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 […]
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 […]
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? […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 Kits Development Kits FMC/FMC+ Cards Production Cards and Modules Kits and Boards KCU105 & VCU118 Live Demos In cooperation with Xilinx, […]
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, […]
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 […]
Xilinx Features FireFly on VCU118 FPGA Dev Kit
You can do a lot in three minutes. From counting to 180 to making toast, the possibilities are endless. However, our good friend Steve Leibson at Xilinx, encourages you to use your three minutes to take a look at our new video featuring Samtec’s FQSFP cable on Xilinx VCU118 FPGA. We couldn’t agree more. 28Gbps FireFly […]