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Hughes Win Product of the Year Award - 1st Place in Interconnects category

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Here are this year’s winners, selected by the editors of Electronic Products.

 



The annual Product of the Year awards, now in its 45th year, recognizes outstanding products that represent any of the following qualities: a significant advancement in a technology or its application, an exceptionally innovative design, a substantial achievement in price/performance, improvements in design performance, and potential for new product designs/opportunities. These are outstanding products that should be evaluated by (Ran/Site) designers for their technological advances and innovations.

 

Here are this year’s winners, selected by the editors of Electronic Products:

  • C&K (Electromechanical)
  • Cornell Dubilier Electronics (Passives)
  • Eta Compute and Maxim Integrated (Digital ICs)
  • Hughes Electronics (Interconnects)
  • InnoPhase Inc. (RF/Microwave)
  • Keysight Technologies (Test & Measurement)
  • Maxim Integrated (Analog/Mixed-Signal ICs)
  • Navitas Semiconductor Ltd. (Power)
  • Seoul Semiconductor Co., Ltd. (Optoelectronics)
  • Texas Instruments Inc. (Sensors)
 Product of The Year Award

Hughes Electronics
Interconnects: OptiMod Fiber Optic and DC Power Cabling


Hughes Electronics launched OptiMod, an advanced fibre optic and DC power cabling concept for cellular networks. Designed to meet the harsh environments found in the wireless communications industry with high flexibility, the OptiMod delivers high-performance connections for hybrid, separate (DC and fibre), or mixed cabling layout requirements.


The key to OptiMod’s flexibility is a new modular connector concept called H-Mod. Like all other OptiMod system components, H-Mod is designed to protect fragile glass fibre cores in harsh environments, including rough handling and installation practices. H-Mod connections don’t need tools, special skills, or equipment, said Hughes, and a unique positive lock-latching system enables error-free connections.

 OneBox

 

Also, the LC fibre and high-performance DC connection modules are combined in the same robust cast aluminium IP68 housing to form the hybrid H-Mod connectors. This translates into one connection to transmit DC power and fibre to radio equipment, which reduces hundreds of man-hours in deployment, according to the company.


The H-Mod can house discrete fibre or DC connection modules for use with separate power and fibre cables to support up to eight remote radio units (RRUs) per power or fibre connection.


The hybrid cables are pressure-proofed thanks to corrugated aluminium tubing and spiral steel armouring, which protects against impact, birds, vermin, and other hazards. Over-sheathing with resilient HDPE provides UV and corrosion resistance.


The exterior-class fibre-only cable features high-grade, low-smoke compounds formulated for harsh environments, and like the hybrid cable, it has flexible steel armouring for crush and rodent resistance. The multi-core DC-only cable incorporates full-braided shielding with optional functional Earth and is available from single to 10 pairs of 10-mm2 cores.


The system also includes OneBox, an advanced cabling distribution unit. The H-Mode IP68 cable distribution box for external connectivity reduces installation time by 80%, according to the company, with a black box combi-cable design that is plug-and-play.


OneBox accepts hybrid, separate, or mixed cable layouts for greater flexibility. It can handle up to 400 A of power and 48 cores of fibre input to support up to 10 RRUs. It also incorporates Hughes’s advanced positive lock technology for a secure connection.


OneBox and the OptiMod system also incorporate a separate functional Earth and shielding continuity. “These unique but important features address major issues involved in the industry practice of earthing DC power to the structure,” said the company. “Up to 70% of return current may pass via the earthed mounting steelwork unless a suitable FE path is offered. OptiMod provides that path, preventing corrosion and depletion of environmental protective coatings.”


Source: https://www.electronicproducts.com/electronic-products-announces-winners-of-the-2020-product-of-the-year-awards/#