Aviza Technology to participate in European next-generation RF filter program
The project, called MOBILIS, or Mixed SiP and SoC Integration of Power BAW Filters for Digital Wireless Transmissions has been granted approximately $7.6 million (EUR 6 million) under the European 6th Framework Programme for research and technological development, as part of the European Union (EU) strategic objective "Design Technologies of Nanoelectronics Integrated Circuits." The group's charter is to design and produce a mixed SiP (system in package) and SoC (system on chip) transmitter modules for mobile communications devices by combining CMOS technology with bulk acoustic wave (BAW) resonator technology.
The MOBILIS project brings together industry experts in resonator design, device modelling, device integration and wafer processing. Participants include: Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (France), STMicroelectronics (Switzerland), EPCOS (Germany), Aviza (U.S.A.), CEA-LETI (France), VTT (Finland), Polytechnic University of Madrid (Spain) and University Politechnica of Bucharest (Romania). As a participant of this project, Aviza will develop and supply thin film materials and contribute its process expertise. Commercial companies in the group intend to commercialize the results of the project. The primary market for RF filters is cellular communications. With new standards being created, it will require handsets with enhanced capability beyond today's current models.
Before the end of the decade, handsets are expected to handle up to six frequency bands, a difficult task for today's cellular systems using pure analogue transmitters. MOBILIS aims to enable these multi-band handsets by developing digital transmitter modules, combining a SoC digital integrated circuit (IC) with BAW filter and SiP RF power module along with a power amplifier and BAW filter/duplexer.
"Aviza is pleased to be participating in the MOBILIS project," said Dr. John Macneil, Executive Vice President and Chief Technology Officer of Aviza Technology, Inc. "This project will enable the multi-function, multi-bandwidth handsets of the future and the next wave of wireless devices. Especially within the growth areas of SiP and wafer level packaging (WLP), this program complements our developmental efforts in BAW, that enables new wireless applications to support an expanded market for BAW filters."
One of the core areas of expertise of the MOBILIS project is excellence in BAW filter technology. MOBILIS aims to revolutionize filter design by building the BAW filter above the digital circuit, combining Si-based microelectronics with micromachining. Current filter design based on surface acoustic wave (SAW) technology is not compatible with IC manufacturing.
SoC integration of the BAW filter and digital transmitter will help to meet end-user demand for product miniaturization. Aviza will collaborate with CEA-LETI and EPCOS, both BAW integration experts and users of Aviza's Sigma tool, on the development of high power compatible BAW filters needed to work in the aggressive environment of the transmitter. BAW filter demand is expected to grow significantly through the next 10 years with BAW resonators as an enabling technology for new RF communication devices.
In 2004, less than three percent of filters shipped for cell phones were BAW-based. Given the inherent benefits of BAW filters with smaller footprint, easier fabrication at higher frequencies and improved power efficiency, analysts expect the adoption of BAW filters to accelerate.
