Maintaining signal integrity (SI) and preventing connectors from ruining high-speed signals requires careful attention to design details like impedance matching, minimizing reflections, reducing crosstalk, and ensuring proper terminations. It begins by defining the specific signal speed and bandwidth requirements and selecting the optimal connector. The definition of high-speed signals is relative to the application, and […]
Surge protection needs of automotive PoC systems
For automotive Power over Coax (PoC) systems, robust surge protection is required to safeguard sensitive electronics from a variety of damaging voltage transients present in the vehicle environment. The protection system must address hazards originating from the vehicle’s battery, electrostatic discharge (ESD) events, and other potential electrical faults. Robust surge protection is needed to protect […]
Diagnostic and monitoring techniques for PoC systems
Power over Coax (PoC) systems, which deliver both power and data over a single coaxial cable, require specialized diagnostic and monitoring techniques. Faults can occur in the cable or within the specialized hardware that injects and extracts power and data. Some PoC protocols, such as the gigabit multimedia serial link (GMSL) and flat panel display […]
Power over coax fundamentals for automotive applications
Power over coax (PoC) works by transmitting both data and power over a single coaxial cable, reducing wiring, weight, and complexity for in-vehicle systems like cameras and high-definition displays. PoC can be crucial for meeting fuel efficiency standards and supporting the growing number of cameras and increasing display sizes and resolutions in modern vehicles. Cabling […]
Where are wet mate connectors used?
Wet mate connectors are used in applications where connections need to be made and broken underwater, such as oil and gas wells, remotely operated vehicles (ROVs), marine and oceanographic exploration, aquaculture, and fish farming, underwater lighting and video monitoring systems, and offshore renewable energy. This article reviews several wet-mate options, including gold-plated and niobium-based electrical […]
What types of connectors are used in downhole drilling rigs?
The environment in downhole drilling rigs is harsh. It begins with extremely high pressures and temperatures (HPHT). The connectors in these applications must survive HPHT and corrosive environments and still deliver outstanding electrical and mechanical performance. They must be compact to fit into restricted spaces, handle electrical power, and provide signal interconnects for sensors and […]
What’s a thermal connector?
A thermal connector, sometimes called a cold-end termination, is designed to connect temperature sensors to measuring instruments, like thermocouples or resistance temperature detectors (RTDs). Thermocouples and RTD connectors are used in a wide range of scientific and industrial systems in aerospace, chemical, food and beverage, oil and gas, pharmaceutical, and nuclear power generation. Two standard […]
How do the OCP immersion cooling requirements effect connectors?
The Open Compute Project (OCP) is focused on developing scalable computing for cloud data centers, artificial intelligence, and other large-scale computing applications. Immersion cooling can improve the energy efficiency and sustainability of those facilities. So, the interest of the OCP in immersion cooling is not surprising. The OCP immersion cooling requirements define materials compatibility needs […]
What’s an EMC connector?
Electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) connectors are primarily used in military, aerospace, and industrial applications to provide enhanced protection from electromagnetic interference (EMI). Power and signal connections must have access to the system. Those access points can be weak links in EMC performance. EMC connectors and cabling systems often have features like enhanced shielding, EMI gaskets, cable […]
What are the connector challenges in hypersonic missiles?
Connectors in hypersonic missiles need to be small and lightweight and provide robust signal integrity for high-speed connectivity. The challenge is to provide the required performance and durability while enduring extremely high temperatures and high levels of shock and vibration. This article briefly examines the inside of a hypersonic missile and its operating environment. It […]
