WiSpry tunable digital capacitor technology is an innovative method for dynamic tuning of antennas, impedance matching networks, integrating tunable filters, tunable duplexers, and fully-tunable power amplifiers. An efficient and proven way of implementing RF tunability.
MEMS (Micro-Electro-Mechanical Systems) use microscopic moving machines that are thousandths of an inch in size. Built using silicon chip manufacturing technologies, these tiny marvels have found widespread application in airbag sensors, game controllers, accelerometers, micro-optics, video projection systems and printer heads, to name but a few. WiSpry has taken this one step further by successfully commercializing its tunable digital capacitive technology using RF-MEMS. Essentially the integration of mechanical elements, actuators and sensors on a common silicon substrate, MEMS devices are built through micro fabrication technology. While electronics are fabricated using integrated circuit (IC) process sequences, the MEMS part of a WiSpry component is fabricated using standard “micromachining” processes that selectively etch away parts of the silicon wafer or add new structural layers to form tiny tunable capacitor devices.
MEMS is an enabling technology that promises to revolutionize nearly every product category by bringing together silicon-based micro-electronics with micro-machining technology, making possible the realization of complete systems-on-a-chip solutions. And because WiSpry’s MEMS devices are manufactured using batch fabrication techniques similar to those used for integrated circuits, unprecedented levels of functionality, reliability, and sophistication can be created in a repeatable and low cost manufacturing environment. Thanks to WiSpry’s pioneering advances, IP development, and patents in the field of RF-MEMS, this exciting new technology is now set to revolutionize the world of mobile communications.
Unlike competing technologies, RF-MEMS-based devices can reduce space and cost while simultaneously achieving a combination of tunability and low insertion loss that that is simply unachievable with conventional silicon based technology. MEMS-based RF components can improve antenna performance, reduce power consumption, considerably, decrease TTM (time-to-market) while lowering overall cost, all critical factors in consumer devices.
RF-MEMS also holds the key to producing programmable impedance RF products that will simplify the design of fifth generation mobile devices. By using an innovative approach WiSpry has created digital software-controllable (tunable) MEMS
