The rise of the internet spawned the incredible growth of central data centers. Initially a key tool for companies that could not afford the hardware or expertise required to operate their own facility, data centers ultimately opened the door to consumer internet access. This sixth installment in the Technology Trends series by Bob Hult, a collectionRead More

This week’s Product Roundup highlights mil-spec cable and cable assemblies from leading connectivity suppliers. Mil-Spec Cable and Cable Assemblies Mouser Electronics stocks TE Connectivity’s Raychem Cat 5e cable for high-data-rate, harsh-environment military, marine, and aerospace applications, including shipboard, satellite, C4ISR, weapons, avionics, soldier-worn, and in-flight entertainment (IFE) systems. The mil-spec cable is designed in accordanceRead More

Copper will reach its limits, but connector companies are pushing that day into the future with an exciting array of connectivity products that fly, jump, and pass over the board to increase performance. Design engineers have been grappling for years with the challenges of propagating ever-increasing signal rates in printed circuit boards (PCBs). As dataRead More

Adding a patch cable, patch cord, or jumper solution gives designers greater flexibility in system design. Patch cables are relatively simple connectivity devices: They consist of a length of cable that connects two optical or electronic devices and transmits signals through a physical conduit. In applications including data centers, industrial systems, and healthcare equipment, physicalRead More

The DesignCon conference and expo celebrated its 25th anniversary with an array of impressive high-speed developments. DesignCon 2020 celebrated its 25th anniversary with an impressive program of keynote speakers, tutorials, technical sessions, and product showcases. Over 100 presentations and panel discussions spanning 14 conference tracks focused on advances in leading-edge high-speed chip, board, and systemRead More

Active optical cables are key components in the high-speed systems needed to handle the exponential increase in data traffic that will come with 5G. Connector companies are helping data centers upgrade with these smart solutions. According to the figure being passed around at DesignCon 2020, only 15% of the 5G infrastructure has been installed soRead More

Years of hype have brought us to the year 5G was supposed to go big. But we’ll have to be patient to see it make an impact. The hype about the 5G revolution has been intense as every market awaits its arrival and impact. When the fifth-generation wireless network is fully installed and operational, itsRead More

Summary coverage of new-to-market connectivity products, including interconnects, wire and cable, cable assemblies, materials, accessories, tools, development kits, and connector-adjacent technologies, such as sensors and antennas. Supplier names are generally linked to product announcements and product names are generally linked to product pages, catalogs, or datasheets. New Connectivity Products: July 2019 New Connectivity Products: JulyRead More

Underwater connectors in military electronics designed for submarines and other deep-sea applications must endure pressure, temperature cycling, seawater corrosion, and different types of shock. One of the harshest environments military electronics systems must withstand is the deep sea. Unmanned underwater vehicles (UUVs) that dive deep must stand up to high pressure, while submarines must withstandRead More

This week’s product roundup highlights vibration-resistant connector solutions from leading suppliers. Vibration-Resistant Connector Products AirBorn’s RZ® Series Connectors provide users with a reliable, single-piece, surface-mount contact system that is ideal for use in high-density, high-vibration board-to-board and flex-circuit-stacking applications. Designed to meet strict performance and reliability requirements, the series has a patented z-axis contact systemRead More

This week’s product roundup highlights optical connectivity solutions from leading suppliers. Amphenol ICC’s Mini-SAS HD Active Optical Cable (AOC) is the first AOC to be fully compliant with both SAS 2.1 (6Gb/s) and SAS 3.0 (12Gb/s) industry standards as well as the SFF-8643 interface standard, which enables flexible installations and build-outs, including hybrid connections betweenRead More

Like any aspect of machine vision, cable and connector selection is driven by speed and economy. Customers demand longer, faster, and cheaper cabling solutions, but aren’t always happy about adopting yet another new connector or protocol.   No Silver Bullet for Vision System Connectors The stringent demands of vision systems vary depending on distance, cost,Read More