Description du projet
Des commutateurs MEMS pour les radiofréquences compacts et puissants
Les systèmes microélectromécaniques (MEMS) et les circuits intégrés monolithiques hyperfréquence (MMIC) à hautes performances sont des composants clés pour la miniaturisation des circuits radiofréquence. Les minuscules systèmes de radiofréquence à haute performance sont très appréciés sur le marché des modules frontaux RF (radiofréquence). Par exemple, les commutateurs MEMS sont plus petits et plus légers que n’importe quel autre type de commutateur quelle que soit la technologie, ils ont très peu de perte d’insertion et peuvent supporter des niveaux de puissance importants, ils sont donc idéals pour les radars commerciaux, les communications par satellite ou les réseaux de transmission (backhaul). Le projet SMARTEC, financé par l’UE, mettra au point des commutateurs MEMS pour les radiofréquences à partir de MMIC en nitrure de gallium. Cette technologie est adaptée à la conception d’interrupteurs haute puissance et offre de multiples avantages par rapport à d’autres types de solutions. Des procédés de fabrication simplifiés réduiront les coûts de 25 %, ce qui facilitera certainement la production en série de la technologie.
Objectif
SMARTEC proposes to raise a unique Power-RF nanoelectronics innovation from TRL6 to TRL8, that will radically transform future transceiver RF-power modules (TRX) and to produce them through a dedicated pilot line. These novel TRX of enhanced performance, smaller size and lower manufacturing cost will be core components of new products, addressing several segments of the RF-power market. SMARTEC paves the way to its stakeholders to access new markets and/or help them sustain their positioning in their industry rivalry, as well as increase their market shares. Moreover, SMARTEC will create new value propositions to several other markets (airliners, airports, air & sea vessel manufacturers, tour operators, etc.), as well as to several customer & social groups (passengers, tourists, ecologists & government bodies). The proposed pilot line will fill a gap in the European landscape of power RF manufactures and help European firms using power RF front ends compete global players. Industry faces 2 challenges: (A) In general, upcoming power RF front end markets (e.g. commercial radars, backhaul, SATCOM) demand more and more higher power levels, higher frequencies, the ability to sustain power-ups, and all at smaller size and lower cost. (B) Two specific “RF-Power Systems-based industry”, those of Avionics and Maritime, are about to face an obligatory adaption to new or updated strict EU regulations (RECAT EU3 & COLREGS), regarding, Airport and maritime Safety. The proposed coplanar monolithic GaN MMICs and RF MEMS (only available by TRT and FORTH) product is addressing simultaneously all aforementioned industry problems, while all other competing technologies (commercially available or not) offer partial solutions. Furthermore, the simplified SMARTEC fabrication process alleviates back-end production steps thus lowering cost by 25% which for mass applications (e.g. 5G) can prove the key winning factor.
Champ scientifique
- engineering and technologymechanical engineeringvehicle engineeringaerospace engineeringsatellite technology
- engineering and technologyelectrical engineering, electronic engineering, information engineeringinformation engineeringtelecommunicationsradio technologyradar
- engineering and technologymechanical engineeringvehicle engineeringnaval engineeringsea vessels
- engineering and technologynanotechnologynanoelectronics
Programme(s)
Régime de financement
IA - Innovation actionCoordinateur
92190 MEUDON
France