To reduce heat and improve speeds, twinax cable assemblies are replacing PCBs in next-generation datacom equipment. The links inside a switch that connect the quad small form factor pluggables (QSFPs) at the faceplate to application-specific integrated circuits (ASICs) at the heart of the box have become signal superhighways. The capacity and the number of  I/ORead More

Hyperscale data centers around the globe are in the middle of a foundational transformation that is changing the way data is communicated both internally and externally. Copper cables have traditionally served most network links between servers, routers, and switches. With data centers that are now measured in acres and house several hundred thousand devices, systemRead More

This week’s Product Roundup highlights high-speed cable assemblies from leading suppliers. High-Speed Cable Assemblies  Cicoil, a Trexon company, offers a wide range of high-speed standard cable assemblies using an exclusive, patented extrusion process. Cicoil’s process combines multiple elements into a single flat cable and in continuous lengths, including single conductor, shielded conductors, tubing, Cat 5e/CatRead More

Smaller and higher frequency assemblies add to the complexity of next-generation wireless equipment. Waveguides offer a powerful alternative to coax connectors. Although 5G equipment is just beginning to roll out in production volume, the leading edge of wireless communications research and development and associated standards is looking towards 6G (sixth-generation wireless). The goal of 5GRead More

Meet the Connector: MPO Fiber Optic Connectors MPO (Multi-fiber Push-On) connectors evolved from mechanical transfer (MT) technology developed by Nippon Telephone and Telegraph Corp. (NTT) in 1986. NTT developed the first MPO connector as a compact, physical contact (PC) solution that offered a simple push/pull operation for connecting and disconnecting a plug and adapter. PriorRead More

Connector companies demonstrated high-speed, high-performance systems, co-packaged optics, over-the-board cable solutions, and next-generation interconnects at an industry gathering that was nearly normal — except for its April dates.  The 27th edition of DesignCon proved to be the latest example of hope that the world is nearing a new normal post-Covid era. The masks mostly cameRead More

Meet the Connector: Mezzanine Connectors As electronic equipment became more complex in the 2000s, mezzanine connectors were developed in response to the increasing demand for space on PCBs. These high-speed, board-to-board connectors connect two parallel PCBs in a stacking configuration. Many of these are defined in an industry standard such as the PCI Mezzanine CardRead More

The 2020s will be a decade of transformation in every aspect of life. In 2022, we’ll see technology continue to play a role in solving humanity’s challenges. We entered 2021 with the expectation that the COVID-19 pandemic would recede and the world’s people and economies would be on the road to normalcy. Multiple highly effective vaccines became availableRead More

New-to-market connectivity products, including interconnects, wire, cable, and cable assemblies, sensors, antennas, materials, accessories, tools, and development kits. January 2022 New Connectivity Products  January 2022 New Connectivity Products > Interconnects, etc.  TTI Inc. now stocks Amphenol’s FCI Basics Minitek MicroSpaceXS crimp-to-wire connector platform. The unique design of the MicroSpaceXS enables LV214 Severity-3 and USCAR-T2V2 performs on a 1.27mm pitch. The system is available in staggered withRead More

Transitioning to the use of DC power throughout data centers can reduce component count and costs, deliver higher reliability, and improve energy efficiency. It’s no secret that the dedicated use of direct-current (DC) power in data centers results in reduced component counts and costs, greater reliability, and vastly improved energy efficiency. We’re not quite thereRead More

Modular connectors are increasingly popular in data center architectures, where engineers are looking for ways to lower server costs, reduce cooling costs, and optimize power to keep up with the rising data demands of the digital age.  Data centers are surging. So are their energy needs. One large data facility can consume as much electricityRead More

Integrated connector modules (ICMs) are making it possible to build or upgrade networks to support the higher speeds and bandwidths of 5G and the higher volumes of data traffic that are coming with full implementation. By Bel Magnetic Solutions As the installation of 5G infrastructure continues to advance, more consumers are gaining access to theRead More