See below for updates about new product introductions and distribution news.   Product News TE launched new Sliver internal cabled interconnects. Designed to provide one of the most flexible solutions in the market for making I/O connections on the board, this new technology simplies design and helps lower overall costs by eliminating the need forRead More

Circuit board modules used for watch band concept   The ability to cram more powerful electronics into smaller spaces has made portable equipment a pace-setting field for the electronics industry. Smartphones have become the flag bearer for this movement, but smart watches are rapidly ramping up the competition. Early generation watches were fairly large, soRead More

USB Type-C connectors bring bi-directional power and data transmission, simpler connectivity   Since its introduction in the 1990s, Universal Serial Bus (USB) has become a ubiquitous connector protocol, enabling standardized connections between computers and peripheral devices, such as keyboards, printers, and external disk drives. USB connections are now commonly used for smartphones, portable electronics, andRead More

Check out this week’s product roundup for information about some of the newest and most impactful USB product solutions available.   USB Products TE Connectivity’s USB Type-C connectors offer one of the smallest dual-row SMT footprints available on the market. The compact, splash-proof, mid-mounting receptacles deliver 25% space savings, industry-leading EMI and IP4X-rated ingress protection,Read More

Several trends were apparent at last week’s DesignCon 2017 conference. Foremost among them was the advance of copper solutions that include wiring as an alternative to PCB traces.   DesignCon 2017 opened amid a thoroughly drenched Bay Area, but did not deter more than 5,000 attendees to this premier exhibition of leading edge electronic design,Read More

Huge growth in sensors is helping fuel a shift to Ethernet and other alternatives as a way to reduce the bulk of wiring harnesses. Connector demand should grow as more modules are added.   Vehicle Networking The number of sensors on passenger cars has exploded over the past few years, and there’s no sign ofRead 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

Interconnect News for January 2017   Events DesignCon will return to the Santa Clara Convention Center January 31 – February 2, 2017. In addition to technical paper sessions, industry panels, product demos, and exhibits from leading industry experts and solutions providers, this year’s conference will offer a range of programming dedicated to the education andRead More

Robots are rolling into new applications, from personal companions to an expanding industrial base. Their complexity and ranges of motion make rugged connectors a pivotal component. Mention robots to most people today and they think in terms of humanoids similar to those featured in movies such as Star Wars and ExMachina. Few would think thatRead More

GM is investing $1 billion in US factories, possibly foretelling a strong market for industrial products. Record setting robot sales also portend growth for connector makers that focus on the severe demands for ruggedized components.   A General Motors plan to invest $1 billion in its US factories may herald an expansion in manufacturing. TheRead More

Designing handhelds, wearables, and tomorrow’s smaller medical devices comes with a unique set of design challenges. Engineers and designers are striving to drive size, weight, and cost from their devices, looking critically at every component, including medical device connectors.   Handhelds, wearables and more: Smaller medical devices mean smaller, multi-tasking connectors New technology in connectorRead More

From Monitoring to Disease Fighting: Software and Analytics are Revolutionizing Medical Sensors Electronic sensors have been in use in medicine for decades, but their status is currently being elevated from monitoring tools to one of the most powerful sources of data used in disease fighting. This revolution is not being spurred directly by innovations inRead More