Fox Electronics earns patent for packaging technology

Fort Myers-based Fox Electronics has been awarded a U.S. Patent for its invention of a new integrated circuit package that greatly reduces the size of timing devices used in cell phones and other electronic products.

The new technology takes advantage of the latest semiconductor stacking assembly and for the first time includes a hermetic crystal package connected directly to a silicon "chip." This approach insures the crystal is adequately protected during the final plastic molding process. The high volume processing at the wafer level assures good quality control at low cost, essential in today's marketplace.

Jim Northcutt, chief design engineer for Fox Electronics, invented the product, which is now protected under U.S. Patent 7327044.

Founded in 1979, Fox Electronics is America's leading supplier of standard and custom frequency control products, including the industry's broadest line of crystals, oscillators, crystal filters and more. The company global headquarters is located in Fort Myers at 5570 Enterprise Parkway. Fox Electronics has facilities, representatives and distributors throughout the world including Europe, Hong Kong, Taiwan and Japan. For more information, call (239) 693-0099 or visit www.foxonline.com