A digital signal is any signal that transmits voltages as highs and lows in contrast to analog signals, which can have any voltage level between the minimum and maximum voltages. These yield their own unique challenges as they are more resistant to electrical noise but create their own electrical noise with the sharp corners of more squared off signals. To increase compatibility and easier connection of like signals, the connectors themselves have unique interfaces that make cross-compatibility impossible. For example, USB connectors cannot be connected with an HDMI connector or ethernet connector, that carry significantly different signals. Despite this, in rare occasions, developers can use a protocol with a connector that are not typically associated with each other.
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- What types of Digital Signal Connectors are available?
What types of Digital Signal Connectors are available?
A few of the most common digital signal connectors are below:
- USB: For over two decades, USB has been improving in both its protocol and its physical form factor and it is now an incredibly fast, reliable, and common resource.
- HDMI: A dedicated video and audio cable that has taken over the home theater industry and even computer monitors with its ease of use and blazing fast data rates.
- Ethernet: Generally considered the RJ45 connector, there are many different types of connectors that look and act similarly.
- D-subminiature: An older technology that is still utilized with debugging or smaller microcontroller applications.
- Toslink: A digital audio connector designed specifically for use with the SPDIF format.
- DVI: Common a few years ago as a digital upgrade from a VGA connection, DVI is becoming less common as DisplayPort and HDMI take over this field.
- DisplayPort: A newer video standard with significant and ever improving data rates, DisplayPort is common with external monitors.
You can probably note that many of these are dedicated to audio or video transfer but pure data connectors, such as USB and ethernet, are ubiquitous and can be found in nearly any modern electronics. There are more, less-commonly used digital connections available and they can be found by perusing the Master Electronics line card.