Coalition Announces Universal Docking Solution
LAS VEGAS — Molex Inc., Mobility Electronics Inc. (Scottsdale, Ariz.), Silicon Image Inc. (Sunnyvale, Calif.) and LSI Logic Corp. (Milpitas, Calif.) announced the availability of an emerging connectivity standard called Universal Docking Solution (UDS) that makes possible the synergistic utilization of universal serial bus (USB), split bridge, digital visual interface (DVI) and analog video through a single multifunctional interface.
The connectivity standard addresses the biggest challenge in the mobile computing industry — how to increase portability without sacrificing functionality. It eliminates this design tradeoff by combining industry connectivity technologies into a standard interface. UDS can replace the current array of proprietary mechanical docking connectors on the back of portable computers with a single interface, essentially enabling the conversion of mobile computers to full desktop functionality and capability.
UDS also enables a new category of hardware called "hybrid" peripherals. With UDS, traditional peripherals can evolve from single-function products, like CD-RWs, into multifunctional devices incorporating features such as Ethernet, USB and monitor connectivity in addition to their core functionalities. For instance, a peripheral can combine the features of a flat panel display with the connectivity of a full port replicator, and a zip drive can also contain extra expansion slots for the addition of peripheral computer interface (PCI) sound and video cards.
"UDS is the first solution that truly solves the mobile computing industry's 'docking' problem," said Charlie Mollo, President and CEO of Mobility Electronics. "Because UDS offers so much connectivity technology in a single interface, it has the potential to liberate hardware manufacturers from traditional configurations and lead to a fundamental shift in the way computers and peripherals are designed."
"This coalition has created a well thought out and demonstrable universal docking solution that the mobile computing industry has been looking for," said Gary Manchester, Group Product Manager at Molex. "We are very excited to be part of this important program and to work with Mobility and the other partners to develop this technology into a standard for the mobile computing industry."
For computer manufacturers, UDS lowers the costs involved in producing a "dock-ready" system and creates a unified docking strategy across all portable computers. UDS also provides design flexibility, enabling a much wider variety of "docking" options for end users and providing a viable upgrade path for low-cost PCs.
Additionally, UDS gives peripheral developers, such as drive and monitor manufacturers, the ability to substantially differentiate their products with additional functionality while cost-effectively addressing real end user needs. For information technology (IT) managers, UDS eliminates the inventory and support hassles associated with managing a large number of proprietary docks. UDS also makes it possible for IT managers to standardize peripheral support, which can be a time-intensive task.
Mobility Electronics deals with remote connectivity technology and products for the computer industry. Silicon Image provides high-bandwidth semiconductor solutions for mass markets. LSI Logic supplies communications chips and storage network solutions.
Fiber Optic Interconnects To Surge
NEWPORT, R.I. — KMI Corp. forecasts that the market for singlemode fiber optic interconnect hardware will expand to $6 billion dollars by 2005. Fueling recent market growth is a 40 percent increase in cable installations and a near doubling of transmission equipment installations, according to a KMI report, U.S. Fiberoptic Connector and Related Hardware Markets.
Annual growth for singlemode connectors is forecast to increase at a 45 percent compounded annual growth rate (CAGR) to 2005. Growth for multimode connectors in the United States will be 19 percent CAGR. Translated to market value, this growth should yield $2 billion in sales by 2005 for single- and multimode connectors.
U.S. demand for singlemode connectors was expected to become equal to and exceed multimode by volume in 2000. Total market volume is expected to grow from 56 million units in 1998 to 414 million units by 2005. The unit prices of both types of connectors are dropping by 6 to 7 percent per year, a trend that is anticipated to continue to 2005.
Ceramic ferrule production and connector termination processes are currently bottlenecks in the market, according to the report. In response, assembly companies are ramping up new lines and outsourcing fabrication to provide cable terminations quickly enough to meet customer demand.
Industry Sales Slowing
ST. CHARLES, Ill. — By any standard, 2000 was a great year, according to Bishop & Associates Inc. Of 113 OEM and semiconductor manufacturers tracked, sales were up 10.5 percent, and net income was up 18.1 percent through the first nine months of 2000. Distributor sales were up 46.6 percent, and contract manufacturers increased sales 81.9 percent in the same period. Connector manufacturers had an equally impressive year with sales up 19.8 percent, and net income up 47.0 percent through the first nine months of 2000.
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However, signs that the industry is entering a slowdown began to appear in the third quarter of 2000. Slowdowns were recorded in the automotive, transportation, telecommunications, medical, military/aerospace, consumer, industrial and instrumentation market sectors. Third quarter sales were much softer than in the previous two quarters. Only the computer and peripherals market sectors improved in sales growth in the third quarter. Go to www.connectorindustry.com for more information.
Multimode Cabled Fiber Being Tested
HICKORY, N.C. — Corning Cable Systems has joined with Anixter's Levels Lab (Mount Prospect, Ill.) to test the typical transmission limits of Corning's cabled multimode fiber terminated with its UniCam MT-RJ connectors. The preliminary test results indicate that multimode fiber is capable of handling Gigabit Ethernet traffic over much longer distances than recommended by IEEE standards.
Anixter has developed a new testing procedure for multimode cabled fiber. The live data testing method uses actual commercially available transceivers to send data at Gigabit Ethernet speeds over optical fiber links, terminated with connectors. Anixter and Corning stress that this round of testing is just the beginning of a program of ongoing research with multimode fiber optic products.
One of the cables tested was Corning's 62.5/125.0 mm cable with InfiniCor 300 fiber. Fitted with 12 MT-RJ connectors, this cable was found to support Gigabit Ethernet signals with 100 percent packet throughput for distances 150 percent of the expectation, even with a large number of mated connectors along the fiber length.
Corning's cables with 62.5/125.0 mm multimode InfiniCor CL 1000 and 50.0/125.0 mm InfiniCor 600 fibers were also tested. Testing demonstrated that, even with eight mated MT-RJ connectors, the cables supported Gigabit Ethernet signals with 100 percent packet throughput for distances more than 1,000 m, over 200 percent of the expectation. For InfiniCor 600 fiber cable, testing achieved 13 mated pairs of MT-RJ connectors for a distance in excess of 1,400 m.
PLACES & FACES...
Wieland Electric Inc. (Burgaw, N.C.) has reorganized its North American operations. As part of the reorganization, Carl E. Gruenberg has been appointed President of Wieland Electric Inc. U.S., while Fred Maderich was named President of Wieland Canada.
FCI Automotive (Livonia, Mich.) named Paul E. Borger as Market Segment Manager, Global Multimedia Interconnections. Borger's responsibilities include providing guidance to bring FCI copper and fiber optic based products to the multimedia/telematics automotive industry.
FCI USA Inc. and ITT Industries, Cannon (New Britain, Conn.) announced a licensing agreement for Cannon to manufacture FCI's Metral 2 mm high-speed connectors, known as the Metral 1000 and 2000 Series. Both companies agree that Cannon is a second-source manufacturer.
Phoenix Contact Inc. (Harrisburg, Pa.) and GE Fanuc Automation (Charlottesville, Va.) announced an agreement under which GE Fanuc will employ Phoenix Contact's low-density I/O product, Inline, as the foundation for its own I/O product, VersaPoint. VersaPoint enables users to specify the exact amount of I/O needed for each application.
Loctite Corp. (Rocky Hill, Conn.) acquired Power Devices Inc. (Laguna Hills, Calif.), a supplier of phase-change thermal management technology for electronic and electromechanical applications. "This acquisition will enable Loctite to expand its focus on thermally conductive technology," said Stephen Merkel, President of Loctite Americas.
Raymond L. Robinson has been appointed President and CEO of Pirelli Cables and Systems North America (Columbia, S.C.). Robinson succeeds Kevin E. Riddett, who has been appointed CEO of the telecom cables and systems activities of Pirelli SpA worldwide.
