Bob Hult looks at how a commitment to backward compatibility, choice of copper and fiber optic media, and adoption of new signaling protocols have enabled Ethernet to keep pace with increasing bandwidth demands. This is the eighth installment in the Technology Trends series by Bob Hult, a collection of articles that review leading technology trends thatRead More

M12s and M8s deliver even in the most disruptive conditions. These workhorse connectors are available with extensive options that serve many different industrial environments.  Challenging Conditions  Today, electronic connections and communications are needed in harsh environments at sea, in space, and in various conditions on Earth. These activities include manufacturing, robotics, agriculture, food and beverageRead More

With millions of connector products ready for order from trusted suppliers and distributors, designers should be able to find a suitable solution for their project. But sometimes, they can’t. That’s when customization comes in. A quick search of any major distributor’s inventory turns up millions of connector products. Every size, shape, configuration, and capability imaginableRead More

Connector suppliers are delivering flexible and modular solutions that enable customers to meet their connector needs without the expense of a truly custom connector product. The connector market is made up of astounding complexity. From rugged power connectors used on ships at sea to the high-speed connectors used in data centers, the range of connectorsRead More

Sometimes a custom connector design will remain a limited-use product. Other times, it may become a popular proprietary connector. In some instances, the evolution continues and the connector experiences widespread use as a commercial or open-source product. This is the eighth installment in the Technology Trends series by Bob Hult, a collection of articles thatRead More

Applications that routinely experience harsh-environment conditions require connector solutions with the appropriate materials, shells, contacts, ingress protection rating, standards compliance, and assembly features. By Steve Smashey, President, SOS Engineering, Inc.; Mike Conte, General Manager, SOS Engineering, Inc.; and Randy Cameron, Director, Technical Services, Inova Geophysical Designing connector solutions for the harshest environment conditions is noRead More

Ultrasound equipment requires components that can deliver reliable connectivity under extremely demanding conditions, including rough use environments, harsh sterilization techniques, and repeated mating cycles. Medical connectors and cables are essential components in digital medical technologies such as ultrasound equipment. Ultrasound probe cable assemblies typically use fine-gauge micro-coaxial cable ranging from 42–36AWG to reduce equipment weightRead More

Connectors that have demonstrated reliable performance in the tough medical market help designers achieve first-pass regulatory approvals. These selections can be invaluable when it comes to successfully balancing stringent regulatory compliance with fluctuating market trends. Design engineers, sales reps, and connector manufacturers all understand the complexity of medical designs and the need for long-term, high-reliabilityRead More

Twisted-pair copper cabling is the perfect solution to a number of applications, but as high-speed signals are required to travel longer distances with higher signal integrity, fiber emerges as the clear winner, even in terms of cost. When you think about physical networking, what terms pop into your mind? More than likely, you think ofRead More

Copper cable beats wireless connectivity for high-speed applications, and fiber optics beats copper for the amount of data that can travel quickly. Consider connector and cable design options and test carefully to select the right components for your high-speed application.  We continue to find new ways to push more and more high-speed data through ourRead More

In 1991, the new Mercedes S-Class debuted as an engineer’s luxury sedan with dozens of innovations, including the first automotive CANbus on a production car. What started in luxury is today indispensable. Cars with internal combustion engines are essentially mechanical devices that, in theory, need little to no electronics to operate. Gasoline engines require sparkRead More

Innovations in connectivity component materials, wiring designs, and modularization are three key drivers that are helping to improve the productivity, efficiency, and costs of e-mobility systems.  By Shawn D’Gama, Field Applications Engineer, ERNI Electronics Americas, and Christine Knable, President, C Things Differently e-mobility Although we tend to think of electric-powered mobility, or e-mobility, as aRead More