While Samtec continues to push the boundaries of high-speed data rates with evolving silicon-to-silicon, optics, and microelectronics technologies, one of our all-time bestsellers continues to be our Standard Board-to-Board connector series. Samtec's B2B connectors are what started it all, and, interestingly enough, are what got the company involved with the PC/104 Consortium. For those of you that aren't familiar, PC/104 is an embedded computing standard that was founded in 1992 with the … [Read more...]
Samtec Unveils New Standards Home Page
In the Standards world, specifications are categorized to three ascending levels: Corporate, De Facto, and Industry Standard. Corporate Standards are achieved when design elements are adopted company-wide. De Facto Standards often grow out of a Corporate Standard to act as a solution in a common industry (like using micro-USB in Android phones). Industry Standards are formal specifications produced by a body of participants assembled to narrow variations on a precise application. The purpose … [Read more...]
Samtec Releases New VITA Standards Webpages
As a connector company, Samtec is involved with a wide variety of different Industry Standards and Protocols that are constantly growing. From USB to PCI Express, Standards allow for our compliant interconnect solutions to be deployed in a diverse number of configurations and settings. One of the largest Standards families Samtec participates with is VSO, VITA Standards Organization, better known as just VITA. VITA members have worked together to define and develop key computer … [Read more...]
The Buzz Around Blockchain, Going Beyond Bitcoin
No matter where we go on the Internet, the blockchain craze seems to follow us. With terms like "cryptocurrency" and "hashing", it can be difficult to understand whether one is making digital currency or making breakfast. So just what is blockchain, why should you care, and how are connectors involved in something that's completely digital? Chain, chain, chain... The blockchain is quickly becoming one of the world's largest networks for data transfer, except without the risks. In this … [Read more...]
Samtec and Sound Techniques – Connecting Rock and Roll
So what do The Beatles, David Bowie, Elton John, Pink Floyd, Led Zeppelin, The Doors, The Rolling Stones, The Who and Samtec all have in common? A) Heavy drug use B) Associated with people with long police records C) Worked with a company called Sound Techniques D) All of the above Hopefully, you guessed C (the title might have been a little bit of a giveaway). As a fellow music nerd and Samtec associate, I can say with pride that Samtec is thrilled to be sponsoring Sound Techniques at … [Read more...]
Smile! You’re On (High Speed) Cameras!
We often take for granted the dual 12-megapixel camera collecting dust on the back of our smartphones or the fact that almost any building we enter has a sign reading "Smile, you're on camera!". Cameras have gone from a mysterious "stealer of souls" to a technology we can't seem to live without. Although they are commonly used in a wide variety of applications from monitoring, to photo captures and security, video cameras, specifically high speed cameras, are still a relatively new … [Read more...]
EMI and You: Why It’s Important
There are few words in an electrical engineer's life that make them cringe more than EMI (Electromagnetic Interference). From noise on the lines to crippling entire infrastructures, whether large or small, EMI presents a serious problem. As all active electrical systems emit electrical noise, every device is susceptible to the damages of EMI. Since this dilemma is almost inescapable, how does one go about dealing with EMI, and why is it so important that your connectors/cables … [Read more...]
Samtec Releases New Kits and Boards Videos
From concept and prototype to development and production, Samtec-designed Kits and Boards featuring high-speed interconnect solutions simplify design and reduce time to market for hobbyists, tinkerers, start-ups and OEMs alike. Several features include: Component KitsDevelopment KitsFMC/FMC+ CardsProduction Cards and Modules Kits and Boards KCU105 & VCU118 Live Demos In cooperation with Xilinx, Samtec has released three new live demos featuring several FMC+ interconnect solutions … [Read more...]
Samtec Rewrites the VITA 42 Story
Everyone loves a good book. From Shakespearean classics to more modern-day masterpieces, a solid story can leave a lasting impression. While the VITA family of standards isn't necessarily a book, it does have a rich history with a large impact. As we learned in a previous blog, standards are always progressing, and, in this case, so is VITA 42. What does that mean to the connector industry, and how has VITA 42 changed with Samtec? To get a solid grasp on these questions and more, let's … [Read more...]
More Than Just Connectors: Samtec’s Interconnect Processing Group
So you've finally found the right connector for your design. With low stack heights, SnPb finish on the tail, and a highly rated normal force, this should solve your signal integrity problems and be the connector/cable of your dreams, right? Well first of all, if you dream about connectors, something may be off. More importantly, interconnect processing may also be involved in fully designing any of Samtec's interconnect solutions into your design. Samtec's Interconnect Processing Group … [Read more...]