Molex’s 2024 Oktober TekFest brought together employees and customers for food, fun and a look at some of the innovative products and capabilities Molex offers.
Hundreds of automotive customers and Molex employees got a hands-on experience with the latest innovations and technology from across the four Molex divisions during its annual Oktober TekFest in Rochester Hills, Michigan, driving a OneMolex message. The two-day event provided employees and customers an opportunity to learn about new products and capabilities, share knowledge, network and have a good time in a relaxed and festive environment.
During the event, Molex employees from the Transportation Innovative Solutions, DataCom & Specialty Solutions, Consumer & Commercial Solutions, and Medical & Pharma Solutions divisions showcased their products and capabilities, including the latest advancements in rugged and reliable connectors that can be used in a variety of applications.
Here are the top five most innovative things showcased.
Rugged Sealed 48V Connectors
Many leaders in the automotive industry are exploring the idea of moving to a 48-volt architecture to run the various electronic devices inside vehicles.
Why it matters: Currently, cars typically run off 12V. Changing to 48V would allow manufacturers to use a smaller gauge wire throughout the vehicle, greatly reducing the space and weight required for a regular wire harness.
Molex is at the forefront of creating rugged and reliable connectors for 48v applications with its MX150 connector. The 48v version is already being used in some of the first mass-produced electric vehicles that implement 48v architecture.
Active Noise Cancelling
Percept Road Noise Cancelling Sensors from Molex are turning the inside of a vehicle into a quiet haven — free from outside noise. The sensors provide monitoring capabilities that allow for rapid detection and analysis of road noise so a car’s audio system can generate active noise-canceling waveforms in real time.
Why it matters: Using active noise cancellation can increase the comfort and safety that drivers and passengers experience inside of a vehicle by reducing unwanted road noise. It also allows manufacturers to reduce the amount of physical and passive sound reduction materials used in the car, which often add significant weight.
High-Speed Data
To keep up with the increasing demand for receiving larger amounts of data faster, Molex has developed a portfolio of high-speed HFM connectors that can deliver up to 20GHz of data speed and HSAutoLink C connectors that meet USB 3.2 Gen 2x2 standards and beyond.
Why it matters: The connectors facilitate the transfer of high-speed data coming from radar sensors, modern antennas and cameras — devices necessary for safety innovations and the continual development of automated driving aides that help keep people safe.
Satellite Receivers and Compensers
As technology advances, telecommunications companies are looking to use satellites to provide the signals needed to transfer high-speed data to your phones and other connected devices. Unfortunately, those signals have a hard time penetrating inside of a vehicle.
Molex is working to solve this problem with their line of satellite receivers, antennas and compensors that can boost satellite signals for devices inside the car or truck.
Molex also showed off a transparent antenna that can be hidden on rear windows and panoramic sunroofs. This type of technology helps keep all of your devices connected and performing at optimal levels no matter where in the world you’re driving.
Data-Signal Hybrid Connector System
Molex’s MX-DaSH connectors are designed to help consolidate and optimize the number of individual connectors needed for an application by combining high-speed data, signal and power into a single connector.
As the number of electronics and computers inside vehicles increases, optimizing for size, weight and cost becomes increasingly important.
The evolution of zonal architecture also means that engineers will need connectivity solutions that can manage multiple interfaces and functions while taking up minimal space in limited real estate.
See more from this year’s TekFest in this short video.
