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Anderson Power and JPCPT Tackle AI Connectivity

Two interconnect companies combine their expertise to address the unique connectivity challenges of rapidly expanding AI infrastructure. AI’s computational needs are growing more than twice as fast as Moore’s Law, pushing toward 100 gigawatts of new demand in the U.S. by 2030. Long-time partners Anderson Power and JPCPT, the…

Data Centers Under Pressure: Designing infrastructure for an AI-driven future

Ethernet Alliance 2026 Roadmap is here!

What are EDSFF Connectors?

DesignCon Product Roundup

Listing of Market Articles
Anderson Power and JPCPT Tackle AI Connectivity Two interconnect companies combine their expertise to address the unique connectivity challenges of rapidly expanding AI infrastructure. AI’s computational needs are growing more than twice as fast as Moore’s Law, pushing toward 100 gigawatts of new demand in the U.S. by 2030. Long-time partners Anderson Power and JPCPT, the…
Data Centers Under Pressure: Designing infrastructure for an AI-driven future Data center growth is reshaping how infrastructure is designed and scaled, placing new demands on the connectors that underpin power and data transmission. By Greg MacDonald, global business development manager - Amphenol CS Products, PEI Genesis Data centers are foundational to the global digital economy, supporting everything from cloud…
Ethernet Alliance 2026 Roadmap is here! It’s all about high speeds but some customers will take a little longer to get there. The world is increasingly looking to AI solutions, creating a growing demand for speed and scale. To keep pace with this new era in technology, the Ethernet Alliance released its 2026 Ethernet…
What are EDSFF Connectors? What are EDSFF Connectors? EDSFF connectors are a family of form factors used by Enterprise and Datacenter SSD Form Factor (EDSFF) drives. This high-speed, high-power, enterprise-grade PCIe/NVMe SSD connector standard was developed by the SNIA (Storage Networking Industry Association) to meet the needs of modern data center design with scalability, density, and…
DesignCon Product Roundup This week’s Product Roundup highlights products from leading suppliers featured at DesignCon 2026. Products featured at DesignCon Amphenol Communications Solutions will feature 112G PAM4 Mini Cool Edge connectors, PCIe Gen 7 Mini Cool Edge IO connectors, and BarKlip BK1200 HD I/O 1OU cable assemblies. Mini Cool Edge is a…
Data Transmission in the Fast Lane Advanced signal conditioning and error correction have contributed to achieving channel bandwidth far beyond what was expected just a few years ago. Moving to a higher order modulation provides a pathway to achieving next generation speeds. Constantly increasing data transmission speed over a communication link has been a…
Key Connector Considerations for Air-Cooled and Liquid-Cooled Data Centers Data centers use many methods to keep their information and communication technology equipment cool, including traditional air-cooling and newer immersion cooling methods. Article Contributed By David Beach, Market Segment Manager, Anderson Power Air-based cooling systems have been the go-to method for keeping information and communication technology (ICT) equipment…
What are Hard Metric Connectors? Meet the Connector: Hard Metric Connectors Hard metric connectors are a highly standardized, high-density solution for high-speed data and power transmission. The term "hard metric" refers to the exclusive use of standard metric measurements, as opposed to "soft metric" components that use metric dimensions converted from inch measurements.…
Optical Backplanes Product Roundup This week’s Product Roundup highlights optical backplanes from leading connector manufacturers and suppliers. Optical Backplanes The Amphenol R-VPX Evolution Series available at PEI-Genesis offers high-speed modules capable of 16+ Gb/s data rate transfer performance design to support the latest high-speed protocols while still meeting open VPX requirements. The…
December 2025 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. December 2025 Connector Industry News December 2025 Connector Industry News > Award News Weidmuller USA announced that the global Weidmüller Group has earned the prestigious…
AI Leadership: The Race to Global Technology Supremacy AI leadership could give countries a major advantage in exploring advanced physics, energy production, and cybersecurity, as well as developing new materials, medications, and manufacturing processes that will leave other nations in the dust. Competition between nations, tribes, cities, and individuals seems to be baked into human experience…
PCIe High-Speed Interface Offers a Flexible Future The PCI standard continues to evolve to meet the challenges of PCB design and offers the flexibility to play a role in future high-speed applications. By Florian Guglhör and Martin Adamczyk, ept connectors GmbH The PCI (Peripheral Component Interconnect) standard originated in the early 1990s as a bus…
Selecting RF Interconnects for Quantum Computers Quantum engineers must consider the complex needs of today’s computing systems as well as plan for future needs as performance expectations inevitably scale up. Three areas of consideration help guide component selection. Article contributed by SV Microwave The field of quantum computing is undergoing a rapid evolution with…
What is a Server Rack? Meet the Connector: Server Racks Server racks are framework structures that house and organize IT hardware components, including servers and interconnects. They are an essential element of data center design; beyond merely containing the equipment, their form and design can contribute to system cooling and performance. Server racks may…
High-Speed Connectors Product Roundup This week’s Product Roundup highlights high-speed connectors from leading connector manufacturers and suppliers. High-speed connectors The Amphenol R-VPX Evolution Series, available at PEI-Genesis, offers high-speed modules capable of 16+ Gb/s data rate transfers. The series supports the latest high-speed protocols while still meeting OpenVPX requirements. The R-VPX Evolution…
September 2025 New Connectivity Products New-to-market connectivity products, including interconnects, wire, cable, and cable assemblies, sensors, antennas, materials, accessories, tools, and development kits. September 2025 New Connectivity Products September 2025 New Connectivity Products > Interconnects, etc. DigiKey added more than 32,000 innovative new product introductions (NPIs) in the second quarter of 2025, extensively expanding its range of products available for same-day shipment. In total,…
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…
Replacing Printed Wiring with Engineered Cable Solutions for High-Speed Applications Getting faster transmission through interconnects is not as simple as just turning up the speed with a dial. It requires adjustments to signal modulation and SerDes technology, as well as advancements in interconnectivity and IC packaging. Since networking equipment operating at 100G, 200G, and 400G total data rate…
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…
What are SAS Connectors? Meet the Connector: SAS Connectors SAS connectors are used for high-speed, reliable data transfer in high-speed storage applications. SAS connectors are rectangular connectors used for high-speed, reliable data transfer in high-speed storage applications. SAS supports both serial and parallel communication and can be backward compatible with SAS 1.0…
Prototyping and Development Tools Product Roundup This week’s Product Roundup highlights prototyping and development tools from leading connector manufacturers and suppliers. Prototyping and Development Tools SV Microwave’s VITA Developer Kits allow customers to quickly and easily prototype embedded system designs for VITA 67 using ruggedized cable assemblies and backplane modules in SMPM, SMPS, and…
Meet the CEO: Weidmuller USA’s Randy Sadler Weidmuller USA’s new CEO joined the company just in time to celebrate the company's 50th year in North America. But Randy Sadler's own history with the company goes back decades, too — he joined as a college student and moved all the way up through the ranks. From…
Open-Source Technologies Revolutionize the Factory Floor Manufacturing and automation are undergoing a new industrial revolution. The growing demand for interoperability, interchangeability, and portability is driving this significant transformation led by open-source technologies. Open-source technologies, from Raspberry Pi-based industrial controllers to Linux edge devices, have enabled a shift in how industries approach automation. Open-source solutions…
What are DIN 41612 Connectors? Meet the Connector: DIN 41612 Connectors DIN 41612, a standard for electrical connectors used in rack-based electrical systems, defines 13 different types of connectors. DIN 41612/IEC 60603-2 connectors are used to establish a connection between the plug-in card and backplane, mainly for 19-inch racks. The wide variety of…
Connectors for Security Applications Product Roundup This week’s Product Roundup highlights connectors for security applications from leading connector manufacturers and suppliers. Connectors for security applications PEI-Genesis supplies Amphenol RJ Field series connectors that allow for the use of an Ethernet Class D/CAT5e connection for Ethernet over twisted-pair networks in harsh environments. The Amphenol RJ…
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…
Edge AI Revolutionizes Real-Time Data Processing and Automation Edge AI offers reduced latency, faster processing, a reduced need for constant internet connectivity, and fewer privacy concerns. As demand for real-time intelligence grows, this technology represents a significant shift in how data is processed. Edge AI uses artificial intelligence directly within a device, computing near the data…
Technology Tackles Labor Shortages in Manufacturing With unemployment rates low and the connector industry continuing to expand, attracting and retaining qualified workers has become difficult. How can new technologies help manufacturers solve this challenge? Unemployment rates remain steady and low in many regions. Meanwhile, the connector industry continues to expand, making it difficult for…
What are MTP/MPO Cables? Meet the Cable: MTP/MPO Cables MTP and MPO cables are critical components in telecommunication networks and high-speed computing environments such as data centers. These optical cables deliver the higher transmission speeds and larger capacity requirements of cloud computing in the era of big data. MTP and MPO cables…
Fibre Channel Connectors Product Roundup This week’s Product Roundup highlights Fibre Channel connectors from leading suppliers. Fibre Channel connectors Avnet offers Broadcom Fibre Channel kits that facilitate a simple means to evaluate and experience their products. These fiber optic kits contain all the components and tools required to quickly evaluate and access the…
Heat in Data Centers: The Conundrum of Thermal Management Heat has a direct effect on device reliability. As the internal temperature of a chip exceeds its maximum rating, reliability begins to drop off. This results in a shortened life or complete chip failure. Advancing the limits of computing performance has been a constant defining objective of system…
How to Read an Eye Diagram: Eye Diagrams in Digital Communications Eye diagrams are an indispensable tool for optimizing digital communications systems and components. They enable engineers to diagnose issues, fine-tune performance, and ensure compliance with industry standards. Eye diagrams are a test used to analyze the fidelity of high-speed digital transmissions. By overlaying multiple instances of a signal’s…
Top 10 in World Sales: Selecting a Connector Vendor A new series of articles from Bishop & Associates will explore the global connector industry to identify the top 10 companies in world connector sales, by geographic region, manufactured products, and by markets served. In this first article in the series, learn about the leading companies by total…
What is VITA 57.4 FMC+? Meet the Connector: VITA 57.4 FMC+ 57.4 FMC+, the VITA 57.4 standard, provides specifications describing an I/O mezzanine module with connection to an FPGA (Field Programmable Gate Array) or other device with reconfigurable I/O capability. 57.4 is the latest extension of the FMC (VITA 57.1) standard and defines…
Memory and SIM card connectors Product Roundup This week’s Product Roundup highlights Memory and SIM card connectors from leading connector manufacturers and suppliers. Memory and SIM card connectors Amphenol is the first in the industry to offer card sockets for both microSD Express and Micro SD cards (UHS-I). The 17-pin microSD Express connector can achieve…
AI Demands a Fresh Look at System Architecture 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…
New Connectivity Solutions for the AI Data Center 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…
A Standardized Approach to AI Safety and Innovation 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…
What are Loopback Cables? Meet the Connector: Loopback Cables A loopback cable is a diagnostic tool for testing the functionality of a physical port in networking systems. They are used to assess and resolve any issues with a network interface or network interface card (NIC) without linking to an external device. The…
Edge Card Product Roundup This week’s Product Roundup highlights edge-card connectors from leading connector manufacturers and suppliers. Edge card connectors KYOCERA AVX’s 9159-650 series of edge card connectors provides a one-piece, board-to-board solution for use in datacom applications for a broad range of markets. These edge-card connectors are designed with gold-plated beryllium copper…
June 2024 New Connectivity Products New-to-market connectivity products, including interconnects, wire, cable, and cable assemblies, sensors, antennas, materials, accessories, tools, and development kits. June 2024 New Connectivity Products June 2024 New Connectivity Products > Interconnects, etc. Molex introduced its MX-DaSH family of data-signal hybrid connectors that unify power, signal, and high-speed data connectivity in a single connector system. These innovative wire-to-wire and wire-to-board connectors…
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…
Maintaining Connections in Compact Board-to-Board Applications A system cannot sustainably operate if all components are constantly at maximum stress capacity. The ticket to longevity lies in designing a component system that can tolerate electrical fluctuations as well as physical movement of the hardware. Data centers, data storage, data display on screens – managing the…
State of the Industry: 2022-2023 Connector Sales Bishop & Associates’ new report details global connector sales by region, market, and product category for 2022-2023, with insights into 2023 and beyond. In brief: Sales were down in 2022 — except where they were up. Bishop & Associates has been tracking the activities of the global connector…
What are DIN Standard Connectors? Meet the Connector: DIN Standard Connectors The German standards organization DIN is behind the quality, safety, and interoperability of electronic components used around the world. The term "DIN connector" refers to a wide range of connectors that adhere to standards set by the Deutsches Institut für Normung (DIN)…
Mezzanine Connectors Product Roundup This week’s Product Roundup highlights mezzanine connectors from leading connector manufacturers and suppliers. Mezzanine Connectors The Archer .8 series from Harwin has a 5 mm stack height. These cost-effective, dual-row 0.8 mm-pitch board-to-board connectors are intended for uses with limited available space. These include factory automation and environmental…
Out Now! New eBook Shares Bright Ideas for Electrification Industry experts share their latest innovations and connectivity solutions for this age of rapid technological advances. Download your copy here![market_ad position="1"] As the list of connected and electrified aspects of our lives continues to grow, connector manufacturers and OEMs must consider sustainability, safety, efficiency, durability, performance, and value…
DesignCon 2024 in Review Connector suppliers shared new high-speed solutions for IoT, signal processing, electric vehicles, energy storage, machine learning and AI, photonics, 5G, and other technologies at DesignCon 2024. Cloudy skies and drenching rain failed to dampen attendance and enthusiasm at this year’s edition of DesignCon, held in Santa Clara, California,…
Chip Technology Struggles to Keep Pace with Moore’s Law The technical challenges of designing and building devices that pack tremendous computing power into tiny packages are considerable. But new high density semiconductor technologies offer a path to keeping Moore’s Law alive. For nearly 60 years, Moore’s Law has set the pace of advancements in semiconductor chip density,…
NBASE-T and Integrated Connector Modules Speed Up Networks The NBASE-T standard was devised to create lower-cost upgrade paths to boost network performance, achieve multigigabit speeds, while using CAT 5 and CAT 6 cabling already in place. There has always been an imperative to move data more rapidly, to simultaneously reduce the amount of time waiting for…
Open Compute Project Initiative Drives Efficiency in New Data Center Designs The OPC has grown into a collaborative community in which interconnect suppliers work with technology innovators to drive innovation and efficiency in data center infrastructure through open-source hardware. The Open Compute Project (OCP) is an initiative that aims to design and share open-source hardware technologies, including interconnects,…
What are AISG Interconnects? Meet the Connector: AISG Interconnects AISG interconnects are circular connectors and cables used in telecommunications to connect antennas, amplifiers, and sensors to controllers, usually base stations, such as in 5G networks and various cell tower equipment. AISG interconnects are named for the Europe-based Antenna Interface Standard Group, which…
Board-to-Board Product Roundup This week’s Product Roundup highlights board-to-board connectors from leading connector manufacturers and suppliers. Board-to-board connectors Smiths Interconnect’s CMD connector is a versatile, high-density, four-contact row connector solution for board-to-board and wire-to-board with built in coding and keying as well as ESA qualification. With a 0.6 mm contact diameter, CMD…
AI Everywhere From high schools where students use artificial intelligence to complete assignments to chatbots that report the status of your lost luggage, AI is everywhere. AI seems like a new phenomenon, but this technology has been in development for 70 years. The term artificial intelligence was coined as early as…
Future-Proof High-Speed Data Transmission with Fiber Optic Splice Boxes Fiber-optic splice boxes ensure continuously reliable data transmission in real-time via fiber optics, enabling cloud-based technologies such as the Internet of Things to bring us to a state of ubiquitous computing. [caption id="attachment_43263" align="aligncenter" width="600"] Splice boxes bundle connected end devices on the active side to the loose…
What are SFP (Small Form Factor Pluggables)? Meet the Connector: SFP (Small Form-Factor Pluggable) An SFP (small form-factor pluggable) is a hot-pluggable transceiver that allows devices to communicate with one another through data transmission. SFPs provide the required optical or electrical reach via copper or fiber optic cables. SFPs transmit and receive data at the…
SFF Fiber Product Roundup This week’s Product Roundup highlights SFF fiber from leading connector manufacturers and suppliers. SFF Fiber The Souriau 8D ELIO Series connectors from PEI-Genesis feature a flexible 38999 circular option for fiber optic termini. They are designed around a robust 2.5 mm ceramic ferrule, with insertion and retention held stable…
November 2023 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. November 2023 Connector Industry News November 2023 Connector Industry News > Event News As part of the company’s 100th anniversary celebration, Phoenix Contact is bringing…
Wi-Fi 6 Eases the Wireless Connectivity Traffic Jam New technologies make this latest protocol more efficient by addressing reliability, lower latency, greater throughput, battery life, and security. Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax), released in 2019, is the latest wireless standard currently available. While it is faster than its predecessors, Wi-Fi 5 (802.11ac) and Wi-Fi 4 (802.11n), the main…
Five Keys to Selecting the Right Contacts Manufacturer for Smart Devices The growing benefits and functionality offered by connected or intelligent devices has led to the proliferation of smart connectivity in all sectors. Precision contacts are key to design success. Keys for Selecting an Electrical Contacts Manufacturer for Smart Devices Smart connectivity has become an important function in a…
What is the Fieldbus Protocol? Meet the Connector: What is the Fieldbus Protocol? A fieldbus is a serial bus system used to exchange data between different system components over long distances and under high external load. Fieldbus is a communication protocol used in automation and control systems to facilitate real-time data exchanges between…
Filtered connectors Product Roundup 2023 This week’s Product Roundup highlights filtered connectors from leading connecting manufacturers and suppliers. Filtered connectors Amphenol Filter Connectors from PEI-Genesis offer EMI protection in one compact interconnect device, making them ideal for military and aerospace applications. In the most common configuration, capacitors are mounted inside the connector between…
What is a D-Sub Connector? Meet the Connector: D-sub Connectors D-subminiature connectors, also called D-subs, are a type of electrical connector used for analog and digital video signals, serial and parallel data transmission, and high-reliability applications. The connector is named after its D-shaped metal shell.[market_ad position="1"] James D. Cannon, the founder of ITT…
Flexibility Helps OEMs During Period of Component Shortages Component backlogs are easing, the end of the chip shortage is in sight, and the electronics supply chain is starting to recover from its long COVID disruption. Distributors say flexibility is the secret to OEM success during this recovery phase. Anyone in the market for a vehicle will…
In New Product Development, Timing is Everything Introducing a new product that satisfies a significant emerging need is the ultimate goal of every market manager. Finding that sweet spot with a product that works, and can be manufactured and sold at a profit, keeps design engineers up at night. Managers are imbued with a business…
Protecting Electronic Supply Chains in an Uncertain World After years of pandemic disruption, the supply chain for electronic components is bouncing back. The key to future success hinges on our ability to apply what we learned during the pandemic to build dynamic supply chains that can weather the storms to come. Pandemics, natural disasters, and wars,…
What are OSFP Transceivers? Meet the Connector: OSFP Transceivers Data centers support the IT infrastructure needed to run data-intensive applications and their ever-growing demand for storage. From remote work and streaming entertainment to decentralized finance and the connected devices that make up the Internet of Things, the need for 400G technology is…
AOC/DAC/ACC Product Roundup This week’s Product Roundup highlights AOC/DAC/ACC assemblies from leading suppliers. AOC/DAC/ACC Avnet supplies 3M’s Twin Axial PCIe Extender Assemblies for PCIe 4.0 applications. This family of cable assemblies includes X8 and X16 connectors utilizing 3M Low Loss Twin Axial Cable 85 ohm, 31 AWG, which is ideal for…
Connectors & Cybersecurity: Interconnect Solutions Help Protect Digital Assets Data breaches are a billion-dollar problem, wreaking havoc with financial systems, medical records, businesses, and individuals. As supply chains and infrastructure also become increasingly connected, protecting cybersecurity is critical. Strategic hardware selection can help protect networks. Cybersecurity is often portrayed as a white hat hacker at a monitor,…
OFC Celebrates High-Performance Optical Interconnects Once again, OFC proved to be the premier showcase of high-performance optical and copper interconnects in communication and network applications. The 2023 edition of the Optical Fiber Communications Conference and Exhibition (OFC) roared back to normalcy after the muting effect of the COVID-19 pandemic. Over 11,500 participants from…
Five Considerations When Specifying RF Coaxial Connectors for High Speed with Signal Integrity Applications RF/microwave technologies are increasingly used in high-speed digital data exchange applications and the mix of connector and cable technologies is becoming more complex. In the next generation of wireless technology, higher data rates and the accompanying need for high signal integrity will require higher performance capabilities in all…
What are CAT 6 Cables? Meet the Connector: CAT 6 Cable CAT 6 is a twisted pair cable for Ethernet-based computer networks. It is used in phone lines, PCs, televisions, CCTV cameras, and other networking devices. CAT 6 (Category 6) is the standard for the sixth generation of twisted pair cable for Ethernet-based computer networks. Following CAT 5 and CAT 5e, the specifications for…
RF and Coax Connector Product Roundup This week’s Product Roundup highlights RF and Coax connectors from leading suppliers. RF and Coax Connector Product Roundup Designed to simplify the connection process, Avnet’s new 6791 series wire-to-board connectors for coaxial cables enable simple termination with one press. Expanding the proven-reliable IDC (insulation displacement connector) from signal/power…
Pluggable Optical Transceivers Continue to Evolve System engineers must balance priorities of reach, thermal management, panel density, backward compatibility, power consumption, multiple sourcing, and cost when selecting optical transceivers. Pluggable I/O transceivers in standardized configurations have proven to be a cost-effective solution to the challenges of creating high-speed optical networks. They have emerged as…
Resin Material Selection Guideline for High Power Connectors to Enhance Product Performance and Durability Resin materials are widely used in high power connectors to support conductors and provide insulation functions. It is crucial to choose the appropriate resin material to achieve the optimal performance for specific application environments and functional requirements. By Qixing Xu, Deputy Manager, BizConn International Corp. (A BizLink Group…
Higher Frequencies and Miniaturization Result in New Coax Connectors As communications applications approach THz frequencies, current 5G and future 6G introduce new RF connectors. Trends for miniaturization, higher frequency, and more RF power push connector suppliers to optimize designs and develop new products to meet industry needs. Most RF coaxial connectors can be used in many different…
Environmental RJ45 Product Roundup This week’s Product Roundup highlights Environmental RJ45 connectors from leading suppliers. Environmental RJ45 Connectors The HARTING RJ Industrial MF series supplied by Heilind is characterized by easy tool-free assembly and a robust metal housing. The highlight of the new RJ45 series is the integrated blades, which shorten the…
Coherent Optics: Lighting the Path to High-Speed Data Communications In the past, coherent optics have been cost-effective only in extremely long intercontinental and undersea links. Recent advances have made this solution more accessible to designers looking for ways to increase data transfer speeds, extend channel lengths, and grow system capacity. Designers of high-performance computing and telecommunications equipment,…
The Data Center Market is Booming and Transforming Heavy duty connectors are improving levels of reliability, efficiency, flexibility, and sustainability at data centers. Data is at the core of the modern economy, and the cloud is increasingly powering everything, from Microsoft Office 365 to Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) solutions. The number of global internet users…
What are SCSI Connectors? Meet the Connector: SCSI Connectors The Small Computer Systems Interface, or SCSI connector, (pronounced “scuzzy”) is a veteran of the small computing world. In the 1980s, this fast I/O connector served as a bus to link computers with components or peripherals such as disk drives. SCSI connectors typically…
What is a Pin Header? Meet the Connector: Pin Header A pin header, or header, is a male connector with one or two rows of metal pins attached to a plastic base. Pin headers with more than two rows are available from some manufacturers. The pins are spaced in uniform intervals (commonly 2.54…
Advances in Optical Connectivity The ever-increasing demand for greater bandwidth, data density, and reach using less energy has resulted in several new technologies that favor fiber optical channels. Engineers have long recognized the performance advantages of replacing electrical signals with pulses of light. Increased bandwidth capacity and reach, coupled with reduced cable…
Signal Integrity is Key to Today’s High-Speed Connectivity Designs Learn how to design systems that minimize signal integrity loss and interference and maximize performance. The bar is higher than ever for high-speed performance, and PCB components have the potential to be either a great asset or an Achilles’ heel, especially if signal integrity is not given the…
Market for Smaller LC Duplex Fiber Connectors Makes Big Gains The market for sub-LC duplex size fiber optics connectors is on a tear — and growth in this category bodes well for the connector industry as a whole. [caption id="attachment_39630" align="alignleft" width="942"] Assemblies with the VSFF CS connector to be available from Molex, Belden, Commscope, Panduit, Huber +…
What are PCIe Connectors? Meet the Connector: PCIe Connectors Peripheral Component Interconnect Express (PCle), also called PCI Express, is a high-performance and high-bandwidth serial communication I/O interconnect bus standard. Interconnects that meet the PCIe standard include mezzanine and board-to-board connectors, over-the-board solutions, high-speed edge card sockets that support 1, 4, 8, and…
What are QMA Connectors? Meet the Connector: QMA Connectors The internal construction of the QMA is identical to the SMA and, like that connector, it delivers excellent performance up to 18 GHz and has the same power handling capabilities. The main difference is in the coupling mechanism. Instead of a threaded coupling,…
What is an LC Connector? Meet the Connector: LC Connectors LC connectors are small form factor fiber optic connectors designed for making fast connections in high-density applications. They are a miniaturized version of the earlier SC fiber connector (50% smaller) and feature a square plastic housing with a 1.25 mm ceramic ferrule. Like…
What are BNC Connectors? Meet the Connector: BNC Connectors BNC connectors are miniature radio frequency (RF) connectors developed for low-frequency applications. This quick-connect/disconnect circular connector features a two-stud bayonet-style locking mechanism that users twist and snap into position. A tactile snap indicates a secure connection; a reverse motion disconnects the connector pair.…
Copper and Fiber Optic Connectivity in the Data Center Hyperscale data centers around the globe are in the middle of a foundational transformation that is changing the way data is communicated both internally and externally. Copper cables have traditionally served most network links between servers, routers, and switches. With data centers that are now measured in acres…
10 Key Strategies to Ensure Signal Integrity at High Data Speeds Demand for bandwidth and design complexity are increasing as more sensors are connected to systems and more data need to be transmitted quickly, reliably, and securely. The priority is to ensure that a signal sent from A to B is not distorted. Ensuring Signal Integrity Ensuring signal integrity…
Learn about Connectivity for High-Speed Data Transmission in New eBook Connector Supplier’s latest eBook, 2022 High Speed with Signal Integrity, focuses on the challenges and advances that impact the fast-paced world of data transmission. Experts from 11 leading connector suppliers cover connectivity solutions for signal distortion due to impedance mismatch, crosstalk, attenuation, reflection, and switching; the challenges of…
Miniaturized Smart Devices Pose Larger Design Challenges for Interconnects Smaller, more powerful, and connected new device designs call for more antennas, PCB connectors, and other components. The challenge is to make them all fit. Strategic antenna selection and positioning is the first step in preserving performance and reliability. Electronic devices are increasingly utilizing one or more wireless…
High-Speed Cable Assemblies Product Roundup This week’s Product Roundup highlights high-speed cable assemblies from leading suppliers. High-Speed Cable Assemblies Cicoil, a Trexon company, offers a wide range of high-speed standard cable assemblies using an exclusive, patented extrusion process. Cicoil’s process combines multiple elements into a single flat cable and in continuous lengths, including…
Solving 5G Interconnect Design Challenges As 5G installations continue to roll out, momentum around the fifth-generation broadband brings design challenges and opportunities in equal measure. The proliferation of data-intensive new technologies that rely on high-speed data delivery means the arrival of 5G connectivity is right on time. These technologies transmit and receive huge…
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…
Digital Radio Communication Systems Serve on Air and Land Secure voice and media communications for emergency services, the military, and aircraft can be achieved with the use of private mobile radio and TETRA systems. Professional mobile radio (PMR) or private mobile radio allows users in the transportation, military, oil & gas, public safety and government, and commercial…
Coaxial Connectors for Datacom Applications Product Roundup This week’s Product Roundup highlights coaxial connectors for datacom applications from leading suppliers. Coaxial Connectors for Datacom Applications PEI-Genesis supplies Amphenol RF coaxial connectors used in high performance industries that require extremely reliable connections, such as automotive, broadband, broadcast, medical, wireless, military, aerospace, and industrial equipment. Common applications…
What are Interposers? Meet the Connector: Interposers Interposers, or interposer connectors, are compression-mounted interconnect devices that are positioned between boards or sockets to allow an electrical signal to pass through very quickly. They have a wider pitch than a traditional connector, thus enabling the easy rerouting of connections, and provide designers…
What are MPO Fiber Optic Connectors? Meet the Connector: MPO Fiber Optic Connectors MPO (Multi-fiber Push-On) connectors evolved from mechanical transfer (MT) technology developed by Nippon Telephone and Telegraph Corp. (NTT) in 1986. NTT developed the first MPO connector as a compact, physical contact (PC) solution that offered a simple push/pull operation for connecting…
Innovation and Optimism Define DesignCon 2022 Connector companies demonstrated high-speed, high-performance systems, co-packaged optics, over-the-board cable solutions, and next-generation interconnects at an industry gathering that was nearly normal — except for its April dates. The 27th edition of DesignCon proved to be the latest example of hope that the world is nearing a new…