RF networks promise to transform the driving experience. The ability to handle high-speed data from multiple sensors within both our…
Four Key Features to Consider When Choosing Automotive Connector Systems
Four Key Features to Consider When Choosing Automotive Connector Systems
Legacy connectors have served automotive connector systems through many design evolutions. Now, however, as new technologies make it possible to design safer, smarter, and greener cars, a new generation of connectors is needed to serve these systems. Vehicle designers and manufacturers rely on many connector systems that have…
Top 10 Automotive Connector Manufacturers
Top 10 Automotive Connector Manufacturers
The automotive market is the largest market for connectivity products. As connected, autonomous, and electric automotive technologies continue to advance, demand for connectors and other key connectivity products continue to accelerate.  The world’s top 10 automotive connector manufacturers ranked by 2019 sales collectively recorded total worldwide sales of…