In today’s microwave cable assemblies, it is essential to identify the electrical, mechanical, environmental, and application-specific constraints that affect overall performance, which are impacted by the materials used for cable dielectric and jacketing.   Ensuring high-quality signal stability of cables for microwave applications means evaluating the dielectric and jacket materials for attributes that account for the harshRead More

Here is a sneak peek of Bishop & Associates’ upcoming research report on microwave, RF, and millimeter wave connectors.   Characteristic Impedance The basic definition of “characteristic” impedance is the value of impedance that causes no change in input when used to terminate a long cable, with “long” being one-tenth or longer than the electricalRead More

High-performance polyamides provide improved reliability and safety in next-generation USB-C connectors.     USB-C connectors will need to carry more power than previous generations in a much smaller form factor, which makes the performance properties of the materials used for holding all the conductive elements together especially critical. Reliability is a key requirement, so theRead More

Researchers from University of Tokyo have successfully built fundamental components from the semiconductor germanium for integrated photonic circuits that work at mid-infrared wavelengths and could improve Internet speeds.      Mid-infrared light, which has a wavelength longer than visible light but shorter than microwaves, has many important applications in remote sensing and communication technologies. ResearchersRead More

TE’s Raychem S1260 Hot-Melt tape adhesive is designed for ground defense and aerospace applications and enables permanent field repairs for PTFE wire and cable. TE Connectivity announces its new Raychem S1260 Hot-Melt tape adhesive for high-temperature wire and cable repairs. The S1260 tape uses an environmentally resistant modified fluoropolymer for sealing high-temperature heat-shrink components toRead More

The new TE dual-wall heat-shrink tubing products meet the UL VW-1 flammability requirement. TE Connectivity introduces the DWFR (dual-wall, fire-retardant) product line – its first dual-wall heat-shrink tubing products to be rated for the UL VW-1 flammability test specified by the UL 224 standard. The DWFR tubing products’ highly flame-retardant polyolefin jacket and a thermoplasticRead More

Connectors in the oil and gas industry must withstand high pressure, high temperature, and corrosive environments subject to heavy vibration and occasional shock loading. Materials are the key to ensure connector reliability in harsh environments.   The oil and gas industry demands high reliability in drilling and completion equipment, including electrical connectors used downhole. ConnectorsRead More

From its inception, silicon/CMOS photonics was supposed to revolutionize optical communications, but has yet to come to fruition. How much progress has been made so far?   Both Intel and Luxtera have been working on silicon/CMOS photonics for more than 13 years. While we have a few products, its promise of lower-cost, lower-power-consumption optical devicesRead More

Electrical noise can seriously disrupt the proper operation of equipment. Insulation protects a cable mechanically from scrapes, abrasion, moisture, and spills, but offers no protection against EMI. Here, AlphaWire offers a primer on choosing the best shielded cable for the job at hand.   Industrial applications are typically electrically noisy environments. Electrical noise, either radiated orRead More

Ideal for small, rugged applications such as non-industrial robotics, here are some tips for how to specify nano-D connectors.   Nano-D connectors are often designed for use in small, rugged robotic applications beyond industrial environments. Within these applications, the emphasis on a smaller and lighter form factor intensifies. A key consideration is whether you can useRead More

The rapid growth of cloud computing requires data centers to scale up, but traditional copper presents limitations in distance, bandwidth, and efficiency.   The business of today’s data-driven world is being conducted in the Cloud. The rapid growth of cloud computing requires data centers to dramatically scale up in order to handle the oceans ofRead More

Restrictive connector terminal solutions can be an issue when specifying aluminum wires for automotive applications.   In light of time-to-market issues in the automotive industry, aluminum is the best option for reducing the weight of the electrical distribution system and harnesses. Aluminum has been used in battery and power applications in premium cars for some time.Read More