TriQuint Semiconductor Inc., a leading RF front-end product manufacturer and foundry services provider, introduced two new 150 mm high volume Gallium Arsenide (GaAs) processes for cost-effectively building millimeter-wave (mmWave) applications, TQP25 and TQP15. These new Pseudomorphic High Electron Mobility Transistor (PHEMT) processes utilize optical lithography technology to substantially reduce cost when compared to traditional E-beam based solutions. TQP15 and TQP25 join the previously announced and fully released TQP13 process, expanding TriQuint’s commercial foundry PHEMT offerings to service the entire range of mmW frequencies. TQP25 is currently available in limited release and TQP15 will be in limited release at the end of Q408.
TQP25 enables the design of high throw count switches such as those used in rapidly growing 3G WCDMA mobile handset market. High throw count switches enable access to multiple frequency bands from a single antenna, reducing the overall RF front-end footprint. TQP25 is also ideal for Ku-band power amplifier designs and as an enhancement/depletion (E/D) process, it allows levels of integration not typically available in this frequency range.
TQP15 is targeted at the emergent Ka-band segment and is ideal for the VSAT, satellite communications and point-to-point radio markets. Developed from the same base technology as TQP13 and TQP25, TQP15 is set to become a disruptive technology in the Ka-band space continuing TriQuint’s technology leadership position in the foundry market.
“TriQuint is the industry’s leading Gallium Arsenide foundry services provider and continues to expand its process portfolio,” observes Asif Anwar, program director of the GaAs Service at Strategy Analytics. “TriQuint’s new 0.15 um and 0.25 um processes will help the VSAT industry address future trends that include implementation of Ka band-based broadband services, which we see as a growth area, as well as target other commercial millimeter-wave markets with cost effective solutions.”
“The cost efficiencies enabled by utilizing optical lithography in place of more traditional E-beam offers a broader range of customers the ability to develop millimeter wave applications. This disruptive price point will help bring mmWave applications into the commercial market space,” said Mike Peters, director of marketing for Commercial Foundry at TriQuint. “These new low-cost optical options continue to cement our position as the dominant technology leader in our industry. Customers can be confident that TriQuint offers the highest performance and quality process technologies with the broadest range of support.”