Company demonstrates improved performance of AlN based Bulk Acoustic Wave filters with IQepiMo template technology

Wafer products firm IQE has announce the achievement of the next milestone for IQepiMo template technology for high performance AlN based Bulk Acoustic Wave (BAW) RF Filters. Customer device data demonstrates that filters fabricated using IQE templates show improved performance when compared to incumbent technology.

Following IQE's announcement in November 2020, IQE has sampled its IQepiMo product to multiple customers and partners. Recent data indicates that IQepiMo enables customers to achieve improved electromechanical coupling (as measured by k²), a key measure of filter performance, compared with conventional technology.

Initial data indicates k² increases of as much as 40 percent at a frequency of 6Ghz. This frequency is at the top end of the ranges used in current 5G applications, and within the industry it is proving difficult to achieve high levels of performance using conventional BAW filter technology at these higher frequencies. The data also confirms that the superior material quality achievable using IQepiMo is linked to significant performance improvement in electromechanical device performance, especially at these higher frequencies.

IQE and its partners remain engaged in multiple formal programmes to further refine this technology for high end BAW filters. In particular, it is expected that IQE's templates will provide significant benefit for high scandium-content ScAlN BAW designs that are being targeted for high performance filters at the higher 5G frequencies. As Sc content increases in BAW filters, maintaining high acoustic material quality and thereby performance becomes ever more challenging. IQepiMo offers customers a route to overcoming these inherent challenges whilst still using their current infrastructure and processes.

Built on its cREO technology platform, IQepiMo templates are available in diameters of up to 200 mm.

Rodney Pelzel, Chief Technology Officer of IQE, commented: “I am pleased to announce that we have confirmed that the superior material characteristics of IQepiMo templates translate to improvement in RF filter device performance. This is a key milestone. IQepiMo template technology provides customers a “drop in” improvement that enables current infrastructure and processes to deliver the demanding performance required for 5G applications, especially at higher frequencies.”

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