Safe and reliable power distribution is critical in industrial, energy storage, renewable energy, transportation and agricultural equipment. Selecting among the many good connector choices can be challenging. Designers of power distribution systems must look beyond the foundational specifications of voltage, current, operating temperature, and basic shock and vibration needs when selecting industrial connectors to alsoRead More

Meet the Connector: Quadrax Connectors Commonly used in aerospace, military, and industrial applications, quadrax connectors contain four conductors arranged in a quad configuration within a single connector housing, designed to carry high-speed Ethernet or other differential signals with minimal crosstalk. Quadrax connectors evolved from the broader category of coaxial and triaxial connector technologies, which wereRead More

The reuse of serial communication cable for IP applications depends on various factors. In a series of comprehensive evaluations, Phoenix Contact set out to test various cables to determine the maximum length through which they could enable IP communications when used as an SPE physical layer and create guidelines for cable reuse. Serial communications forRead More

Using a spring probe grid array allows designers to customize the number of ground pins used to optimize the performance of connectors used in MRI systems, serving specific frequencies/coil designs, saving size, weight, and cost while maintaining the performance of a coax channel where needed. MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging) systems provide a clear and detailedRead More

Heat has a direct effect on device reliability. As the internal temperature of a chip exceeds its maximum rating, reliability begins to drop off. This results in a shortened life or complete chip failure. Advancing the limits of computing performance has been a constant defining objective of system designers since the first commercial computers wereRead More

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

Design is a multi-faceted challenge. Not only are engineers expected to deliver products with higher performance and more features in ever smaller form factors, they must also complete designs in short timeframes to secure competitive advantage. In addition, there is a growing need for designs to be manufactured at high speeds without compromising quality orRead More

The use of non-standard connectors is more common than most designers think. Many common connectors can be modified to achieve the performance, features, and format needed in high-performance systems. Designers typically try to use standard interconnects in their end products. Most cite availability as to why they stick with standard, off-the-shelf products. However, there are times whenRead 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

Vehicle systems produce and consume vast amounts of data, raising concerns around data integrity and security, and the ever-present challenge of electromagnetic compatibility. In this fast-changing scenario, which industry standards do designers need to keep in mind? The growth of plug-in hybrid and electric vehicles and the ever-greater sophistication of advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS)Read More

Internet connectivity, digital business models and data-driven services, remote access, and data analytics all contribute to needs and challenges across nearly every industry. Domink Merli, author of the new book, Engineering Secure Devices: A Practical Guide for Embedded System Architects and Developers, explores ways to design security measures into embedded systems. Most modern products needRead More

What is multimode cable? Meet the Cable: Multimode Cable Multimode cable is a type of fiber optic cable designed to carry multiple light modes or paths simultaneously, enabling high-bandwidth data transmission over relatively short distances, commonly used in data centers and local area networks. Optical fibers were first developed in the 1950s and 1960s byRead More