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Smiths Interconnect Blog

Keep up to date on the latest updates and industry insights with Smiths Interconnect

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70 Results

  • Transforming new product development with "CAD-to-FAB"
    12 Aug

    Transforming new product development with "CAD-to-FAB"

    • August 12, 2024

    The impressive outcome of the trial not only attracted a major new contract, but also match-funding from the UK Space Agency that’s now enabling the establishment of a £3.8m single-site CAD-to-FAB facility in Dundee.

  • An introduction to Smiths Interconnect in Dundee
    24 Jun

    An introduction to Smiths Interconnect in Dundee

    • By Julian Fagge
    • June 24, 2024

    Smiths Interconnect is one of Smiths Group’s four businesses. We have a truly global reach, with sites in locations around the world including Mexico, Italy, North America, China, and the UK.

  • A Costa Rican plant for advanced component manufacturing
    26 Feb

    A Costa Rican plant for advanced component manufacturing

    • February 26, 2024

    The electronic system development supply chain that has become increasingly diverse and global, with components provided from various regions around the world. This comes with several challenges including variability in supply and demand, geopolitical tensions and unforeseen events that may lead to delays, increased costs and supply chain inefficiencies.

  • Digitalisation in mining
    08 Feb

    Connectors for digital mining operating in arduous environmental conditions and for extreme applications

    • By Joydip Sanyal and Chiara Pieri
    • February 08, 2024

    The mine of the future is being built on connectivity of data and automation. The benefits of Industry 4.0 through digitalization of data from connected assets in the mining industry is profound. To enable near-real time decision, a digital mine needs to bring together data from across its assets distributed within its value chain. If done correctly, it rewards the industry with increasing uptime of critical assets, reducing costs and operational risks.

  • TSX Series
    05 Feb

    Making Sense of High-Reliability Radio Frequency (RF ) Components

    • By Dave Raymond
    • February 05, 2024

    HR TSX Series represents a significant leap forward in the realm of high-frequency surface mount chip attenuators. Its combination of small form factor, robust construction, and versatile performance make it an attractive choice for space and defense applications.

  • Electrophysiology applications: when medical connectivity pushes the boundaries of size
    04 Dec

    Electrophysiology applications: when medical connectivity pushes the boundaries of size

    • By Chiara Pieri
    • December 04, 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.

  • Smiths Interconnect Test Sockets
    27 Nov

    FAQs at Smiths Interconnect: test sockets, capabilities, and support

    • 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.

  • Burn in test products
    01 Nov

    What is thermal simulation and why is it important to reliability burn-in testing?

    • 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.

  • Fixed Attenuators for Space and Defense Applications: Ensuring Reliability and Durability
    10 Oct

    Fixed Attenuators: Ensuring Reliability and Durability

    • 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

  • Dundee site qualification and test laboratory general purpose test area.
    08 May

    One-stop-shop laboratory replicates deep space environment

    • 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.

  • Raising the Bar of Burn-In Testing Sockets
    01 May

    Raising the Bar of Burn-In Testing Sockets

    • 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.

  • Rethinking Blind Mate Connectors to Increase Reliability in Miniaturized Electronics Assembly
    05 Apr

    Rethinking Blind Mate Connectors to Increase Reliability in Miniaturized Electronics Assembly

    • 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.

  • Miniature Coaxial Isolators and Circulators
    03 Apr

    Miniature Coaxial Isolators and Circulators

    • 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.

  • Challenges Semiconductor Package Size and Pitch Face in Shrinking Consumer Electronics
    13 Mar

    BGA Sockets To Solve All Your Electronics Testing Needs

    • 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.

  • Challenges Semiconductor Package Size and Pitch Face in Shrinking Consumer Electronics
    14 Feb

    Challenges Semiconductor Package Size and Pitch Face in Shrinking Consumer Electronics

    • 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.

  • Autoclavable D series
    02 Dec

    Autoclaving for Medical Devices

    • 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.

  • Custom Grid Array
    07 Nov

    Spring Probe based Pin Grid Arrays (PGAs) for MRI Applications

    • 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.

  • Ensure Reliability in Edge Computing with Burn-In Testing
    01 Nov

    Ensure Reliability in Edge Computing with Burn-In Testing

    • 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.

  • L Series Connectors
    20 Oct

    Customizable modular connectors for demanding therapeutic devices

    • 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.

  • LightCONEX®
    10 Oct

    The next step in optical interconnectivity for the defense industry

    • 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.

  • Custom Connectors VS Catalog Connectors: Benefit Breakdown and Challenges
    05 Sep

    Custom Connectors VS Catalog Connectors: Benefit Breakdown and Challenges

    • 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.

  • TSX Attenuators
    23 Aug

    Small but mighty: How attenuators benefit defense and space industries

    • 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.

  • Representative Test Socket: DaVinci High Speed Test Socket
    08 Aug

    Is it really that hard to improve chip test performance?

    • 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.

  • C Series Connectors
    06 Jun

    How connectivity can play a key role in rail braking systems

    • 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.

  • HBB Five Pole
    18 May

    High five for new HBB circular connectors

    • 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.

  • Enhanced rating for KA connectors
    26 Apr

    Enhanced ratings for KA connectors

    • 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.