• By Chiara Pieri
• December 05, 2023

In the realm of medical technology, where precision and innovation intersect, the quest for excellence becomes an unyielding pursuit. When dealing with the design of interconnect systems for the medical industry, the level of engineering attention and engagement required to develop a top performance product is very high.

• By Kevin Koontz
• November 27, 2023

After over 40 years of industry experience, Plastronics was acquired by Smiths Interconnect as the company’s one-stop shop for burn-in and reliability testing. As the complementary in-house burn-in division, we have also brought a wealth of knowledge and expertise in socket design and manufacturing.

• November 13, 2023

Smiths Interconnect recognizes the critical importance of connectivity in the realm of space technology and is proud to present the SpaceNXT™ Range - a groundbreaking initiative that offers pre-tested and qualified interconnect solutions for the next generation of space applications.

• By Kevin Koontz
• November 01, 2023

Not every semiconductor manufacturer utilizes thermal simulation in their reliability testing setup. Lower power burn-in allows for an acceptable temperature rise within the package/die in a traditional burn-in chamber running at 125°C. As packages in burn-in are moving to higher power output, socket and burn-in systems may need to have enhanced features to manage the desired target die temps.

• By Steve Carnegie
• October 23, 2023

To extend the life of your probes and lower the overall cost of testing, consider the following steps.

• By Dave Raymond
• October 10, 2023

In the realms of space exploration and defense technology, electronic components play a pivotal role in ensuring mission success and national security. Among these components, fixed attenuators stand out as essential tools for signal management, maintaining the integrity of electronic systems amidst the most challenging environments

• By Chiara Pieri
• October 04, 2023

With the growing popularity of portable and patient-wearable devices, the size and weight of connectors have suddenly taken center stage in the medical sector.

• September 19, 2023

Space missions expose electronic components to intense radiation, a challenge that can compromise the functionality of conventional devices. However, Smiths Interconnect's SpaceABLE® line of products is purposefully designed to withstand these extreme conditions.

• By Tim Wooden
• September 01, 2023

Where best-in-class electrical requirements intersect with a need for a small outline, low-profile footprint, IC designers are increasingly migrating to QFN packages. Meeting these testing challenges requires a test socket solution that is robust, reliable, and electrically “clean.”

• By Steve Durrett
• August 07, 2023

When companies develop new devices, they must ensure there are no failures in the field. This means that thorough reliability burn-in testing must take place from the start to avoid malfunctions down the road.

• July 14, 2023

The X-Band cutoff frequency range is from 8 GHz to 12 GHz with a wavelength of 3.8 to 2.5 cm.

• By Steve Durrett
• June 21, 2023

The tech zeitgeist is all about the extreme. The more advanced our devices become by the day, the more they evolve – and consumers’ expectations with them.

• May 08, 2023

Space flight hardware is exposed to severe shock, vibration, thermal variations and electromagnetic environments that start with launch and continue throughout its operational lifetime. Environmental tests expose the hardware to these environments in a simulation laboratory to validate the design, screen for manufacturing defects and ensure the reliability and survivability of flight hardware.

• By Steve Durrett
• May 01, 2023

Burn-in testing is widely used as an aid in producing failure-free electronic components. When scientifically planned and conducted, burn-in-testing sockets offer one of the most effective methods of reliability screening at the component level. Testing during production plays a vital role in ensuring reliability and repeatability. Semiconductor manufacturing plants perform tests at each stage of production to eliminate defective parts as early as possible while precisely controlling each process parameter of the chip.

• By Andy Breslin and Tim Meehan
• April 24, 2023

Guidelines for maintaining cables and connectors.

• By Steve Durrett
• April 05, 2023

Creating more compact electronic components with higher functionality is a challenge for all electronics manufacturers. Whatever industry you're in, creating consumer, business, or military-grade electronics, the challenge presents itself, and the stakes are high. As electronics are expected to continue shrinking while increasing capabilities, blind mating connectors are required to meet those same size and functionality requirements.

• April 03, 2023

A coaxial circulator is a passive, non-reciprocal three-port device that allows microwave or radio-frequency signal to exit through the port directly after the one it entered. An isolator is a two-port device that transmits microwave or radio frequency power in one direction only, while the other direction is blocked. Isolators can be considered as a special case of circulators and are made by suitably terminating one port of the circulator ports.

• By Steve Durrett
• March 13, 2023

Plastronics, a Smiths Interconnect technology brand, is a global provider of innovation for semiconductor reliability testing, meeting the industry’s burn-in socket needs for more than 40 years. It all started when our company invented the first open-top, application-specific socket for production burn-in of LCC packages. This innovation helped semiconductor manufacturers significantly increase their throughput and decrease costs.

• By Steve Durrett
• February 14, 2023

Tiny computers, smartphones, and small electronic devices that industry leaders and other companies have popularized are forcing the hand of semiconductor package designers to shrink the package to fit within these little hand-held gadgets. The demand for technology applications, such as smart homes, smart manufacturing, smart medical care, and automotive electronics, continues to increase. At the same time, the requirements of continuous miniaturization and functional diversification of electronic product demands also increase.

• By Federica Nappi
• January 03, 2023

Space satellites market is evolving from RF Analog-based payloads providing low speed telecommunication signaling, to a new Digital Transparent Processor architecture for high throughput satellites. This type of architecture increases the demand for rugged and higher speed connectivity.

• By Chiara Pieri
• December 02, 2022

Autoclaving is often used to sterilize medical devices to prevent disease transmission both in new and reusable products. Autoclaves sterilize by introducing high pressure steam into a chamber containing the objects to be sterilized. Therefore, these devices must be able to withstand autoclaving temperatures in the range of 135°C without damage, deformation, or disintegration.

• By Robert Friedt and Chiara Pieri
• November 07, 2022

Spring probes offer high density and have a very high mating cycle life, often higher than traditional pin & socket contact systems, and this is needed to keep very expensive MRI systems operating to their full capacity and patient throughput to a maximum.

• By Steve Durrett
• November 01, 2022

Retail. Manufacturing. Government. Healthcare. Distribution. Choose an industry, and edge computing is there helping organizations thrive. Every industry has more data to generate, control, share, and save, which means that through 2022 and beyond, more enterprises will use the edge to benefit their business.

• October 20, 2022

Modern therapeutic systems for the treatment of weight loss for both health and aesthetic purposes are evolving to help people live a better life. To achieve the necessary results, medical devices need to ensure long-lasting, constant and high-level performance with reliable components able to support harsh conditions.

• By Arlen Martin and Jon Lundberg
• October 10, 2022

Optical interconnectivity has a significant impact on the defense industry. Not only does it allow greater amounts of data to be passed over longer distances, but it also minimizes SWaP (size, weight, and power) relative to copper alternatives. In fact, cabling weight can be reduced more than 90% with no interference and carry high-speed data 15 to 20 times further.

• September 29, 2022

From military aircraft to radar applications to satellite communication links, we rely on cable assemblies to transmit signals between multiple devices, internally in a single device, or as part of testing processes.

• By Steve Durrett
• September 05, 2022

There's no escaping the expectations to create more compact electronic components with higher functionality. Designing shrinking electronics is a challenge for all electronics manufacturers. Whatever industry you're in and no matter if you’re creating consumer, business, or military-grade electronics, there is a demand for building smaller, smarter, and sturdier electronics.

• By Dave Raymond and Tim Meehan
• August 23, 2022

Current space and defense industries are putting pressure on electronic manufacturers to deliver high performance with smaller form factor. For applications in these industries, from radios to drones and satellites, miniaturizing components such as RF chip attenuators with broad frequency ranges is becoming critical for developing technology and meeting the challenging demands of defense and space applications.

• By Susan Su
• August 08, 2022

In the digital era, semiconductor chips are present in almost every aspect of our lives. Whether it is from microwave ovens to computers, cell phones, computer central processing units, and other electronic devices there are a variety of chips installed.

• By Chiara Pieri
• July 20, 2022

To ensure patient and provider safety, medical connectors must satisfy a variety of government and industry standards depending on the usage and specific applications.

• By Chiara Pieri
• June 06, 2022

Train deceleration is a key function that implies passengers’ safety, environment and property protection and nothing can be left to chance or neglected when it is the moment to select the right parts that have to compose the brake system. With this in mind, the design engineers have to pay attention to reduce the overall maintenance costs as well to provide a dependable and market aligned solution.

• By Gregory Kay
• May 18, 2022

Smiths Interconnect’s new HBB five-pole connector packs flexibility, reliability and safety as well as power into one easy-to-use connector for demanding applications. We’ve built an international reputation on our ability to anticipate customers’ future needs and innovate to meet them. In the defense sector, we’ve been exploring the potential of the energy revolution for combat vehicles, both on the ground and in the air.

• April 26, 2022

Our popular KA Series PCB connectors are capable of performing to significantly higher levels than the conservative ratings to date might suggest.

• By Mike Schweyer and Mark Verderber
• February 24, 2022

The recent rollout of the 5G C-band frequencies has caused concerns for radar altimeter interference in avionic systems—including commercial transport, business, regional, and general aviation airplanes and helicopters.

• By Joydip Sanyal and Chiara Pieri
• January 10, 2022

The great impetus given by the COP26 summit has raised the world's awareness of climate change and made it a global priority. It is today well-known that to halt the consequences of climate change we need to limit global warming to 1.5°C (34.7°F) above pre-industrial levels. As a result, all aspects of our lives are under scrutiny.

• By Glenn Tilton
• December 14, 2021

How much power can your cables handle?

• By Daniel Ratzlaff and Chiara Pieri
• November 22, 2021

The continued need to evolve and develop smarter solutions has driven exciting new innovations that are reducing the cost-per-therapy in the medical sector without compromising life-critical performance.

• By Alan McNeill
• November 15, 2021

Understanding the basics of microwave microstrip isolator and circulator technologies

• By Chiara Pieri
• September 30, 2021

Efficient quality end-of-line equipment can innovate the automotive industry.

• By Dave Raymond and Tim Meehan
• June 24, 2021

When should attenuation be added to a RF/microwave application?

• By Gregory Kay
• April 28, 2021

Understand Electromagnetic Interference (EMI/RFI) filtering, Transient Voltage Suppression, and the basics of signal conditioning:

• By Chris Hawn
• March 10, 2021

Understanding RF wideband microwave gain slope, installation and reliability

• By Andrew Breslin
• February 17, 2021

Having the proper guidelines in place for your RF semi-rigid cable assembly helps minimize cost, improve electrical performance, and increase reliability.

• February 02, 2021

The explosion of worldwide communications over the past 25 years has led to the pervasive use of mobile and land communications equipment with an abundance of platforms, applications, and devices all driving the growth of many of the largest businesses in the world. There is no doubt that this trend will continue through the Internet of Things (IoT), and the arrival of the 5G technology along with improvements to the underlying network infrastructure. However, the next, ‘Small Step’ for man in terms of ubiquitous communications will be the ‘Giant Leap’ into the Internet of Space.

• By Rick Marshall
• December 14, 2020

As mobile phone electronics continue to shrink, WLCSP has become the de-facto packaging solution for IC’s going into today’s flagship handsets. Manufacturers need solutions to rapidly debug their new silicon, and quickly ramp it to HVM while achieving aggressive DPPB quality levels.