Meet the Connector: XLR Connector XLR connectors are a type of electrical connector commonly used in professional audio and video (AV) applications, with limited application in medical video technologies and industrial AV equipment. The name “XLR” stands for “eXternal Line Return.” The XLR is sometimes referred to simply as an audio connector. This circular connectorRead More

Meet the Connector: OSFP Transceivers Data centers support the IT infrastructure needed to run data-intensive applications and their ever-growing demand for storage. From remote work and streaming entertainment to decentralized finance and the connected devices that make up the Internet of Things, the need for 400G technology is here and the leap to 800G willRead More

Meet the Connector: Micro Circular The push to make mil/aero electronic equipment smaller and lighter for easier portability while maintaining its necessary ruggedness requires smaller, lighter, rugged connectors. Enter microminiature and nanominiature circular connectors. Micro or nano circular connectors feature smaller pin and jack diameters and the pins are spaced more narrowly. This reduces theRead More

Meet the Connector: AOC assemblies Active optical cable (AOC) assemblies were developed to combine the benefits of copper and fiber optic cable assemblies. Copper cable assemblies are known for their ruggedness and reliability, particularly at the connector interface. Copper connectors have multiple points of contact which helps them withstand shock and vibration, and resist damageRead More

Those colorful connectors behind our TVs, DVD players, stereo equipment, and gaming consoles have been around for nearly a century. Meet the Connector: RCA Connectors The RCA connector is a type of electrical connector comprised of a male plug (RCA plug) and a female jack (RCA jack) used to carry audio and video signals. ItRead More

Meet the Connector: Circular Connector Coupling Types Circular connectors are a mainstay of applications in every market. They are durable, reliable, and available in a wide variety of sizes, materials, and form factors. This product category is highly diverse, with suitable options for many use cases and environments, yet they are all defined very simplyRead More

Meet the Connector: Single-Pair Ethernet Single-pair Ethernet (SPE) is a single, twisted pair of copper wires that replaces the traditional 2- or 4-pair Ethernet configurations. SPE technology has been developed to bring Ethernet the “last mile” to the factory floor — the sensor/actuator level, specifically monitoring devices at the edge of industrial networks such asRead More

Meet the Connector: FFC (flat flexible cable) FFC (flat flexible cable) is a ribbon-type cable used to connect PCBs. It is typically used in laptops, cellphones, and other high-density electronic applications. FPC (flexible printed circuit) is sometimes used to refer to FFCs, but one important difference is that FPCs incorporate components, while FFCs are typicallyRead More

Meet the Connector: Modular connectors This article refers to configurable modular rectangular interconnect products that allow a customer to incorporate multiple media in one housing or shell. Modular connectors are “build-your-own” interconnect products featuring structural elements that can be selected and configured to meet a specific application’s physical or performance requirements. Examples of modular products includeRead More

Meet the Connector: CAT 6 Cable CAT 6 is a twisted pair cable for Ethernet-based computer networks. It is used in phone lines, PCs, televisions, CCTV cameras, and other networking devices. CAT 6 (Category 6) is the standard for the sixth generation of twisted pair cable for Ethernet-based computer networks. Following CAT 5 and CAT 5e, the specifications for CAT 6 are more stringent for crosstalkRead More

Meet the Connector: MIL-DTL-83526 MIL-DTL-83526 (M83526) connectors have consistent and predictable optical performance and are rugged enough to withstand military field applications. MIL-DTL-83526 defines circular, environment-resistant, hermaphroditic interface, fiber-optic connectors. The specification details their characteristics, performance, and testing criteria. As expected, fiber optic connectors perform critical communication functions in the military, so they must beRead More

Meet the Connector: USCAR-Approved Interconnects USCAR connectors are part of a wide range of interconnect products that meet the specifications of the United States Council for Automotive Research (USCAR), a collaborative automotive research company founded in 1992 to “strengthen the technology base of the U.S. auto industry through cooperative research and development.” Comprised of aRead More