Did You Know? How SmartConnect® Brings Intelligence to the Connector

At Onanon, innovation often starts with a simple question. During a recent North America

sales meeting, I was asked: How did we come up with the idea to add intelligence into an electromechanical connector?

The answer is straightforward: necessity.

From Semiconductors to Smart Connectors

My background goes back more than 35 years in the semiconductor industry, so for me, embedding intelligence into hardware has always been second nature. When I joined Onanon, it was a natural evolution to take that intelligence and integrate it directly into electromechanical connectors.

If you look across industries, this shift has already happened many times before.

A Familiar Pattern Across Industries

A little over 20 years ago, if you needed surgery, a physician used a metal scalpel. Today, that same procedure often uses an electronic scalpel—one that can cauterize as it cuts, improving safety and outcomes.

Agriculture followed a similar path. Farmers once plowed fields with purely mechanical equipment. Today’s agricultural tools are electronic, connected, and data-driven.

Onanon’s diversification from medical to industrial applications follows this exact pattern. As industries become more electrified, intelligence is no longer optional—it’s essential.

What Is SmartConnect®?

SmartConnect® is Onanon’s ability to embed electronics directly into an electromechanical connector. That intelligence can be simple or highly advanced, depending on the application.

For example:

• A smart USB connector can recognize what it’s plugged into, preventing operator error, fire hazards, or damage to capital equipment.
• In medical devices, electronics at the connector allow the system to instantly identify accessories, ensuring proper operation and patient safety.
• SmartConnect can be built directly into MagConnect® or into cable assemblies.

Real-World Industrial Use Cases

One of my favorite examples comes from agriculture. A temperature-monitoring cable assembly, similar in form factor to a Q-SAM or MOTO-style cable, contains embedded electronics used to monitor baby calves. If a calf maintains a high temperature for over 24 hours, it can be fatal.

By attaching this device to the calf’s ear, a farmer can visually identify illness from a distance via an LED indicator, enabling faster intervention and saving livestock.

We see similar value across many industrial applications, including:

• UTVs
• Drones
• E-bikes
• E-scooters

In each case, SmartConnect helps:

• Prevent overcharging
• Reduce fire risk
• Protect batteries and electronics
• Safeguard operators and capital equipment

Digital Scalability as a Competitive Advantage

One of Onanon’s core design philosophies is simple: the best design part is no part.

Traditionally, an OEM might use:

• A circuit board
• A connector attached to that board
• Another board or cable assembly downstream

With SmartConnect, we eliminate unnecessary components by turning the connector itself into the electronics platform. This approach:

• Reduces cost
• Improves yield
• Eliminates non–value-added components
• Simplifies system architecture

Whether an application requires minimal electronics or a full-blown embedded computer at the connector, Onanon has the core competency to deliver.

The Future Is Smart and It Starts at the Connector

SmartConnect®

The digital scalability of SmartConnect is virtually endless. By embedding intelligence directly where power and signals connect, OEMs gain flexibility, safety, and differentiation at a surprisingly low cost.

If you’d like to learn more about SmartConnect—or explore how it can be integrated into your next medical or industrial application—visit Onanon.com or schedule time with one of our engineers. We’d be happy to help.

Thank you for joining me for another Did You Know? from Onanon.

Did You Know – SmartConnect®

By Dennis Johnson,
General Manager & Chief Technology Officer, Onanon