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

Automated manufacturing processes are integrating industrial lasers for precision processing, inspecting, and testing of materials. Fiber optic connectors help make these systems possible.  Fiber optic technology is enabling a new generation of high power, ultrafast industrial lasers. These precision beams of light are used in testing, inspection, and processing, making the production of components andRead More

Wearable consumer-grade technology provided valuable diagnostic information, which led to a successful therapeutic treatment that saved my life. In mid-February, one of my doctors detected an irregular heartbeat during a routine office visit and suggested I see a cardiologist. The cardiologist requested approval from my medical insurance provider for a routine resting electrocardiogram (ECG) andRead More

Updated: January 2023 Meet the Connector: M-Type Sensor Connectors M-type connectors were originally designed for connecting sensors and actuators in automation equipment and industrial networks. They are now used in a variety of applications, including high-frequency transmission circuits in telecommunications, measurement equipment, robotics, and transportation. The M12 standard was adopted for its reliability and consistencyRead More

The Optical Fiber Communication conference presented a hybrid virtual and in-person event packed with the next generation of optical networking technologies and the connectivity solutions needed to support them. The Optical Fiber Communication (OFC) conference and exposition celebrated over 45 years of innovation and progress with the 2022 edition. Recognizing much reduced Covid infection rates,Read More

An emphasis on mil/aero, RF and microwave, and materials and processing capabilities drove significant moves in 2021, as connector companies brought new expertise into their organizations through strategic acquisitions.  In 2021, the connector industry continued to experience shifts in ownership and expertise as companies moved to bring new capabilities in-house with acquisitions. Although the daysRead More

A MIL-DTL-24308 connector, commonly known as a D-Sub (D-subminiature), is a rectangular, polarized-shell electrical connector standardized primarily under MIL-DTL-24308 for military and aerospace use and IEC 60807-3/DIN 41652 for commercial and industrial use. It features a trapezoidal metal shell and two or more parallel rows of pin-and-socket contacts. It carries signal, low-level power, or dataRead More

Meet the Connector: FAKRA Connectors FAKRA connectors have been a mainstay of automotive connectivity for the past two decades. An average connected car contains at least 15 FAKRA connectors, and these versatile connectors are designed into telematics, GPS navigation, entertainment systems, Bluetooth, cellular, keyless entry, climate controls, radio antennas, safety systems, communications applications, and sensorRead More

Upcoming industry events, as well as recent award, partnership, promotion, personnel, facility, distribution, standards, association, and certification news from across the connector industry. March 2022 Connector Industry News March 2022 Connector Industry News > Event News In its attempt to break the world sailing speed record, the SP80 team has chosen Fischer Connectors to supplyRead More

Specialized test connectors and equipment help new products meet ruggedness, outgassing, and other performance and compliance requirements.  Instrumentation connector technology is evolving to serve higher speeds and bandwidths, RF technologies (including microwave and mmWave), and the analog-to-digital transformation. Test & Measurement and instrumentation processes have become essential to the development and regulation of equipment usedRead More

For special installations like the Winter Olympics, as well as applications such as vehicles and devices that routinely operate in cold climates, electronics must be ruggedized against low temperatures. The 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics showcased human endurance in the most extreme cold conditions as athletes performed on ice, in snow, and in frigid air. TheRead More

See Bishop & Associates 2024 ranking of connector suppliers for more recent data on Top 10 companies. Bishop & Associates has completed its 2021 North American customer survey, which evaluated 37 connector manufacturers. A total of 221 customers answered 18 questions relating to important issues such as quality, pricing, delivery, lead times, technical support, website usefulness, andRead More