Meet the Connector: 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 interconnects that are capable of supporting data rates that can reach multipleRead More

A raft of new 800 Gigabit Ethernet interconnects are helping our favorite networking cable reach ever higher speeds to support AI, machine learning, and the next frontier of high-speed computing. Ethernet has been the backbone of computing since the 1980s due to its exceptional versatility, reliability, backward compatibility, and continuous and exponential improvements in performance.Read More

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 70 countries accessed the latest advances inRead More

As bandwidth grows and speeds continue to accelerate, conventional PCB solutions are reaching their limits. Over-the-board cable solutions alleviate heat and signal integrity concerns while allowing systems to reach ever higher performance levels. By Jim David and Vishal Chandrasekar, Amphenol Communications Solutions In today’s data driven world, manufacturers of switch, server, and router hardware areRead More

This week’s Product Roundup highlights small form factor pluggable connectors (SFPs) from leading suppliers. Small Form Factor Pluggable Connectors (SFP) Smiths Interconnect’s LightVISION 10G VM Series is a range of affordable, reliable, high-performance embedded optical transceivers with bandwidth up to 120 Gb/s. These are well suited for high-bandwidth commercial aerospace systems with the added benefitRead More

Enhanced versions of pluggable I/O connectors are providing a clear migration path from current 40 and 100 Gb/s Ethernet and InfiniBand EDR specifications to 800 Gb and beyond. A spectacular escalation of data rates has been a hallmark of computing equipment over the past 50+ years. The ability to create literally billions of transistors onRead More

Optimistic technologists have been predicting fiber optics would replace many copper links since the late 1990s, but designers were able to find ways to extend the bandwidth and reach of copper. Now we may be reaching the point where fiber may finally become the most practical solution in an increasing number of applications. Electrical interconnectsRead More

Inventive humans have always sought better, faster methods of communications. Today’s high-speed communications are enabled by high-speed cabling and connectors that are rapidly evolving to give us connectivity on a level we couldn’t imagine only a few years ago — and that will inevitably be left in the dust by future iterations. For centuries, innovatorsRead More

System architects are using over-the-board technologies to extend signal reach and density and achieve high-speed data rates by routing signals through ultra-low-skew twinax cable instead of through expensive, lossy PCBs.  Industry observers have noted that emerging high-speed system requirements of 28Gb/s and 56Gb/s, and now 112Gb/s, are nearing the physical limitations of traditional electronic hardwareRead 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. April 2020 New Connectivity Products April 2020 New Connectivity Products > Interconnects, etc. Hirose’s new ZE064W Series waterproof wire-to-wire connectors are designed for use in demanding automotive and off-highwayRead 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

Summary coverage of the new connector and cable products that were recently released to market, including interconnects, wire and cable, cable assemblies, materials, accessories, tools, development kits, and other connectivity products. Supplier names are generally linked to product announcements or home pages and product names are generally linked to product pages or datasheets. New ConnectorRead More