Smiths Interconnect company News and Trends items

Electromagnetic interference (EMI) also called radio-frequency interference (RFI) is a disturbance generated by unwanted electrical signals from electronic devices or natural occurrences which may reduce the performance of the equipment and can even stop it from functioning. It can impact various flight-critical applications including communication and military flight c...

This webinar will describe why optic communications in space are a key element of the success of those new networks. From intra-satellite to inter-satellite high speed link, optical communication over fiber optics or over optical wireless optical terminal can help extracting the most of those new communication architectures while offering low SWaP..

Smiths Interconnect has announced receipt of a contract from Mitsubishi Electric Corporation to participate in the development of a G-band satellite for the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA). Smiths Interconnect will design a component with dual band millimeter wave antenna and receivers as a part of the advanced microwave scanning radiometer 3 (AMSR3). The AMS...

In this webinar, Smiths Interconnect experts will examine the different RF filter technologies, evaluate key parameters when choosing an RF filter, and discuss current and future RF filter trends. Special attention will be given to the emerging planar chip filter and thick, and thin film processing technology.

The Joule 20 failsafe scrubbing contact technology provides first-class electrical and mechanical performance in testing peripheral ICs for the most demanding Communication, Consumer, Wearable and Automotive applications.

The train of the future will have higher needs in terms of bandwidth, functionalities and service quality: digitalisation, CO2 footprint, smart power distribution, operational standardization and regulations compliance are key areas of opportunities for the railway post-pandemic sector to improve their competitiveness.

When looking at key design trends for RF & microwave components such as higher frequency, increased bandwidth, and larger component counts, it becomes apparent that RF/microwave engineers will have to look for new ways to deal with inherent challenges in gain slope that are exhibited by many RF components.

The Dundee facility can now replicate deep space in terms of vacuum and heat with high power amplifiers and vacuum systems. It can therefore analyse high power devices that are used in space with regards to their breakdown voltage behaviour in a vacuum or near-vacuum environment. This effect, called multipaction, can render a device useless and, thus degrades the reliabi...

Reflex Photonics, a Smiths Interconnect company, has been awarded a multimillion-dollar contract to deliver thousands of SpaceABLE®28 optical module devices to be used in state-of-the-art, high-throughput communication satellites (HTCS) that will be deployed in geostationary orbit.

Smiths Interconnect provides the Mars Perseverance Rover with high performance ruggedized cPCI 2mm connectors addressing NASA’s need for a high reliability connector solution to meet the mechanical, electrical and environmental performance requirements. Rigorous testing was performed at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory for extreme environmental conditions, including thermal...

We have proudly delivered failure-free performance in numerous spaceflight programs. Smiths Interconnect designs compact and reliable products suitable for launchers, satellites, manned space flight and ground systems support. Our solutions use space approved materials and controlled processes for minimum mission lifetimes of 15 to 20 years.

All military programmes are valuable contracts to secure as they are typically long-term commitments that will generate stable future revenue for the businesses. The Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II (previously known as Joint Strike Fighter/JSF) programme falls into this category, dating back to the late 1990s when the need for a 5th Generation aircraft began to evolve.

To keep up with the dramatic progress in mobile phone development, chip suppliers must bring up new silicon quickly, predictably, and at the lowest costs possible. A variety of test setup challenges must be overcome in order to ramp a WLCSP device into high volume on schedule. The probe head required to connect a WCLSP device to the ATE can be a critical link. Any delays...

The LightVISION® VM operates like a QSFP+ but offers reduced dimensions and power consumption, operation over industrial temperature range, and option for board-mount or edge-mount. This optical module offers size and performance advantages over the QSFP+ in addition to Reflex Photonics products proven reliability and ruggedness. This new device is perfectly suited for 4...

When designing a semi-rigid cable assembly, the complexity of the project can be very costly. Having proper guidelines in place can improve performance, increase reliability, and decrease the cost of most semi-rigid cable assemblies.

The request for faster, safer and more comfortable services has grown proportionally in the rail industry over the recent years and the last two decades have seen exponential growth in the use of technology towards the evolution of very sophisticated transport system where the performance of components is more and more critical.

When looking at spring probe contact technology the solution you choose must meet the mechanical, electrical and environmental performance requirements required in today’s space market. The lifecycle of spring contact probes is dependent on the design of the probe and as well as the operating conditions in the field. Design and manufacturing challenges take place to meet...

A growing manufacturer of this patient monitoring device needed an easier to use push-pull connector which would better integrate into the design of their device. This device is used during medical procedures to monitor the patient’s level of consciousness, so they don’t wake up and become aware during an operation. The customer’s previous design used a competitor's conn...

As computers, mobiles and smart devices become more advanced, so must the integrated chips that support them. Smiths Interconnect’s new Volta semiconductor test solutions, are leading the way. These solutions are used for testing the integrated chip packages behind everything from Bluetooth and power management to digital displays. Volta significantly outperforms the com...

An early stage medical product development company was developing a non-invasive product which uses externally applied low temperatures to cause fat cells to die and be absorbed into the body. For the cable connection between the head that delivers the patient therapy and their device, they needed a custom connector which combined power, signal, and fluid connections wit...

Today, many competing data gathering fleets of vehicles are logging millions of km on the roads of the world in order to amass the data required to feed and train the AI that will enable full vehicle autonomy. The detection accuracy and the size of the dataset demanded by those safety-critical training systems is very high, as is the bandwidth, performance, and reliabili...

One of the emerging leaders in Ultrasound diagnostic equipment approached Smiths Interconnect as they were witnessing field failures due to bent contacts during mating causing the expensive ultrasound systems to be line down in the hospitals. The systems were then sent back to the customer for repair which was a very expensive, inconvenient and costly affair to the end u...

Designing and manufacturing RF cable assemblies and harnesses involves a number of challenges. Join our webinar on Monday January 25th 11am EST to learn from our industry experts Product Market Director, Michael Carlson and Product Line Manager, Andrew Breslin as they share RF cable assembly challenges focused on radiation harden materials, cable routing, cable modulari...

These giant chips – typically over 20B transistors per device – required enormous power draws, which in turn, generates heat. To address these challenges, sophisticated thermal system modelling must be applied, and custom solutions must be design around these models. For device manufacturers, it has become critical to properly manage IC thermal output during the critical...

Development partner contract will support a FAA- certified solution for Traffic Surveillance Smiths Interconnect announced today the award of a development partner contract from General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. (GA-ASI) to design a multi-function microwave transmit and receive assembly ideal for Radar and Military Data Link communication applications. GA-AS...

Smiths Interconnect, a leading provider of innovative solutions for critical semiconductor test applications, announces the expansion of its Volta product line to incorporate Volta180 probe heads, to support the Wafer Level Packages and Known Good Dies test businesses. The recent acceleration of the digital age is creating a huge demand for new consumer/ commercial e...

NASA’s Mars Exploration Program, Mars Perseverance Rover was launched on July 30, 2020 and will touch down on Mars on February 18, 2021. Designed to be the most sophisticated rover NASA has built, the Mars Perseverance Rover will use advanced systems to explore the diverse geological landscape, discover ancient habitats, gather rock and soil samples that will be returne...

Smiths Interconnect announced today the release of its new CTX high frequency wire bondable chip termination series optimized to combine high frequency and power in a small package. The new CTX Series is designed to offer excellent broadband performance up to 64GHz. It allows wider coverage than traditional components while providing optimized return loss for multiple...

Smiths Interconnect announces today the distribution agreement with Heilind Electronics Inc. and its MIL-AERO Division, Interstate Connecting Components. The agreement with Heilind Inc. completes the business relationship already existing with Heilind in Europe and Asia, making the company a global partner for the distribution of Smiths Interconnect’s products. Hei...

Addressing the need to create a streamlined procurement experience by shifting the testing responsibility away from the customer, Smiths Interconnect announces today the release of its SpaceNXT™ MWC Series of high reliability multi-way isolated splitters in high-frequency Ku-bands. The SpaceNXT™ MWC Series is specifically designed for a variety of space applications ...

The first satellite of the COSMO-SkyMed Second Generation (CSG-1) was launched and has been orbiting since 18 December 2019, enriching the constellation that, for over 10 years, has made an important international contribution to emergency management, environmental monitoring and national security. The signal has been regularly acquired by the antennas of the Fucino Spac...

Smiths Interconnect proudly celebrated the Grand Opening of its new Qualification and Test laboratory in its site in Dundee, Scotland. The new laboratory offers a one-stop shop for critical qualification and testing of Smiths Interconnect’s products in Europe. The structure is equipped with in-house multipaction testing and SRS mechanical shock testing system, both in...

Smiths Interconnect, a leading provider of technically differentiated electronic components, subsystems, microwave and radio frequency products, today announces that it has completed the acquisition of Reflex Photonics, Inc. (“Reflex”). Founded in 2002 in Montreal, Canada, Reflex is a recognized global leader in rugged high-reliability optical transceiver modules for...

Tampa, US –Smiths Interconnect, Inc. proudly announces receipt of the James S. Cogswell Outstanding Industrial Security Achievement Award for 2019—the most prestigious honor the Defense Security Service (DSS) may bestow upon the top cleared facilities. The award was established in 1966 in honor of the late Air Force Col. James S. Cogswell, the first chief of industria...

Automotive test equipment requires exceptionally robust components to withstand the rigors of the continuous testing of the electronic systems used in today’s ever more complex vehicles. Often these systems are tested on automatic equipment, without the direct involvement of a human operator. The connectors which interface to this equipment must be rugged, compliant to ...

Smiths Interconnect announces D Series connectors as a high reliability alternative to premium priced autoclave compatible connectors. Medical environments typically dictate products be suited for autoclave, sterilization and scaled to support a wide range of device styles and sizes. The medical device industry continues to develop more disposable and cost effective ...