Akoustis Technologies Inc. announced it has completed its first wafer level packaging (WLP) demonstrator and sampled product to a multi-billion-dollar tier-1 mobile device OEM.
This initial WLP demonstrator leverages Akoustis’ 5.2 GHz Wi-Fi coexistence filter technology that is up to 260x smaller than existing dielectric resonator (DR) filters used in routers and similar non-mobile products. The footprint of the new sample filter is 1.25 mm x 1.05 mm x 0.3 mm, in-line with competing BAW micro filters that are being used in 4G and 5G mobile devices. These devices include cellular handsets, laptops, tablets and other devices.
The company’s first WLP sample utilizes the company’s completed and locked 5.2 GHz Wi-Fi filter, with future WLP designs to focus on 5 GHz Wi-Fi and 5G mobile frequencies in the sub-6 GHz bands including n41, n77, n78 and n79. Once qualified in the second half of calendar 2020, the WLP package technology will enable the company’s XBAW RF filter technology to achieve a form-factor attractive for mobile devices.
Jeff Shealy, founder and CEO of Akoustis, stated, “Working with our packaging partner to develop a WLP technology for our RF filter chips is a significant milestone for Akoustis as we begin to achieve packaged form-factors for our XBAW™ filter solutions suitable for mobile devices. Once fully qualified, we will be positioned to target 5G mobile handset OEMs, tablet and laptop OEMs either directly to OEMs or through RF module partnerships.”
Shealy continued, “We have expanded sampling to one of the world’s largest OEMs, and we look forward to working with partners and customers to develop qualifiable, commercial wafer level packaging moving forward.”
The 5.2 GHz filters are designed and manufactured using the company’s patented XBAW process and manufactured in the company’s Si-MEMS Wafer Fab located in Canandaigua, N.Y. The packages have been designed by Akoustis and made using a high-volume manufacturing partner.
The New WLP Demonstrator features:
- High frequency 5.2 GHz operation
- Wide bandwidth covering greater than 100 MHz
- Low insertion loss in filter passband
- Single-ended input/output ports
- Ultra-small form factor allow integration in module
Akoustis has introduced several new filters over the past twelve months including a 5.6 GHz Wi-Fi filter, a 5.2 GHz Wi-Fi filter, a 4.9 GHz band n79 filter for small cell network infrastructure, a 3.8 GHz filter and five S-Band filters for defense phased-array radar applications, a 3.6 GHz filter for the CBRS infrastructure market and band 25 downlink and uplink filters for LTE infrastructure. The company is also developing several new filters for the sub-7 GHz bands targeting 5G mobile device, network infrastructure, Wi-Fi CPE and defense markets.