IPC/WHMA-A-620 updates manufacturing requirements for cable and wire harness assemblies to ensure performance as cross-market demand for these specialty components increases. Cable assemblies and wire harnesses are complex, multipart systems comprised of various discrete components and designed to transmit data, power, and signal. These self-contained packages offer multiple advantages to system designers and installers. Wire harnessRead More

A unified standard for Ethernet networks developed four decades ago still serves as the foundation of today’s incredible connectivity.  In 1973, engineer Bob Metcalfe proposed a simple but revolutionary method to connect computers in local area networks (LANs) using coaxial cable and a modular connector. Ethernet was born. But that was just the beginning. At first, systems designers were on their own and a wide variety of configurations proliferated across theRead More

To handle compute-intensive applications and edge-computing systems, a revised Computer on Module (COM) standard is required. At electronica 2018, Samtec and congatec introduced the concept of a new Computer on Module (COM) standard. Initially called COM-HD, it has been developed by PCI Industrial Computer Manufacturers Group (PICMG) and re-named COM-HPC to reflect the high-computing performanceRead More

As the electronics industry continues to take steps towards global harmonization, the US and Canada will adopt the IEC 60320 standard for device plugs with minor deviations. This has significant implications for home healthcare products, portable medical technologies, household appliances, and consumer electronics. By SCHURTER Inc. Global standards make it easy for both component andRead More

ANSI has ratified updates to an embedded computing standard that has important ramifications for military electronics. The American National Standards Institute (ANSI) recently ratified the VITA 46.0 (commonly known as VPX) baseline standard for critical embedded computing. VITA 46, or VPX, provides Versa Module Europa bus (VMEbus) based systems with support for switched fabric network topologies over a newRead More

The latest DisplayPort connector standard will deliver the higher performance needed for immersive gaming, content streaming, and digital displays, as well as higher resolution and high dynamic range capability. Home cinephiles, video gamers, event projectionists, and designers of videowalls and multiple chained-screen PC displays have reason to rejoice: The long-anticipated update to the DisplayPort audio/videoRead More

The Open19 Foundation has developed a server design solution that makes data center deployment faster, easier, and less expensive. The Open19 Foundation is advancing a new data center design standard that significantly reduces the hardware costs and time required to set up or upgrade a server. This simplified hardware platform consists of three main elements:Read More

Special mil-spec marking, DNA tagging, and other advanced authentication technologies are helping to root out counterfeit connectors and cable. Are 40% of mil-spec connectors counterfeit? We’ve heard the statistic and it’s alarming — but not necessarily true. “The 40% is an average and varies wildly — from 15% to 85%,” based upon survey and programRead More

Mil/Aero specifications strictly govern the design and development of aeronautical and defense electronics down to component-level materials and processes. In many cases, military and aerospace standards are very similar. But connector requirements for military and space flight applications do have some notable differences. Picture yourself in the following situations: mil/aero specifications Your F-16 is loadedRead More

Check your connectors: A group of phthalates will be restricted by European Union nations starting in July. This directive will impact a variety of plastic electronic products. The environmental compliance directive known as the EU Restriction of Hazardous Substances (RoHS) is expanding. In 2019, four new substances are being added to the list of materialsRead More

The newly announced USB4 will handle the high speeds and data operations required by connected and automated systems. But first, USB 3.2 is about to make its appearance in the marketplace. USB 3.2 connectors will begin to appear in a variety of devices over the next few months. Announced in late 2017, the latest USBRead More

e-waste, air pollution, and water contamination are toxic legacies of the electronics industry. But new products and projects are aiming to change that, along with five electronics industry sustainability initiatives that guide the next generation of global electronics development. There is no denying it: The electronics industry contributes heavily to pollution. According to the WorldRead More