THIN FILM MIL-PRF-55342 TERMINATION VOIDS

State College, PA, March 2011 -- Three customers have reported a total of four thin film B termination material MIL-PRF-55342 devices exhibiting open circuit conditions after reflow solder mounting. All four devices were identified by routine electrical and visual inspection of the mounted devices. The assembly failures were reported on Feb. 5th 2009, August 31st 2010, Oct. 19th 2010, and February 14th 2011. No post assembly failures have been reported, nor have there been any life test failures. The thin film devices in question are identified by B termination material and either characteristic symbol E and H or resistance tolerance and multiplier symbols A, B, and C (0.1%).

As of January 17th 2011 all shipments of thin film MIL-PRF-55342 solderable devices have been screened to mitigate the shipment of potentially defective devices.

Please review this .PDF for more information: ThinFilmSolderableMetalVoids.pdf

STATE OF THE ART INTRODUCES THE FILTENATOR

State College, PA, March 2011 -- State of the Art (SOTA), Inc., the leading manufacturer of mission critical military and high reliability resistive products, announces the addition of the Filtenator to its high frequency product line.

The Filtenator is a clean attenuator that uses an integrated filter to eliminate high frequency signals. The cut-off frequency can be varied between 5.5 and 8.5Ghz. Standard attenuation values are 1, 3, 6, and 10 dB. VSWR for all four values is less than 1.5:1, with attenuation tolerance less than +/- 1 dB. Measuring 0.150" x 0.120" x 0.015" these devices are available with wire bondable or solderable terminations.

The Filtenator chip design provides an advantage over fixed chip attenuators by filtering the high frequency harmonics, thus providing a cleaner signal. To make the concept transparent to existing chip attenuator users, the geometry of the Filtenator including the dimensions of the termination pads are kept identical to our standard 1512 attenuator.

Filtenators are manufactured at SOTA's ISO 9001 & AS9100 manufacturing facility located in State College, PA. Reliability is assured by SOTA's proven processes, and rigid quality controls. Customer specific applications can be accommodated, including optional high reliability screening or custom testing.

Pricing for the new components is under $1.90 in production quantities. Delivery is stock to eight weeks ARO.

STATE OF THE ART INTRODUCES NEW MULTI-TAP ATTENUATORS

State College, PA, October 2008 -- State of the Art (SOTA), Inc., the leading manufacturer of mission critical military and high reliability chip resistors, announces the addition of new multi-tap attenuators to its high frequency product line.

The MTA1225 (0.125" x 0.250" x 0.015") multi-tap attenuators are available with wire bondable or a solderable terminations. Constructed using a high stability thick film resistor element on alumina, these devices offer four standard attenuation values on a single chip. Standard attenuation values are 1, 3, 6, and 10 dB. VSWR for all four values is less than 1.5:1, with attenuation tolerance +/- 0.5dB or 10% whichever is greater, up to 1 GHz.

The multi-tap attenuator chip was designed to eliminate the use of multiple attenuator devices in attenuation switching functions, thus reducing board space and inventory costs. The MTA1225 is a single chip solution for low frequency multiple signal processing applications, providing multiple attenuation levels when used in conjunction with a high frequency switch or a pin diode.

Multi-tap attenuators are manufactured in the USA at SOTA's ISO 9001 manufacturing facility, where reliability is assured by SOTA's proven processes, and rigid quality controls. Customer specific applications can be accommodated, including optional high reliability screening or custom testing.

Pricing for the new components is under $1.90 in production quantities. Delivery is stock to eight weeks ARO.

STATE OF THE ART INTRODUCES NEW THIN FILM LOW PASS FILTERS

State College, PA, September 2007 -- State of the Art (SOTA), Inc., a leading manufacturer of military and high reliability chip resistors, announces a new addition of thin film low pass filters to its high frequency product line.

Sub-miniature case size (0.150 X 0.100 X 0.025) low pass filters (LPF) are available on 99% alumina substrate constructed using high stability thin film planar technology, 50 ohm terminations available for either solder of epoxy mounting. These devices are available with passband cutoffs at 5.5, 7 and 8 Ghz.. Maximum rejection greater than 16 dB, and VSWR characteristics of less than 1.4:1. with a insertion loss of less than 0.5db.

SOTA’s LPF were designed to eliminate the need for use of multiple components where space use is critical. Available in several standard designs and custom cut-off frequencies including high reliability screening. SOTA’s LPF line is suitable for many different applications to reduce and eliminate unwanted harmonics in telecommunications systems such as satellite receivers, mobile communications, GPS systems, wireless LAN’s and WiMAX.

Product data is available upon request. Pricing for the new components is under $1.90 in production quantities. Delivery is stock to eight weeks ARO.

STATE OF THE ART RECEIVES UNITED STATES DEPT. OF ENERGY SMALL BUSINESS MANUFACTURING FIRM OF THE YEAR AWARD

Having previously recognized State of the Art, Inc. (SOTA) with their 2006 Supplier Excellence Award, Honeywell FMT (Kansas City, MO) nominated SOTA to the Department of Energy for further recognition.

It has now been announced that SOTA has been honored with the United States Department of Energy SMALL BUSINESS MANUFACTURING FIRM OF THE YEAR award for fiscal 2006.

Consideration for this award is based on the areas of quality performance, order administration, cost control, technical support, responsiveness, and delivery performance along with other factors.

The award reads in part, “In recognition of outstanding performance and extraordinary customer service in support of the Department of Energy’s mission”.

Robert Hufnagel, President and CEO of SOTA acknowledged the award saying, “We are grateful to Honeywell FMT, and the Department of Energy for these awards, and the recognition that accompanies them”.

Founded over thirty-five years ago, State of the Art is dedicated to producing the highest quality resistive products with the lowest failure rates in the world. Primary markets include aerospace, communications, satellite, biomedical, defense and other industries.

All product lines are manufactured in the USA at SOTA's ISO 9001/ AS 9100 registered manufacturing facility, where reliability is assured by SOTA's proven processes, and rigid quality controls. Customer specific applications can be accommodated, including optional high reliability screening or custom testing.

STATE OF THE ART RECEIVES HONEYWELL SUPPLIER EXCELLENCE AWARD.

State College, PA, August 2007 -- State of the Art, Inc.(SOTA), a leading manufacturer of military and high reliability chip resistors, announces it has been awarded the Honeywell Kansas City, MO. Supplier Excellence Award for the 2006 fiscal year.

Consideration for the award is based on the areas of quality performance, order administration, cost control, technical support, responsiveness, and delivery performance along with other factors.

Founded over thirty-five years ago, State of the Art is dedicated to producing the highest quality resistive products with the lowest failure rates in the world. Primary markets include aerospace, communications, satellite, biomedical, defense and other industries.

All product lines are manufactured in the USA at SOTA's ISO 9001/ AS 9100 registered manufacturing facility, where reliability is assured by SOTA's proven processes, and rigid quality controls. Customer specific applications can be accommodated, including optional high reliability screening or custom testing.

SOTA ANNOUNCES ENHANCED PERFORMANCE SILICON RESISTORS

State College, PA October 2006 -- State of the Art, Inc. (SOTA) offers enhanced performance MIL-PRF-38534 compliant silicon, high reliability chip resistors.

The resistors are available in four different case sizes 0202 (.020" X .020"), 0303 (.030" X .030"), 0404 (.040" X .040") and 0505 (.050" X .050") with tolerances to 0.1%, power ratings from 100mW to 500mW, temperature coefficients of resistance as low as 25ppm, and voltage ratings at 100V. The operating range for these resistors is from -55° C to + 125° C.

Available in termination type A (wire bondable), termination style D (wire bondable with a metallized bottom).

Silicon resistors are constructed using propretary thin film technology and have higher power ratings than alumina due to the reduced thermal resistance of the silicon substrate. Reliability is assured by extensive in-house testing - users can select from a wide variety of testing options. Testing to customer source controled drawings is also available.

STATE OF THE ART, INC. INTRODUCES NEW NON-MAGNETIC RESISTORS

State College, PA, July 2006 -- State of the Art (SOTA), Inc., a leading manufacturer of military, space level and high reliability chip resistors, has introduced a new line of Non-Magnetic chip resistors. These compact, lightweight designs are ideal for use in medical and sensor applications.

The new components are available in 13 standard case sizes: 0402 (.040" X .020") thru 3838 .380" X .380"). These thick-film non-magnetic resistors are available with wrap around terminations suitable for solder mount.

These devices eliminate materials that would disturb magnetic fields applications such as in magnetic resonance imaging machines. Resistors range with tolerances from 1%, and power ratings from 40mW to 5W. Voltage ratings from 15 volts to 250 volts. The operating range for these resistors is from -55°C to + 125°C.

Reliable operation is assured by SOTA’s considerable military QPL and space level experience, rigid quality controls, and extensive high reliability screening and testing capabilities.