In the first article of this series, we looked at how contacts are formed. This time, we'll investigate the next step in the manufacturing process - plating. Have you ever looked closely at an electrical contact? Contacts may be small and hard to see, but they are the most important component in any connector. With their intricate design and shiny gold plating, they have as much in common with fine art as they do with electronic components. But connector manufacturers do not invest … [Read more...]
Do You Care About Your Connector Contacts?
Have you ever wondered how the contacts get into a connector? Quite possibly not as they tend to be small and hidden, but the contact is at the very heart of connector design. This article is the first of a short series that looks at the life of a contact, from manufacturing to understanding its performance. Hopefully, by the end, you will have a better understanding of what the contact does and how it does it. At the simplest level, a connector is a device that allows the joining of … [Read more...]
Samtec Releases New High-Speed Backplane Connector Chalk Talk
Everybody loves webcasts, right? While some may view webcasts as these kids in Ferris Bueller's class, others love the on-demand technical education available via this popular medium. In an attempt to appeal to the second group, Samtec is pleased to announce a new Chalk Talk On-Demand Webcast focused on our expanding high-performance backplane connector portfolio. Enabling Next-Gen System Design: Samtec High-Speed Backplane Systems In this new webcast, Jonathan Sprigler, Samtec … [Read more...]
Can A 12G-SDI Signal Be Transmitted Through 12 Cable-to-Board Terminations?
Chris Shelly, Samtec’s RF/SI Modeling Engineer, walks us through a live 12G-SDI transmission line demonstration at NAB 2019. This demo showcases the signal processing capabilities of the Phabrix® QX UHDTV 12G-SDI generator/analyzer and the transmission of those signals through several other Samtec 75 ohm PCB connectors and cable assemblies. The Phabrix QX is generating a 12G-SDI signal, through two Samtec right-angle BNC connectors, and back into the Phabrix QX for analysis. We get a good … [Read more...]
The Engineer’s Cheese Sandwich
Design engineers are the heroes of the electronics industry. Responsible for creating everything from cell phones to satellites, it is the creativity of designers that drives the modern world. Engineers must respond to a specification. This is where the life of a design engineer becomes a little difficult. In an ideal world, a design specification should be clear and detailed, but I'm afraid that sometimes our design engineer might be given instructions that are less than … [Read more...]
VITA 57.1 FMC and VITA 57.4 FMC+ are like ‘Avengers: Endgame’ . . . Kinda
What’s that? There’s a new movie out? What’s it called? Avengers? Who are they? What do they do? I highly doubt anyone – except someone’s grandmother – has said the above. 'Avengers: Endgame' has been taking the world by storm. For superhero fanboys like yours truly, 'Avengers: Endgame' is the dream movie worth waiting for. In a similar way, the VITA 57 FMC and FMC+ specifications are the dream interface between FPGAs carrier cards and mezzanine cards. Like 'Avengers: Endgame' … [Read more...]
Thermal Shock Testing for Connectors
Thermal Shock testing isn't unique to the connector world, but it does play a big role in the qualification testing that Samtec puts all connectors through before they are released for production. Chances are likely that you thermally shock many items per day and don't give it a second thought unless they break. Some examples of this would be placing a glass cup previously containing ice into a sink full of hot water or rinsing your freshly used frying pan with cold water. Thermal … [Read more...]
Solder 0.15 mm Coplanarity Connectors With a 0.10 mm Stencil
COPLANARITY AND STENCIL THICKNESS STUDY Samtec and Phoenix Contact recently completed dual studies that show when PCB processing requirements dictate using a 0.10 mm (.004”) stencil, the coplanarity requirements for most connectors can be relaxed to a maximum of 0.15 mm (.006”). In other words, Samtec and Phoenix Contact both successfully soldered PCB connectors with 0.15 mm coplanarity using a 0.10 mm thickness stencil with optimized apertures. CHALLENGE FOR DESIGNERS Designers know … [Read more...]
Samtec Mezzanine Strips Featured in New MCU Eval Board
Pundits in the semiconductor industry consistently debate the status of Moore's Law. Does it still apply? For how long? How will x86 architectures be affected? These are ongoing questions and concerns for Wall Street and Silicon Valley. The answers will have economic, technological and societal impacts. However, not all end-market electronic devices require a server CPU coupled with a GPU or FPGA accelerator. Sometimes, just a standard, general purpose microprocessor will do. ST … [Read more...]
Samtec, Connectors, and IoT
Chances are likely that you have heard of the Internet of Things (IoT) by now. On that same chance, you have probably heard it so many times that it is starting to become like any other buzzword. I say that in jest however, but just wait until IoT hits the late night infomercial buzzword list alongside the tactical cane with the LED handle that is connected via 5G with your HD vision sunglasses. Where is Samtec in IoT? All jokes aside, IoT and Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) … [Read more...]
- « Previous Page
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
- …
- 15
- Next Page »
