In a previous blog, I wrote about Electrostatic Discharge (ESD), and why it needs to be controlled in an electronic system. Since connectors are passive devices, there really isn't much that can be affected by ESD on the connector system; however, this does not mean that Samtec doesn't have measures in place to prevent it and test connectors against it. While Relative Humidity can help mask a gap in your ESD program, it does not control ESD. Ionization, however, in conjunction with other … [Read more...]
What Is PAM4? Understanding NRZ and PAM4 Signaling
As a mechanical engineer (ME), I honestly never figured that I would need to know much more than your typical V=IR (Ohm's Law), and if I were even more honest, I would say my intention was to completely forget it after my electrical engineering (EE) class of the master's program. In fact my professor, Dr. Kamel, even stated "Here is this equation you don't care about, and will soon forget..." Boy was she incorrect in my case. As fate, or perhaps my employer, should have it; Ohm's law would … [Read more...]
Keys to Magnetic Field Testing and Permeability
Each industry has its own standards and requirements that components must meet in order to be considered usable for that industry. There are some tests that are common between industries, such as outgassing, but more often than not there are going to be different requirements that must be met. For instance, manufacturers within the medical field can be interested in magnetic field testing and magnetic permeability, if their products are used in or near a Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) … [Read more...]
Going Microscopic to Solve the Problem
Ok, I had a choice to make here with my opening statement; Ant-Man (which is more timely and goes to the quantum level) or go old school with "Honey I Shrunk the Kids." Clearly the choice here was Rick Moranis combing his back yard with a magnifying glass to find his shrunken kids. While a magnifying glass is not a Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM), Rick was scanning his yard with a magnified view much like engineers often have to rely on technology to help us solve problems on a tiny scale. … [Read more...]
Immersion Cooling now on Samtec.com
Immersion Cooling might still seem counter intuitive to most people. After all, we all grew up being told that Grandma doesn't like having the plugged in hairdryer thrown into the tub. Ok, on a serious note, for most people it is still a strange concept to place electronics in any liquid at all, and that is exactly how immersion cooling works. By using a liquid dielectric, we can pull far more heat out of our systems, lower the noise from cooling fans, and save space along the way. We … [Read more...]
Understanding IPC Class 2 vs Class 3 for a Gull Wing Lead
IPC-A-610 covers a wide range of solder joints, and what it takes to meet Classes 1 - 3 in varying types of connector termination styles. These classifications help a designer determine if a connector is capable of being used in their application. In a previous blog, I discussed IPC Class 2 vs Class 3 solder joints for J-Lead Components, and in this one we will look at the difference for Gull Wing Leads. In case you were wondering, a gull wing lead is a type of surface mount lead that is … [Read more...]
What is Outgassing and How is it Tested?
Commercial Off-the-Shelf (COTS) products are making their way into industries that wouldn't have considered them previously. This is mainly due to the flexibility, speed of delivery, and cost savings that COTS products offer when compared to a full MIL-SPEC product. However, this doesn't mean that the Military / Aerospace, Space, Industrial, Transportation, Automotive, and Medical industries do not need to know the performance of a COTS product in their application. Knowing the outgassing … [Read more...]
A Business Continuity Plan Can Prevent Disruption Through Preparation
In my former role as a compliance engineer, I was repeatedly asked for Samtec's Business Continuity Plan. This was normally part of a yearly vendor/supplier survey that ensures that a company could still supply products in the event of a disruption. For most people, this isn't something that really ever matters to them on the day to day (excluding those people in compliance); however, when something happens it had better be in place. Oddly enough, this topic was on the schedule to be … [Read more...]
What is Electrostatic Discharge?
Before we talk about electrostatic discharge (ESD), perhaps we should talk about where it comes from. You know what it is, and even young children know what causes it; static electricity. Rub a balloon on your head, and make your hair stand on end, put on socks and drag your feet across the carpet, or slide down a plastic slide on the playground. No matter how you make it, you know what static electricity is when you are "fully charged." The conditions that afford static electricity to … [Read more...]
Connectors for the Automotive World
The life of an automobile is one that is no stranger to extreme temperatures, harsh vibrations and shock, plenty of dirt and water, and countless other conditions many electronics are not designed to withstand. It is because of this, that automotive designers design their products to withstand the worst conditions. Samtec understands the requirements necessary to last in those conditions and offers an array of automotive interconnect solutions ranging from Commercial Off-The-Shelf to a fully … [Read more...]
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