Specialized connectors that integrate other components save space and add capabilities. By Julie Carlson, Marketing Manager, LEMO USA Design engineers who create small, portable devices such as those used in medical and military equipment face a challenge: the need to save valuable PCB space. One popular solution is to integrate electronics into a connector. OneRead More

A how-to guide for selecting and successfully implementing high-speed connectors Michael Rock, Engineering Manager – Signal Integrity Products, AirBorn Inc. When designing applications that utilize high-speed interconnects, it’s vital to navigate around all potential speed bumps along the signal’s path. Factors including: stackups, tolerances, via design, trace widths, plating, and copper etching must be understoodRead More

Guidelines for the effective selection of medical connectors By Tom Kannally, product specialist/applications engineer, Contact Technologies, Smiths Interconnect Choosing the Right Interconnect Systems for Medical Device Designs Medical devices, such as patient monitors, imaging systems, electrophysiology catheters, and other diagnostic and therapeutic systems, require dependable connectivity and accurate signal transmission. Equipment for the medical marketRead More

Could Artificial Intelligence Spell Trouble for the Connector Industry? AI has the potential to change everything about how connectors are made — and who makes them. By Ray Alderman It’s time that we take a broad and pragmatic view of the future, what it holds for the electronics industry, and specifically what difficulties could beRead More

Adnane Jaghmim, Tests and Measures Manager; Thibault Monet, Design Engineer; and Nataliya Mayaki, Brand Manager, Nicomatic Harsh-environment military and aerospace electronics applications require specialized interconnect solutions. The interconnect solutions for these applications not only have to withstand extreme environmental conditions, such as extreme operating temperatures, high vibration, high pressure, and exposure to water or dust, butRead More

By Pete Doyon, VP Product Management, Schleuniger Today’s mobile electronics are smaller, thinner, and lighter. Yet mobile devices such as cell phones, tablets, and portable GPS units are more powerful than ever. Wireless Internet connectivity, RFID, and Bluetooth have become essential applications in today’s electronics, and these capabilities require more complex transmission mechanisms, increasing theRead More

Electric vehicles are increasingly familiar sights around town, but the charging infrastructure needs to catch up as countries around the world make plans to transition away from fuel-burning vehicles. By Caroline Hayes When pre-orders for Tesla’s Model S opened in March 2016, the public’s appetite for luxury electric vehicles was confirmed, as thousands of customersRead More

A host of new requirements and standards are aimed at improving compatibility, performance, and durability in complex designs.   RF Connector and Cable Changes New and updated standards and specifications for RF connectors and cabling are in process. These changes are designed to help interconnect suppliers standardize and better serve their customers in a rapidlyRead More

Safety-related features in automobiles are well-suited for press-fit systems By Sandra Gast, Product Manager at ept GmbH   Press-fit technology is an especially reliable partner for automotive applications, where temperature fluctuations, shock, vibrations, moisture, dust, and dirt play a major role. It can be used to create a simultaneous electrical and mechanical connection in justRead More

Automotive applications can benefit from a combination of IDC and press-fit contacts thanks to their contact geometries and high-performance base materials By Tom Anderson, Connector Product Manager, AVX   For more than a decade, insulation displacement contact (IDC) and press-fit or compliant pin technology have proven to be two of the most reliable contact systemsRead More

As data speeds rise, the need for shielding can also increase. But shielding adds weight, cost, and can reduce flexibility, so it’s important to shield only when it’s necessary.   Determining When to Shield Aircraft Wiring A common question when it comes to designing an aircraft’s electrical wiring interconnect system (EWIS) is which of 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