The internet has changed our lives forever, not just in the way that we connect with each other, but also in the way that our technology connects with other devices. This is the cornerstone of the internet of things (IoT), which allows machines to share information in new and exciting ways. The IoT is revolutionizing how we live our lives as users and consumers, but it has far-reaching applications outside the home.
The technology that is enabling our connected lives has led to great changes in many areas of modern society, from the cars we drive to how we receive medical care. The infrastructure behind these advances, whether wired solutions or the latest 5G wireless networks, depends on the transmission of data at unprecedented speeds. In short, high-speed interconnect technology is critical to the reliability of the IoT.
Connected Industry
In the manufacturing sector, the industrial internet of things (IIoT) has brought with it a new phrase: Industry 4.0. This is the name given to the latest revolution that relies on data as one of its key raw materials. The result is the smart factory—a factory in which every machine is part of a network that shares information at all phases of the production process.
Integrating data processing at all levels of the factory enables the manufacturer to respond to current demands and trends much more quickly than traditional methods would allow. The responsiveness of such a factory allows manufacturers to develop and deliver new products more rapidly to consumers.
The Smart City and the Smart Grid
The same technology that monitors every aspect of a manufacturing process also is being deployed in cities. As just one example, modern technology has changed the way our energy is created. Compared to the centralized structure of the conventional power network, small power plants are now efficient alternatives. Known as distributed energy resources (DERs), they combine familiar wind and solar generation with new technologies, including biomass-fueled plants and even geothermal sources, to supplement traditional power stations.
The same technology that enables the IoT is being used in a new approach to power management and is known as the smart grid. Real-time data is used to control a decentralized power-generation network in which the relationship between the demands of the local consumer and the output of the power network can be managed automatically. Similar techniques can run traffic management or public transportation systems, creating cities that are more efficient and pleasant places to live and work.
The automotive industry is embracing connected technology as well. The family car is becoming a connected device that collects real-time information from the environment. This data is combined with in-car diagnostic systems to provide the driver with the best possible situational awareness. In addition, the connectivity built into these modern vehicles allows the manufacturer to monitor performance remotely, so that the driver can be informed of the need for maintenance before a situation becomes critical.
Wearable Technology
The medical industry has been quick to realize the power of wireless and connected devices. Solutions for patient monitoring have traditionally used inconvenient wired connectivity. However, the latest developments in miniaturized electronics and high-speed, secure wireless connectivity mean that modern wearable sensors are both lightweight and highly capable. Devices that are fully connected allow patients to be monitored in real time, enabling patients with long-term conditions can be treated in their own homes. This lessens the demand for hospital beds, and healthcare can be tailored to each patient’s needs.
Designing Connected Devices
Devices of all varieties are increasingly part of the connected world in which we live. Designers are faced with the challenge of creating solutions that share data at high speeds while taking advantage of smaller sizes. This places particularly demanding requirements on the connectors used for these devices.
With transmission of data well into the range of gigabits per second, the ability of connectors to create a reliable, secure circuit is becoming ever more critical. At the same time, the portable nature of smart devices, whether wearable technology, mobile handsets or vehicle-based, means that high-speed connectors are expected to survive rough treatment.
Exposure to shock and vibration is a key consideration for these data-intensive applications. Harsh conditions can cause brief open circuits. Low-frequency electrical systems are robust enough to be unaffected by a gap of a single microsecond. However, the demand for modern devices to process data at rates of 10 Gbps or more means that a signal disruption as small as 1 microsecond can lead to the loss of crucial information. Connectors need to be designed to provide contact that can withstand these conditions.
However, with the rise of low-profile devices, connectors need to be more physically robust. They also need to offer smaller package sizes and finer pitches. Traditional board-to-board connectors have given way to low-profile, lightweight alternatives like the use of flexible printed circuits (FPCs).
Molex is a manufacturer that knows the importance of connectors that will provide the right combination of small size, robust design and high performance. For solutions in the connected world, these qualities are critical, and designers need to find solution providers that understand the challenges they face. Molex and Arrow work together to deliver innovative and reliable solutions to customers and share a commitment to providing choices for the designers of tomorrow’s technology.
Learn how Molex is making a connected world possible
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