Eye diagrams are an indispensable tool for optimizing digital communications systems and components. They enable engineers to diagnose issues, fine-tune performance, and ensure compliance with industry standards. Eye diagrams are a test used to analyze the fidelity of high-speed digital transmissions. By overlaying multiple instances of a signal’s waveform, the test provides a visual representationRead More

With more than a century of R&D in material science, one supplier recounts the rise of a new generation of safer, lighter, more powerful materials for today’s interconnect and electronics designs. Materials science is the foundation of electronic designs. The properties of materials — such as conductivity, flexibility, strength, and thermal stability — are crucialRead More

Meet the Connector: Cable Termination Methods Beyond connectors, a range of termination options exist, from solder to splice. Each method ensures the complete transfer of data and power. Choosing the right one for the application depends on the cable type, operating environment, potential need for future access, and skill level of the assembler. A connectorRead More

Magnetic and breakaway connectors are highly valued for their quick-connect and quick-release usability. In medical devices, they enhance safety, efficiency, and reliability in fast-paced environments. In medical equipment, the use of specialty connector types including push-pulls, keyed and coded interfaces, and magnetic connectors can make a difference in quality of care. There’s a direct connectionRead More

Batteries have become an indispensable part of modern life, powering everything from TV remotes to electric vehicles. At their core, batteries are electrochemical devices that convert chemical energy into electricity. Several battery types dominate the market, each with its own strengths and weaknesses, including lithium-ion (Li-ion), nickel-metal hydride (NiMH), and lead-acid. Ubiquitous in today’s digitalRead More

GNSS and GPS modules are smaller than ever, enabling them to be designed into moving assets, track individual people or animals, and identify precise locations. Yet these systems require coordination with real-time kinematic (RTK) corrections and other technologies to achieve centimeter-level precision. GPS (Global Positioning System) was the first satellite navigation system to be developedRead More

Approaching the physical limits of traditional silicon chip technology, many predicted we would soon witness the death of Moore’s law. Multi-chip advanced packaging and the rise of silicon photonics offer a path to resuscitation. Not long ago, the consensus among many engineers was that the practical limits of shrinking semiconductor chip features had been reached,Read More

Adding EMI shielding to connectors prevents electromagnetic noise from becoming a problem. Signal speeds in all types of electronic devices have been getting faster and faster as devices from smartphones to medical equipment to automobiles process greater volumes of data. Electromagnetic interference (EMI) is a type of unwanted noise in an electrical net generated byRead More

Meet the Connector: Push-pull Connectors Push-pull connectors are circular connectors that have a spring-action cylindrical sleeve surrounding — or within — the integral connector housing that self-latches during mating. The connection is released through a squeeze-and-pull, rotate-and-pull, or other specific unlocking action that prevents accidental disconnection. Push-pull circular connectors are available in numerous sizes, voltages,Read More

Meet the Connector: Busbars A busbar is a metallic strip or bar used to conduct electricity from a power source (such as a transformer or generator) to various electrical loads. “They are a simple, cost-effective way to transfer and distribute current. These are the easiest, most straightforward way. Power in, split it out,” said Waytek’sRead More

Meet the Connector: Switch-Rated Plugs & Connectors Switch-rated plugs and connectors are specialized electrical components designed to facilitate the safe connection and disconnection of electrical devices or equipment under load. Unlike conventional plugs and connectors, which may pose risks of arcing or electrical faults during switching operations, switch-rated variants are engineered to reduce the dangersRead More

Common connector types used in medical technologies are also specified for data centers, communications equipment, industrial systems, MIL-aero designs, and other high-reliability, high-performance markets. Every component choice matters in the high-stakes design of medical devices and equipment. The electronic connectors specified for medical technologies aren’t always specific to this market, however. In fact, as medicineRead More