Connector basics

A Clean Break: Breakaway Connectors in Medical Devices

Breakaway connectors can quickly disconnect to protect people and equipment, yet still provide the same pin and housing durability as their mechanically secured counterparts. By Steven Lassen, Product Applications Engineer, and Julie Carlson, Marketing Communications, LEMO Breakaway connector Breakaway connectors break the rules of device design that expect electronic connectors to make a secure attachment —Read More

Seven Design Tips for Smart Appliances

Smart appliances create new challenges for device designers, who must integrate additional components and manage power, data transfer, size, and heat considerations in compact, unobtrusive packages that satisfy consumer demands. Consumers who value the improved control, energy efficiency, reliability, and convenience of smart home devices are driving the trend toward high-end connected appliances that canRead More

Military Ground Vehicles Put Connectors to the Test

The connectors specified for military ground vehicles must optimize size, weight, and power and endure the rugged conditions typical in modern ground operations. Military vehicles for use on Earth’s surface range from small unmanned ground vehicles (UGVs) that detect and remove bombs to the enormous 50-ton Medium-Heavy Equipment Transporter (MHET) that carries trams and amphibiousRead More

Agricultural Smart Connectors Bring in High Yields

Today, a tractor is more than an engine-driven farm machine; it can be the hub of a farm’s IoT network and a farmer’s workspace with the help of rugged, smart connectors. Today’s sophisticated farm machinery is controlled electronically with the help of a new generation of smart connectors. With this equipment, farmers can enjoy aRead More

Why You Can No Longer Ignore Connectors

Connectors should be a central focus for engineers in today’s network-centric and data-intensive markets. Connectivity is the lifeblood of today’s technology-driven world. The term has taken on many dimensions, from reference to the internet and data networks, to home appliances and devices of all sizes. With continuing advances in technology, the connection between parts ofRead More

Connectors for Automotive LED Applications are Lighting the Way

Connector solutions for automotive LED applications must combine ruggedness, reliability, long-term operation, increased functionality, apex performance, and ease of assembly — and all within a miniature and lightweight package. Automotive lighting uses one of three technologies for the headlamps: LEDs, high-intensity discharge (HID) Xenon, or halogen. LED technology has been disruptive in many markets andRead More

Counterfeit Connectors: A Matter of Life and Death in the Medical Device Industry

It’s imperative that medical device manufacturers use authentic connectors. Counterfeit connectors and other fake components can pose serious risks to patients, providers, and companies. Counterfeit connectors are always a problem. When they are used in medical devices, they can pose a serious risk of harm or even death to the patients who use them. OutfittingRead More

Use-Limiting Technology Protects Patients

Designing electronic medical devices with use-limiting technology safeguards patients and operators by preventing unauthorized reuse or refurbishment. By David Smith, Sr. Electrical Engineer, and Tyler Yang, Mechanical Engineer, ATL Technology  It’s no secret that cost is often a critical component of medical care, so it’s no surprise that cost is often the primary factor impactingRead More

Waterproof Connectors for Portable Devices

Product designers have to account for the real possibility that a small consumer device will get splashed on or dropped into the drink. The right waterproof connector can save the day. Spilling a drink or splashing water on portable device chargers and ports has long resulted in inevitable device damage. However, the increased prevalence ofRead More

Where do Rare or Discontinued Connectors Go?

A network of authorized secondary distributors stocks rare or discontinued connectors. Every year, thousands of new connector designs enter the market. Many of these products meet the needs of new applications, but others replace a previous generation of a similar product. Typically, component manufacturers anticipate these changes and reduce production towards the end of aRead More

M12 Connectors Provide Rugged Performance for Industrial Ethernet

In traditional office environments, Ethernet connections are typically made using the standard RJ45 connector. However, when Ethernet migrates to industrial environments, a wide range of contaminants come into play, making M12 connectors a more durable choice. Ethernet first came into use in computer networking technologies in the 1980s, providing communications on local and wide areaRead More

Underwater Connectors Stand up to the Pressure

Underwater connectors in military electronics designed for submarines and other deep-sea applications must endure pressure, temperature cycling, seawater corrosion, and different types of shock. One of the harshest environments military electronics systems must withstand is the deep sea. Unmanned underwater vehicles (UUVs) that dive deep must stand up to high pressure, while submarines must withstandRead More

2026 World Connector Market Handbook 2025-2031F
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