Newer fabric network input/output (I/O) cables and connectors support higher speeds, reduce latency, and support the latest interfaces — including the IEEE-802.3df Ethernet 200G per-lane specification project and modified versions, such as the RoCE and iWARP Ethernet. Other new cable and connector developments are working to include standard InfiniBand XDR 200G and modified versions, such […]
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High-speed connectivity for high-density miniaturized power and data transmission
The Swiss-headquartered Fischer Connectors Group continues to push the boundaries of high-density miniaturization in connectivity. Its ultra-miniature, rugged series of connectors, cable assemblies and electronic solutions has been extended to help engineers add more functionality and meet high-speed data acquisition and transmission requirements in applications with extreme limitations in space, even in harsh operating environments. […]
How HDD and controller connectors and internal cables are evolving
NVMe Hard Disk Drives (HDDs) are a new storage system product family currently going through development and validation. It’s expected that some of these products will be released in 2023 or 2024. HDDs store memory on a spinning disk and are slower than solid-state drives (SSDs). So, why new HDDs? The new devices are said […]
Where are wire-to-board connectors used?
By Frances Richards Wire-to-board connectors are used to connect a wire or group of discrete wires to a printed circuit board (PCB). These connectors serve as an efficient and cost-effective method for delivering power and signals to PCBs in automotive, industrial, lighting, and communication products. Commercial electronic equipment and household appliances often use wire-to-board connectors […]
Getting one wire to do more, Part 4 – headphone wire as antenna
Using one wire in two very different roles is widely done, requiring some simple circuity and basic components. Using a headphone wire as an FM antenna The earliest portable AM/FM portable radios used two antennas: an internal long wire wound on a ferrite core for the lower-frequency AM band (550-1600 kHz), and a “whip” antenna […]
Getting one wire to do more, Part 3 – Powering the antenna LNA
Using one wire in two very different roles is widely done, requiring some simple circuity and basic components. Providing DC power to an antenna amplifier via an RF coaxial cable In most applications where the antenna is located at a distance from the radio receiver front end, it is desirable or necessary to add a […]
Getting one wire to do more, Part 2 – Phantom power for the microphone
Using one wire in two very different roles is widely done, requiring some simple circuity and basic components. Powering microphones over the audio cable A classic engineering objective is to figure out a way to get one set of wires to provide a second function at little cost. This second part in the series looks […]
Simple double-duty: How to get one wire to do more, Part 1: The rationale
Using one wire in two very different roles is widely done, requiring some simple circuity and basic components. It makes a lot of sense to use an individual single copper cable and its connection between two points to do more than it initially intended, especially if that additional function is aligned with the primary function […]
How accelerator IO interface connectors and cables offer more options
Accelerator I/O connectors and cables provide secure, electrical contact and transmission for high-speed data. These devices typically make up one of the largest unit percentages of data-center equipment in terms of use and assembly. This is particularly true compared to top-of-rack (TOR) switching fabric network interface cables, such as Ethernet or InfiniBand. TOR switching is […]
Harwin broadens scope of its SMT PCB socket offering
Expanding its portfolio of board sockets, Harwin has introduced additional sizes for the popular Sycamore Contact range. These 6A current rated surface-mount PCB sockets allow engineers to accommodate different designs, placing individual sockets freely on a board without the constraint of connector housings. Two additions complement the existing 3.8 7mm length sockets, which accept 0.8-1.3mm […]