High-speed data transmission

October 2024 Enclosures, Cabling & Connectors

Data protocols are constantly evolving to enable interoperability and reliable transfer of increasing amounts of data at the highest speeds between increasingly more connected devices. To address this technological challenge, Fischer Connectors is expanding its platform capabilities to meet the most demanding connectivity requirements for high-speed data transfer using the USB 3.2 Gen 2 protocol up to 10 Gbit/s.

The Swiss-based company has developed new USB 3.2 connectors and cable assembly solutions in three of its flagship product lines to meet signal integrity and harsh environment requirements for medical, defence, industrial, and instrumentation applications such as:

• Surgical equipment in the operating room: USB3 cameras in orthopaedic surgery or endoscopic devices and instrumentation applications such as assembly production lines and outdoor inspections in radiation and/or contaminated areas rely on the highly customisable Fischer Core Brass Series in Ø 15,5 mm (size 1031 plug), with resistance to chemicals and sterilisation processes.

• Applications where size, weight and power are critical: Examples are miniature body-worn computers and peripherals, high-performance lidars and high-speed intercom boxes, using the ultra-miniature, high-density Fischer MiniMax Series in Ø 12,9 mm (size 08 plug) or 12 signal and power pins in Ø 14,9 mm (size 10 plug), including high power up to 8 A.

• Civil and military drones: These are equipped with USB3 cameras and a wide range of military specification (MIL-SPEC) applications, with the rugged, compact, lightweight Fischer UltiMate Series in Ø 18,5 mm (size 11 plug), 360° EMC shielding, and resistance to shock, vibration and corrosion up to 1000 hours of salt mist.

Fischer Connectors´ three series offer IP68 sealing (IP69 and hermeticity with a resin-sealed contact block for Core and UltiMate), extreme operating temperatures (MiniMax from -40 to 135°C, Core from -70 to 250°C, UltiMate from -55 to 135°C), high mating cycles (MiniMax up to 5000, Core and UltiMate up to 10 000), and three locking mechanisms: push-pull and quick release for the three series, plus screw for MiniMax. UltiMate also allows for blind mating with an extremely robust mechanical keying.

High-quality cable assembly to ensure signal integrity performance

Designing high-speed interconnect solutions requires expertise in cable assembly, high-performance connector, and signal integrity simulation, testing and design. During the design and characterisation process, engineers must address a highly complex combination of parameters such as impedance matching, line delay, insertion/return loss, crosstalk and EMC shielding.

High-quality cable assembly is critical to ensure reliable and efficient data transmission, signal integrity and overall system function. “To achieve successful high-speed data transfer from a device’s transmitter to its receiver, connectors and cables must be cross-optimised and undergo a series of compliance tests at the system level,” explains Ameny Chaabani, signal integrity engineer at Fischer Connectors. “USB 3.2 is a stringent protocol. Connector design, cable length, cable performance (loss), and the controlled and repeatable cable assembly and potting processes above 1 Gbit/s are some of the influencing parameters to consider. We must also study the full physical layer of a link as a whole − what we call system-level testing.”

For more information contact Fischer Connectors, +41 21 800 9595, pr@fischerconnectors.ch, www.fischerconnectors.com

Further reading:

Cables and wires for food and beverage
LAPP Southern Africa Enclosures, Cabling & Connectors
The strict hygiene regulations for handling foodstuffs stipulate particularly complex requirements for electrical components. The cables and accessories used must withstand a wide range of chemical, thermal and mechanical loads, and also function perfectly at all times in refrigerated and damp rooms.

Read more...

---

Redefining mobility for fibre cabling
Legrand Enclosures, Cabling & Connectors
As data volumes rapidly increase globally, specialists need to take an urgent look at IT and network infrastructure, with a particular focus on vital equipment like servers, racks and fibre cabling. The Legrand team believes that advanced fibre cabling solutions, which have been developed to simplify deployment, lower costs, improve performance and enable greater densities, will efficiently meet future capacity demands.

Read more...

---

Robust Ethernet cordset cables
Turck Banner Southern Africa Enclosures, Cabling & Connectors
Turck Banner offers a product range comprising a wealth of different connectors and cables, including over 115 000 connection technology solutions with differing degrees of complexity.

Read more...

---

What you need to know when you start using hydrogen as your fuel source
Parker Hannifin - Sales Company South Africa Enclosures, Cabling & Connectors
OEMs are taking a more serious look at hydrogen options. Although much of the market is still focused on the potential of battery-powered vehicles, hydrogen fuel cell vehicles offer a viable supplement that is better suited for longer ranges and faster refuelling.

Read more...

---

SEW-EURODRIVE closes the loop with complete panel solutions
SEW-EURODRIVE Enclosures, Cabling & Connectors
In addition to its quality range of geared motors and related solutions, SEW-EURODRIVE South Africa is ‘closing the loop’ of its products by offering customers electrical control panels as part of the package.

Read more...

---

Simplify control panel connections
Turck Banner Southern Africa Enclosures, Cabling & Connectors
Panel builders have new tools for bringing power and signals back into protected areas with Turck Banner’s M8 and M12 receptacles.

Read more...

---

Control cabinet-free automation
Beckhoff Automation Enclosures, Cabling & Connectors
As a replacement for the conventional control cabinet, the MX-System from Beckhoff offers some major efficiency advantages. It also provides a great deal of optimisation potential in terms of the increasing shortage of skilled workers and the expanding presence of DC supply networks across the industry.

Read more...

---

Cable protection for longer runs
igus Enclosures, Cabling & Connectors
Polymer energy chain manufacturer, igus has introduced a new lighter weight e-chain for cable management and protection applications with large unsupported lengths and high fill weights. This was previously the domain of larger, more expensive energy chains.

Read more...

---

Panel building should be streamlined
Schneider Electric South Africa Enclosures, Cabling & Connectors
Data centres run critical applications, and require equipment and infrastructure that operate at 100% uptime, as any downtime due to faulty components could have catastrophic ramifications.

Read more...

---

Robust Ethernet series of cables and connectors for industrial protection
Turck Banner Southern Africa Enclosures, Cabling & Connectors
Turck Banner offers a product range comprising a wealth of different connectors and cables, including over 115 000 connection technology solutions with differing degrees of complexity.

Read more...

---