Modern wire and cable systems are under more pressure than ever, both physically and functionally. Braided sleeving is one value-added solution that can help protect harnesses from common challenges like abrasion, vibration, heat, chemical exposure, and service access. This type of cable protection is especially important in evolving industries such as automotive, electric vehicles, andRead More

When choosing a connector for a medical application, one must consider not only the typical ratings for voltage and current, but also the constraints on physical size, temperature, and durability. Article contributed by KYOCERA AVX Medical devices include a broad range of equipment, ranging from small implantable stimulators to room-sized MRI machines. This equipment fallsRead More

Ruggedized, heavy-duty connectors are an essential element in remote tower installations. The structure and its electronics must be able to endure continuous outdoor environmental conditions. Heavy-duty connectivity solutions are an essential part of successful outdoor communications infrastructure. Tower Solutions, located in Pine City, Minnesota, a manufacturer of mobile tower platforms for surveillance, communications, tactical support,Read More

Wiring harnesses save installation time, optimize space, and help protect circuits from shock, vibration, debris, and other hazardous conditions. Good decisions at the design stage can protect the harness and the application. Wiring harnesses save installation time, optimize space, and help secure and protect electrical circuits from shock, vibration, debris, and other hazardous conditions. AlsoRead More

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 timesRead More