After two years of pandemic disruption, this year’s high-speed trade show rebounded with an impressive array of smaller, cooler, and faster than ever interconnects. The 28th edition of DesignCon convened at the Santa Clara Convention Center January 31 through February 2, marking the return to its traditional venue and time slot. Concerns that recent techRead More

New developments in artificial intelligence are making computer-assisted surgery more precise, less invasive, and more successful than ever. Artificial Intelligence in Computer-Assisted Surgery Computer-assisted surgery, also called image-guided surgery (IGS), has been a key player in the operating room for more than two decades. IGS provides surgeons with real-time 3-D images of body structures, includingRead More

As communications applications approach THz frequencies, current 5G and future 6G introduce new RF connectors. Trends for miniaturization, higher frequency, and more RF power push connector suppliers to optimize designs and develop new products to meet industry needs. Most RF coaxial connectors can be used in many different end-use applications and markets. For example, theRead More

Meet the Connector: Backplane Connectors Backplane connectors, or simply backplanes, are a type of board-to-board connector. The name backplane comes from their early use in mainframe computers because they were located against the back of the computer case. Today backplane connectors are generally used in top-of-rack switch applications or hybrid hard drive (HHD) clusters. ExpansionRead More

But what does 2023 hold for connector sales? Bishop & Associates’ Ron Bishop takes a look at the technologies and markets that use connectors to give us some clues about what the year ahead will bring. The final connector industry sales results from 2022 are coming in, and preliminary sales figures for the year showRead More

This week’s Product Roundup highlights fiber optic connector products for military applications from leading suppliers. Fiber Optic Connector Products for Military Applications Optical fiber cables offered by Axon’ Cable are compatible with a wide range of standardized contacts or connectors, including ARINC801, MIL, ST, FC, and LC connectors. Insulated with materials such as fluoropolymers (ETFE,Read More

Connector companies expanded their services, capabilities, products, and supply chains with 2022’s round of acquisitions. Movement continues in the interconnect industry as connector companies expanded their services, capabilities, products, and supply chains with 2022’s round of acquisitions. Interconnects related to military and aerospace, fiber optics, Test & Measurement, as well as materials access and manufacturingRead More

Two publications, the Bishop Report and Connector Supplier, mark decades of coverage for the interconnect industry. In November 2022, the Bishop Report released its 360th edition, marking 30 consecutive years of publication. This monthly report from Bishop & Associates, founded by Ron Bishop as a market research firm focused on the global connector industry, launchedRead More

Europe’s preeminent electronic components trade show made a great return after a long pandemic hiatus with exhibits aimed at e-mobility, energy, and future high-speed applications. After four long years, electronica 2022 reconvened to show off a host of new components aimed at an interconnected and sustainable future. Energy solutions, e-mobility, and automation took the focusRead More

This week’s Product Roundup highlights Small-Form Copper and Fiber Connectors from leading suppliers. Small-Form Copper and Fiber Connectors The Low Loss Floating Fiber from Smiths Interconnect features a floating pin termini that provides exceptional low loss characteristics with high reliability and repeatability. Designed to fit available formats of standard off-the-shelf electrical MIL-DTL-38999, it eliminates the needRead More

Meet the Connector: Pin Header A pin header, or header, is a male connector with one or two rows of metal pins attached to a plastic base. Pin headers with more than two rows are available from some manufacturers. The pins are spaced in uniform intervals (commonly 2.54 mm or 0.1 inch apart) but manyRead More

Meet the Connector: PCIe Connectors Peripheral Component Interconnect Express (PCle), also called PCI Express, is a high-performance and high-bandwidth serial communication I/O interconnect bus standard. Interconnects that meet the PCIe standard include mezzanine and board-to-board connectors, over-the-board solutions, high-speed edge card sockets that support 1, 4, 8, and 16 PCIe links, and PCIe optical cableRead More