High retention Type A and B USB interfaces (USBR Series) are said to comply with the Class 1, DIV II minimum withdrawal requirement of 15 Newtons. These connectors have an orange color-coded insulator to differentiate them from standard withdrawal force connectors. Are available in surface mount and through-hole designs with a choice of standard right angle or vertical top-entry orientation.

Samtec, www.samtec.com

A scaled-down version of the MK-II, the Advantage 16e, was designed to counteract any penetration by smaller knockoffs of the MK-II in Asia. Is said to be stripped down for buyers looking for lower cost system. Is about ¼ the size of MK-II and includes fewer operational controls, including recordkeeping. Includes vacuum pump, booster blower and unitary chassis design. Includes 16 level, horizontal planar electrode configuration (24" W x 18" D x 1.25" spacing), 1,000W 13.56 MHz solid state air-cooled R.F. generator, process temperature control, two mass-flow meters with precision needle valve, automatic nitrogen purging and touch-screen interface.

Plasma Etch Inc., www.plasmaetch.com

This joint-effort design solution reportedly can improve productivity for the design of RF circuits. Is expected to cut PCB design cycle times in half and improve quality of mixed-technology designs. Enables PCB mixed-signal designers to concurrently design a PCB using Expedition Enterprise or Board Station XE flows and integrate it with Advanced Design System EDA software.

Mentor Graphics, www.mentor.com/go/pcbinnovation 

Agilent Technologies Inc., www.agilent.com/find/eesof-adsent.com