Adapters & Converters
This text is machine translated.
This text is machine translated.
About adapters & converters
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What is a converter?
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What is an adapter?
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What is the adapter and converter required for?
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What kind of adapters and converters are there?
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Bottom line
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Well-known manufacturers of current converters and adapters
What is a converter?
Converters convert file formats or signals into other types of information. They are used in many areas of computer science and electronics; they are also referred to as "converters". A typical example of a simple converter is the analogue-to-digital converter, as it occurs in joysticks or gamepads: There an analogueue signal, here the position of the potentiometer moved by the player, is digitized by the machine.
What is an adapter?
An adapter is an external device that can be used to connect two different devices. A simple example of an electromechanical adapter: A DVI to HDMI adapter connects different connections to the computer and monitor.
There are basically two categories, active and passive adapters. The passive adapter successfully connects to her counterpart and transmits the signal without changing it. One example is the socket adapter, which simply combines the different plug formats of two countries or the popular SIM card adapter, which makes smaller cards usable for larger slots. An active adapter, on the other hand, changes the output signal and adjusts it so that the receiver can do something with it. Back to power outlet: For example, an active socket adapter can scale the line voltage to fit a smartphone.
What is the adapter and converter required for?
In the age of digitalization and technological progress, the development of data transmission, storage and playback does not stop. The reason for the permanent changes is the increased data transfer rates, the required memory volume and the continuous further development of programming languages.
Electrical connectors that have evolved and changed over the years often do not offer compatibility with new devices. One example is the development of the monitors. Higher resolution requires different data transfer and connectivity. Therefore, most of the new monitors are equipped with HDMI hubs. If the graphics card to which the monitor is to be put into operation does not have an HDMI hub, but a DVI hub, no connection to the monitor can be established. An adapter is required to convert the DVI hub into an HDMI hub. Only then can a functional connection be established between the computer and the monitor.
Due to the constant change, converters are also a key factor in the interconnection of technologies. The fact that converters become necessary is because there are different programming languages for different technologies. It is difficult to establish a universal format that can be played back on any terminal. Converters can read the necessary file formats and convert them into the desired output formats – quickly, easily and reliably.
What kind of adapters and converters are there?
There is a suitable converter or adapter in our shop for almost every area of electronics and electrical engineering:
Data cloner and copy stations
They are used for pure data transfer. Contents on hard disks, USB sticks or memory cards can be duplicated without detour via a PC.
Keyboard and mouse adapter
Often, such an adapter is needed to connect the PS/2 port of old keyboards and mice to a USB hub.
Serial & Parallel Adapters
This type was developed for an interface of the D-SUB plug. The different variations (pole degrees) enable versatile application possibilities for various devices, video playback on the monitor and much more.
Serial Interface Converters
Serial interface converters are responsible for the transmission of the RS-232 interface. Today, such converters are increasingly used for service and configuration ports for various devices such as routers, switches or storage systems.
USB Adapters
The conventional USB adapters are used in many areas of communication and network technology. There are many different variations of USB adapters for almost every type of plug. USB-C to USB 3.0, micro-USB to 2.5mm jack plug and others.
Digital Media Adapters
This type of adapter is widely used. With a simple memory card adapter, images stored on a memory card by a camera can be loaded onto a PC. In addition, many stationary print stations are compatible with such a memory card adapter.
Hard disk docking stations
Docking stations are often used in computer repair centers. Such a station allows a hard drive to connect quickly to a computer without having to connect the necessary cables first. This is convenient for backing up or using an external disk effectively.
Monitor, TV and AV adapter
These adapters are used to establish a compatible connection to monitor or TV. This closes connectivity gaps and enables on-screen playback. In addition, there are multiple plugs, which connect several monitors with each other and activate the respective required monitor with a push of a button. Thus, all playback devices are connected to each other, but the signal is always sent only to the desired device.
Interface Converters
Interface converters are often used on desktop PCs. There are converters, for example, that enable the use of modern SATA hard disks on old IDE interfaces. Or those with which one can insert mini-PCI-slot in old PCI-slots.• Interface Converters Interface converters are often used on desktop PCs. There are converters, for example, that enable the use of modern SATA hard disks on old IDE interfaces. Or those with which one can insert mini-PCI-slot in old PCI-slots.
Bottom line
Before replacing functional hardware that is not compatible with other devices, it should be checked whether adapters or converters could not be a cost-effective interim solution. In addition, adapters or converters can increase the range of components by not serving as converters, but simply as cable extensions or extensions.