Modern electronic systems are evolving at an extraordinary pace. Artificial intelligence, cloud computing, industrial automation, edge processing, and advanced embedded systems are all driving major increases in bandwidth, processing power, and overall system complexity. In this environment, industry standards have become more important than ever. Industry standards are no longer just compliance checklists. They provide…
Designing and evaluating interconnects requires broadband material characterization to determine dielectric properties. Traditional techniques used to characterize the complex permittivity and permeability of dielectrics, such as NRW and NIST, have some important limitations, such as the occurrence of air gaps and resonances in the results, which become even more challenging for broadband applications. In work…
The quality of the signal looping between the PCB, test fixture, and test equipment often determines how accurately we can evaluate a device under test (DUT). As signal speeds increase, signal quality throughout the test setup becomes more important and challenging. While data speeds continue to trend upwards (there is much conversation these days about…
Why the Question Makes Sense. And Why the Answer Is Not a Single Number. We are frequently asked to provide MTBF, MTTF or FIT data for our connectors. It is a reasonable request. Many system-level reliability models require those inputs, and procurement documents often include a box labeled “MTBF”. Engineers working in aerospace, defence, telecom…
Raising the Standard for Power Interconnects When engineers talk about system performance, signal integrity usually gets the headlines. Without clean, reliable signals, nothing works as it should. But as we’ve seen before, behind every flawless waveform lies power integrity. It’s the quiet, dependable partner that keeps everything running smoothly. Without it, even the best signal…
Instrumentation and test equipment play critical roles in ensuring product reliability, performance, and compliance. Central to this task are signal and power generation systems that deliver accurate sources that are essential for accurate testing. These tools provide the controlled electrical outputs needed to stimulate devices under test. Whether validating the performance of RF components, evaluating…
Ongoing trends to reduce PCB size and increase density become a design challenge when these smaller, denser PCBs incorporate high voltage circuits. Designers are usually trying to reach UL and CE 61800-5-1 specs [1] that call out creepage and clearance distance given material grade, working voltage, and pollution degree. Creepage and clearance are about safety…
Test and measurement (T&M) systems are essential to modern technology. Whether certifying a 5G chipset, calibrating a new antenna array, or debugging a PCIe interface, the need to capture the most accurate data possible remains the same. Connectors are essential to ensuring the accuracy of any testing process. In today’s high-speed, high-frequency world, any measurement…
What Is CCC, and Why Is It Derated? Current Carrying Capacity (CCC) is one of the most important — and sometimes overlooked — connector specifications, especially as system power requirements skyrocket. In simple terms, CCC defines how much current a connector contact can handle before the heat generated pushes it beyond safe material limits. Heat…
In the second of our occasional series of articles, we will look at the connector industry, investigate why there is so much variety in design, and ask “What’s the big deal with open pin field connectors?” The world is full of connectors, most of which you will never see. They are in your phone and…
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