Two conferences highlighted the ongoing changes in wiring, thermals, backplanes, and many more connector technologies. Bob Hult provides the buzz from VITA’s 2017 Embedded Tech Trends forum, and then another look at DesignCon 2017.   Embedded computers have existed in the shadow of much larger computer markets for commercial and communication applications. Unlike general purposeRead More

Fiber optic connectors are used to mechanically couple and align the ends of optical fibers in wide bandwidth applications that require connect/disconnect capabilities.   Widely employed throughout the telecom, datacom, industrial networking, test and measurement, aerospace, and avionics industries, fiber optic connectors are available in a variety of connector styles with different dimensions and methodsRead More

Connector makers upgraded lines, extended product families and unveiled new interfaces to meet customer demands for increased circuit density and higher data rates.   2016 Connector Trends In a continuation of trends we’ve seen for several years now, a host of faster, smaller, and more affordable electronic components propelled the connector industry forward in 2016. ConnectorRead More

Fiber has traditionally been the go-to solution for long-distance, high-speed communication links. Fiber optic cable offers huge advantages of bandwidth, low attenuation, and reduced size and weight to transmit hundreds of data channels over a single glass fiber. Look to these suppliers for the products you need.   Fiber Optic Cable Fiber has traditionally beenRead More

Industrial and robotic service equipment operates in conditions and applications as varied as the robots themselves. If you want reliable robots, select reliable cable. Here’s how to do that.   Communication Cabling on the Factory Floor Robots in factory automation applications are often exposed to harsh environments and require highly reliable and carefully optimized connectorsRead More

Cisco’s Digital Ceiling, which aims to bring together the many networks within a building, wouldn’t work without connector and cable provider partners. The Digital Ceiling, launched earlier this year by Cisco, marries the many networks within a building, including lighting, heating, cooling, and video, to one network platform. Because both connection and cabling solutions play suchRead More

From wet silk thread to modern superconducting ribbon, interconnect technology has advanced along with the related electronic technology as it is critical to an electrical system’s operation. Add to that the realm of optical fiber, and you have a huge marketplace of mixed applications, technologies, and services.   With wireless technologies – both signal- andRead More

We sat down with Bishop & Associates’ Dave Pheteplace to find out how the cable assembly business is faring worldwide and what he expects to see through the end of the year.   Q: How is the cable assembly market shaping up, growth-wise, for 2016? A: We do not expect the market to grow veryRead More

Software has come to dominate the conversation about the Cloud, but the Internet of Things won’t work unless data and power can reach the devices involved.   For all of the hype and promise of the Internet of Things (IoT) and cloud-related services and functionalities, the fact is that nothing works without a proper hardware infrastructure. The mostRead More

As networks are required to move more data faster than ever before, Bishop & Associates’ Lisa Huff looks at the current state of data center networking and makes her forecast for the future.   Ethernet dwarfs other networking technologies in the data center market with 10G, 25G, 40G, and 100G data rates currently being used,Read More

The latest product announcements for March 28, 2016, cover the breadth of applications from broadcast to wireless access points to electric cars. Artos Engineering launched the PF-11 light-wire prefeeder. Designed for maximum productivity even at high speeds, it provides superior tangle-free feeds of small-gauge loose-coil wire up to 5.5mm (.22 inch) in diameter. The PF-11Read More

To keep up on the latest partnerships, personnel changes, business decisions, and industry headlines, don’t miss the interconnect news for March 23, 2016. Connector Manufacturers Interconnect News Molex joined Optical Internetworking Forum (OIF) members last week in a demonstration of multi-vendor interoperability at the OFC Conference and Exhibition. The OIF demonstrations included 56 Gb/s electricalRead More