Conductive ink circuits (CIC) are electrical circuits formed by depositing conductive silver, carbon, or graphene inks onto flexible or rigid substrates such as polymer films, paper, or textiles. These circuits are a lightweight, low-profile, and cost-effective alternative to traditional etched copper printed circuit boards (PCBs) and they make a new generation of flexible electronics possible.Read More

The process of ensuring signal integrity is not a precise science. Even the tiniest nuance anywhere along a channel can cause reflections, crosstalk, or prohibited levels of emitted radiation. A long time ago in a galaxy far, far away, designers of high-speed digital circuits could quickly verify performance by building a physical “breadboard” prototype. EngineersRead 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

Cable backplanes have been a longtime feature of high-performance computing, undergoing several evolutions to keep up with speed and bandwidth requirements. However, as next-generation AI computing systems take hold, the practical limits of copper have been reached, pushing connector suppliers to create products that include optical solutions. Traditional backplane and daughtercard design has been aRead More

Adding EMI shielding to connectors prevents electromagnetic noise from becoming a problem. Signal speeds in all types of electronic devices have been getting faster and faster as devices from smartphones to medical equipment to automobiles process greater volumes of data. Electromagnetic interference (EMI) is a type of unwanted noise in an electrical net generated byRead More

Printed Circuit Boards (PCB) are an essential part of the many electronic products we rely on every day. Both in-circuit and functional testing after manufacturing are critical steps to ensuring PCB dependability. Test probes play an important part in this process by providing the flexibility to make the electrical connections between the test system andRead More

A system cannot sustainably operate if all components are constantly at maximum stress capacity. The ticket to longevity lies in designing a component system that can tolerate electrical fluctuations as well as physical movement of the hardware. Data centers, data storage, data display on screens – managing the amount of data and the many venuesRead More

The technical challenges of designing and building devices that pack tremendous computing power into tiny packages are considerable. But new high density semiconductor technologies offer a path to keeping Moore’s Law alive. For nearly 60 years, Moore’s Law has set the pace of advancements in semiconductor chip density, but a combination of physics and economicsRead More

Sensors are on the front line of an application’s exposure to harsh operating conditions. Specifying the right connector for sensors ensures reliability and performance for the entire sensing system, even under duress. Detection of environmental conditions requires connectors for sensors that can survive the harshest situations. Temperature fluctuations, airflow and air pressure, high vibration, corrosiveRead More

Rigorous testing of every element in an integrated circuit, from connectors to PCBs, is a critical step in the product design process. As more electronics move into complex and high-reliability application environments, the need to measure their attributes and performance, and test their endurance over time and under specific conditions, has become a critical stepRead More

This week’s Product Roundup highlights headers from leading suppliers. Headers Avnet supplies Molex’s MX150 sealed and unsealed connector system. This field-proven platform offers high-quality, reliable connections in harsh environments to support compact automotive and commercial vehicle applications. With an USCAR interface, class 4 temp ranges (-40 °C to +150 °C), a 22.0 A current rating,Read More

As personal medical devices follow the path of consumer electronics, product miniaturization has made it easy for patients to integrate these technologies into their lives. Medical machines for hospital settings are also scaling down and becoming available to more facilities. Micro and miniaturized interconnects play a key role in enabling these medical equipment trends. TheRead More