10/1/2010 Cell Phone Antenna Troubles?

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Download Library Long plagued by technological hurdles and other disappointing setbacks, RF MEMS are
More finally ready for the big time, with revenue projected to double in 2010 and more than triple in
2011.
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From slightly less than $4M in 2006, global RF MEMS revenue is anticipated to climb to $8.1M
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Be A Contributor a whopping $223.2M—a far cry from the industry's extremely modest beginnings.

"More than 50 percent of cell phones shipped in 2014 will feature some form of front-end-
module tuning using RF MEMS or other tuning technologies," said Jérémie Bouchaud,
principal analyst for MEMS and sensors at iSuppli.

"The implementation of RF MEMS switches and varactors in mobile phones could help boost
the performance of smart phones like the iPhone 4, which made news headlines recently
because of a problematic antenna that resulted in dropped signal strength. RF MEMS are
also ideal for impedance matching of the Power Amplifier."

Although other technologies will address antenna issues, including SoS FETs and BST
varactors, MEMS deliver the best performance in terms of insertion loss.

RF MEMS switches have been used in small volumes in instrumentation applications

because of their small form factor and excellent RF performance. However, despite initial
promise, they failed to take off on a large scale because of myriad commercialization and
technological obstacles. All that is about to change as RF MEMS technology begins to realize
its potential because of strong product offerings from a number of major suppliers.

Seven firms are sampling RF MEMS products.

California-based WiSpry Inc. and Japan's TDK-Epcos are offering RF MEMS for high-volume
cell phone applications. On another front, U.S. firms Analog Devices Inc., Radant
Technologies Inc. and XCOM Wireless Inc.—in cooperation with relay manufacturer Teledyne
Technologies Inc.—as well as Japanese supplier Omron Corp. are targeting high-end
applications for testing and instrumentation such as ATE and RF test. U.S. startups Radant
MEMS and MEMtronics focus on defense applications.

In particular, interest is growing among mobile handset manufacturers on how RF MEMS can
be used for the front-end tuning of cell phones to improve antenna performance, given the
advent of new wireless standards like LTE for 4G technology. WiSpry—which has garnered
several design wins for its MEMS varactors—is expected to commence volume production by
the fourth quarter this year.

Outside of cell phone antennas and instrumentation, a pair of smaller—but still untapped—
opportunities also exists for RF MEMS switches and varactors in the foreseeable future. One
of these areas is in wireless infrastructure gear—e.g., for femto cells—and cellular base
stations, where the current switches being used could be supplanted by cheaper and higher-
performing RF MEMS devices.

Another area is in defense and aerospace applications, including radio systems and phased
array antennas, especially after 2014. This represents a high-volume opportunity for RF MEMS
numbering in the millions of units.

iSuppli's market intelligence helps technology companies achieve market leadership. Catch
the latest MEMS & Sensors Industry Headlines from all across the world, straight from our

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10/1/2010 Cell Phone Antenna Troubles? Radio Fr…
immensely experienced analysts. The MEMS & sensors portal at iSuppli provides deeper
insights into MEMS sensors, actuators, microfluidics, substrates in data processing (printers,
business projectors, laptops), wired communications (optical telecom and automated
distribution frameworks), wireless communications (cell and smart phones, base stations),
consumer (gaming, TV, DSCs, appliances), automotive, industrial, medical electronics,
aerospace and defense applications. iSuppli provides comprehensive MEMS Technology &
Motion Sensors Market Research that is rigorous, reliable & relevant.

SOURCE: iSuppli Corp.

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