This book is a reference work for equipment designers and the use of connectors therein. Every designer and consumer receives answers to questions about design, materials, physical basics, contact surfaces, shielding practices, housing and locking designs and applications. Special chapters highlight the most prominent disciplines for electrical connectors: power electronics on one extreme and high data rates on the other. Finally, various technologies in the production process of electronic assemblies and basic selection criteria for electrical connectors are examined. Even though the market is very large with more than 1000 connector manufacturers, the book gives the user assistance in finding the best connector for the application. From the content: What is a connector The connector components Different termination technologies Insulator materials The contact materials The contact point Various contact surfaces The contact resistance Shielding techniques The locking systems of the connectors Housing and mechanics Why are new connectors being developed? Connectors in power electronics Connector for high data rates Further processing of the connectors in the manufacturing process The connector selection Connector database access in the accompanying online service InfoClick