Company Profile

Introduction

RF modules, antennas, connectors

Linx Technologies (Linx) is a leading provider within the wireless industry of cost-effective, easily applied and highly versatile radio frequency (RF) products. Since its incorporation in 1997, Linx has directly served over 10,000 customers and countless more through distributors worldwide.

In 2011, Linx was acquired by Alpine Investors (Alpine), a middle-market private equity firm based in San Francisco. Alpine Investors invests in growing companies in technology, businesses services and consumer. As part of the transaction, Alpine executive-in-residence Tolga Latif replaced Linx founder Paul True as president and CEO. Paul True remains at Linx as chairman and continues to be involved in new product development.

Divisions

Linx is comprised of three divisions: Linx Technologies, Antenna Factor and Apex Wireless.

Linx Technologies

The largest division, Linx Technologies, specializes in hybrid wireless modules, OEM RF products and interface solutions such as encoder/decoder ICs. The Linx Connectors product line includes high-quality standard and custom connectors as well as cable assemblies for volume OEM applications.

Antenna Factor

Antenna Factor specializes in cost-effective standard and custom antennas for a wide variety of consumer and industrial wireless products.

Apex Wireless

Apex Wireless provides consulting, engineering and design services focusing on high-performance, cost-optimized products that employ wireless RF transmitters, receivers and transceivers.

Facilities and Operations

Linx Technologies building

Linx corporate headquarters is located in beautiful Merlin, Oregon just outside Grants Pass. Linx Technologies and Antenna Factor are based in Merlin. A close-knit work environment and a high quality of life in the surrounding area make Linx a desirable place to work. The company's custom-built 20,000+ square foot facility houses engineering, test, marketing, support, administration and distribution departments. Linx modular products are manufactured by a highly qualified contract vendor. Volume production of other products takes place worldwide at independent fabrication facilities. In-house inspection and testing ensures that all products meet or exceed Linx quality assurance standards.

Apex Wireless headquarters is located in Boulder, Colorado, home of the University of Colorado and the National Institute of Standards Technology (NIST). Professional connections to those institutions allow Apex Wireless to undertake almost any wireless project. Apex Wireless works with local experts in DSP, ultra low power design, packaging, certification, and manufacturing.

RF: A Growing and Fragmented Market

A growing number of products require or can be improved by the ability to operate wirelessly. From common items such as garage door openers and keyless entry fobs to sophisticated network control devices, the market for wireless solutions is rapidly expanding. Examples include:

  • Industrial applications such as monitoring, process control, RFID, AMR, inventory tracking, trash and vending monitoring, data links and barcode reading devices
  • Commercial applications such as door announcers, lighting and water controls, security and access systems, gate controls, remote activation, scoreboards, ordering and paging systems
  • Automotive applications such as remote keyless entry and tire pressure monitoring
  • Consumer products such as electronic toys, home security, gate and garage door openers, intercoms, fire and safety systems, weather stations and pool, spa and irrigation controllers
  • Medical products such as patient call and monitoring systems, handicap assistance devices, surgery communication systems, remote patient data logging, RF insulin pumps, pacemakers, defibrillators and real-time wireless ECG monitors

As these industries and countless others have adopted wireless technology, the RF market has exploded with activity. However, technical complexities, varying regulatory requirements, competing standards, different customer requirements and many product offerings have created market fragmentation. Engineers without deep expertise in RF may find themselves ill-equipped to analyze competing technologies or implement the chosen solution. As a result, many companies and engineers have been unable to benefit from the addition of RF technology to their products.

The overall market for RF solutions is highly competitive. It is filled with companies focusing on emerging standards, cutting-edge technologies and the pursuit of ever-higher frequencies and data rates. Linx has chosen a different path. Instead of complexity, Linx products are designed for unparalleled ease of implementation, reliable performance, low cost and a high degree of application flexibility.

Linx Technologies: Wireless Made Simple

Wireless Made Simple: RF modules, antennas, connectors

For over a decade, Linx Technologies has made wireless simple with versatile RF products that are easy for engineers to apply. Radio frequency is a complex science that requires knowledge of advanced technical issues and elaborate legal requirements. Adding wireless capabilities to a product has traditionally been a costly and time-consuming process that has limited the adoption of RF. Some of the ways Linx eliminates barriers to wireless success include:

Innovative Products

  • A diverse selection of modules for analog and digital applications
  • RF modules that feature long range, low power consumption, stable performance and ease of use
  • No external RF components except an antenna are required for operation
  • Transparent products that follow as closely as possible to a wire-line mode simplify design and allow a high degree of protocol flexibility

Simplified RF Integration

  • Personalized support
  • Superior evaluation platforms
  • Inspection and prescreening services
  • Informative application notes

Precertified OEM Products

  • Customizable RF solutions speeds the time to market

Linx's aptitude for making wireless simple has gained the recognition of thousands of companies in diverse market segments. Because of the simplicity and breadth of its products, Linx is recognized as a key enabler of RF technology by businesses of all sizes.

Product Line Overview

RF Modules

Linx RF modules make it easy and cost-effective to add wireless capabilities to most products because the modules contain all the components necessary for the transmission of RF. Because no external RF components except an antenna are needed, Linx modules are easy to apply, even by engineers with no RF design experience. This conserves engineering resources and significantly reduces the product's time to market. Once a Linx-enabled product is in production, the savings continue because Linx RF modules reduce placement costs, improve production yields and require no production testing or adjustment.

Integrated Circuits

In addition to modular RF products, Linx offers a range of ICs and interface modules designed to simplify tasks such as interface, encoding and decoding. Linx interface modules convert data from one form to another while quickly and easily integrating into a customer's design. Linx encoder, decoder and transcoder ICs are designed for control, command and RKE applications. The HS Series features CipherLinx®, a high security encryption algorithm.

OEM Products

Linx OEM products simplify the process of bringing a wireless product to market. A variety of low-cost generic command and control modules are available and can be customized to meet OEM labeling requirements. Linx OEM products are FCC approved, reducing the time and expense of bringing a product to market.

Evaluation Kits and Master Development Systems

Evaluation kits and master development systems contain everything needed to evaluate and integrate Linx products in record time. Clear documentation helps with legal and technical issues while pre-populated evaluation boards allow immediate operation and testing in field conditions. Finally, when a customer has integrated the modules into their product, the kit serves as a valuable benchmark for comparing the performance of a product's layout and design.

Antenna Factor: Cost-Effective Standard and Custom Antennas

Antennas are critical to the range and overall performance of a wireless product. Antenna Factor helps companies of all sizes meet the mechanical, electrical and aesthetic requirements of their wireless products with standard and custom antennas for consumer and industrial wireless devices. From tiny embeddable chip antennas to GPS and high gain Yagi antennas, the division features one of the broadest and most comprehensive antenna lines in the industry. Antenna Factor specializes in compact antennas intended for use on compromised ground planes such as those found in handheld and portable products.

Linx Connectors: Connectors and Cable Assemblies

The Linx Connectors product line includes standard and custom connectors and cable assemblies for wireless products. Prices are highly competitive relative to other established domestic suppliers.

In Closing

The wireless market is one of the fastest-growing segments of the electronics industry. Linx and its divisions remain committed to making wireless simple with products that make every engineer a hero in record time.