WiSpry and Jazz Partner on RF-MEMS for Cellular Handsets and Mobile Comms

By: Online staff — Wireless Design & Development Asia
(Top News, 5 Dec 2005)

WiSpry Inc., a developer of low-cost, high-performance RF-MEMS tunable components and modules for the wireless industry, and Jazz Semiconductor, an independent wafer foundry focused on specialty CMOS process technologies, have partnered to create RF-MEMS offerings using Jazz's RF-CMOS processes. The program has successfully demonstrated the feasibility of commercially manufacturing WiSpry's digitally tunable capacitor devices at Jazz's 200 mm wafer fab and provides commercial availability of highly integrated RF-MEMS devices, built upon Jazz's leading-edge processes.

"WiSpry believes that RF-MEMS devices will be a disruptive element in the design of future RF systems," said Jeff Hilbert, president and CEO, WiSpry. "However, as with all components in the mobile domain, requirements such as price, power and performance are key. Our success in bringing this exciting technology to market depends on our ability to leverage existing semiconductor processes, permitting us to drive down cost and successively increase integration with other RF technologies. To that end, we are delighted to be able to develop this strategic relationship with Jazz."

The companies plan to integrate RF-MEMS digital capacitors and other functions into active silicon circuitry, enabling a roadmap to higher levels of integration with RF circuitry such as low noise amplifiers (LNAs), power amplifiers (PAs) and transceiver technology. Solving one of the key barriers to leveraging standard low cost RF packaging techniques, the companies are co-developing techniques for commercial wafer level sealing of RF-MEMS devices. Wafer level sealing is one of the key components necessary to provide low cost, high volume commercial RF-MEMS products.

"RF MEMS is a relatively new area for foundry semiconductor development and we are excited at the prospect of bringing this technology to market in a commercial process," said Paul Kempf, chief technology and strategy officer, Jazz. "Our partnership with WiSpry will help enable innovative tunable MEMS process and device technologies, complementing the range of leading-edge, high-volume RF technologies at Jazz. Integrated RF-MEMS-enabled tunable solutions address the needs of the rapidly growing cellular handset and mobile communications markets."

WiSpry Inc.
Jazz Semiconductor