Report
Teaser, summary, work performed and final results
Periodic Reporting for period 2 - SWARM (Software driven Smart Antenna powered by RF MEMS Technology)
Teaser
Sofant\'s disruptive SmartAntenna innovation is based on a patent-protected programmable RF MEMS (Radio Frequency – Micro Electro Mechanical System). This results in a significant reduction in energy usage (up to 90%) and improved battery life in mobile devices. The...
Summary
Sofant\'s disruptive SmartAntenna innovation is based on a patent-protected programmable RF MEMS (Radio Frequency – Micro Electro Mechanical System). This results in a significant reduction in energy usage (up to 90%) and improved battery life in mobile devices. The technology also achieves the best signal strength consistency by focusing radio energy in the direction of the wireless base station. Battery life and improved connectivity are key problems for the rapidly growing global mobile wireless communication market.
The upcoming 5G wireless standards are being created to help address the growing market demand for mobile data. Antenna performance has a significant impact on data throughput, power consumption and battery usage within mobile devices. As mobile operators add new capacity at higher frequencies in the millimetre wave (mmW) bands, the pressure on battery performance and data throughput is increasing. Sofant is developing a ‘SmartAntenna’™ to address the emerging challenge for 5G mmW applications. Sofant’s addressable markets are in the mobile phone, routers, base stations, small cells, consumer electronics, automotive and defence equipment sectors. The addressable market for Sofant’s technology is expected to exceed US$2 billion by 2023. Sofant’s plan is to create a significant European based global wireless technology business.
The overall project objectives are to:
• Produce a qualified miniature SmartAntenna™ system ready to be commercialised with mobile devices providers.
• Establishing RF MEMS manufacturing supply chain.
Work performed
An important aspect of the project is the commercialisation of the technology. Sofant has engaged with a number of key customers to ensure that the technology is well aligned with market needs. Based on input from the market, Sofant concluded that there is a clear market need for our technology in 5G applications in the mmWave bands (i.e. around 30GHz).
The smart antenna system required to address this market opportunity consists of an antenna array and RF MEMS device and CMOS controller IC. The antenna and array development work approached maturity during period 1. Testing of the antenna designs was carried out in period 2 of the project. Sofant successfully transferred the fabrication process of the RF MEMS technology from a university facility to a commercial facility in period 2. This technology transfer will enable us to obtain samples for customers’ demonstration and is a necessary stepping stone before heading into fully integration solution and mass production.
Sofant is working to secure at least one major technology development partner who will help to develop a full set of specifications and eventually adopt our smart antenna system in a demonstration platform or product.
The project team held meetings every fortnight to provide updates on the project status, highlight any possible delays and put corrective measures in place. The project risks were reviewed regularly, and unforeseen risks were updated. Minutes were produced from project meetings and uploaded onto the SWARM project server which is accessible by all team members. The SWARM website - http://swarmproject.eu/ - was kept up to date with news which could be published.
Final results
Sofant is designing a state of the art RF MEMS device for 5G applications and it aims to be the first company in a world with such a product. If successful, Sofant will be the first company to commercialise MEMS phase shifters for commercial applications. To the best of our knowledge, there are currently no competitors working on the same approach. Sofant is proposing a novel beamforming architecture which will save an enormous amount of energy and importantly reduce total system costs. Sofant’s architecture avoids the need to have a power amplifier integrated with each antenna element (average of 16 in an array) by replacing it with a single power amplifier which is integrated with each antenna array. This is possible because the MEMS devices targeted insertion loss of less than 2dB, while competitive solutions losses are around 7dB. Sofant dramatic performance advantage saves several components and reduces the antenna array size and cost.
The impact to date can be measured in various ways:
• Increased headcount
Sofant will increase its team by hiring an experienced VP of Engineering and Operations who will start in 2018.
• Patents resulting from project
In period 1, Sofant invented novel methods for packaging the MEMS and the smart antenna module. These patents were filed in December 2016. In addition to the patents filed in period 1, Sofant is drafting an additional patent application as a result of the project. This invention relates to MEMS switches, various methods of changing a state of a MEMS switch and methods for manufacturing a MEMS switch in a hermetic environment.
The economic impact of the project will not be realized until Sofant has a dedicated technology development partner which is actively engage in our target markets. We are successfully pursuing this goal with the aim to have a dedicated partner by the end of this 2018.
Regarding additional social impact, Sofant smart antenna system being realised in this project would enable highly power efficient and low-cost 5G solutions that can be applied in both the mobile devices and base stations (small cells). This will allow fast and reliable internet connections to be deployed throughout Europe, especially in rural areas where communities suffer the lack or the inadequate performance of the available internet connections.
Website & more info
More info: http://swarmproject.eu/.