Interconnection
Best practices for the selection of rugged connectors
By Rolf Horn, applications engineer at DigiKey
E
nsuring that data, signals, or power flows between different components in a system requires connectors that link essential equipment with each other. For example, connectors route a microphone’s output to an amplifier. Similarly, linking power supplies to radar and other communication systems, and sensors to data processors to relay analogue or digital signals, are just two of the many ways connectors find uses in everyday operations.
Connector technology continues to evolve along with the use cases for these essential parts. Although the military is expected to continue to be one of the biggest markets for connectors in the future, demand is not restricted to this sector alone. Globally, the rugged connector market is forecast to grow at a steady clip of 3.5 per cent compounded annual growth until 2030, according to market research from Lucintel.
44 April 2025
Advances in connector technology
Connector technology has a storied history, starting with a circular connector commissioned for the Douglas DC-1 aircraft in the 1930s. James Cannon of ITT Cannon developed the product. Since then, connector technology - and the wide ranges in which these products are available - has evolved to meet industry demand. Tracking these new advances in connector technology gives a peek into the many industrial use cases for connectors.
Made for high temperatures Military operations in extreme climate conditions or space missions require connectors that can not only take severe cold and heat, but also withstand rapid cycling between two dramatically different temperature states. Advances in connector technology have enabled material composition that tolerates such conditions without compromising performance.
Components in Electronics
Lightweight materials
Weight has always mattered in aerospace applications, where every ounce affects aerodynamics and fuel requirements. Now, the topic is under renewed research as connectors find use in autonomous driving systems, electronic vehicles (EVs), robotics, and industrial automation. Large loads and battery life are incompatible, which means connectors are being made with lightweight composites to meet engineering and design constraints.
Modular designs
Infrastructure needs change frequently, and today’s solutions can become obsolete by tomorrow. In such cases, an entire rip-and-replace approach to components is wasteful and expensive. Modular connectors address this problem by delivering the ability to swap parts out selectively. Users can also mix and match configurations for greater flexibility to meet custom needs.
Miniaturization of components The adoption of sensors in a variety of use cases, including automotive systems, is driving the need for connectors in a wider range of sizes. Miniaturization will help design engineers develop compact circuitry that can fit into tighter spaces, which is becoming necessary in a variety of applications from the military to aerospace and beyond.
The rise of rugged connectors The growth in the demand for rugged connector technology likely coincides with the rise of connected machines in the industry. Industrial IoT necessitates data collection from sensors that might have to withstand a variety of severe conditions. While it is easy to imagine that data centres are the hubs for computing and real-time information, data-driven decisions underpin most modern-day operations. The military, railways, aerospace, oil and gas, agriculture, factory automation, and
www.cieonline.co.uk
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56
