With the constant increase in data volumes, wireless communication and mobility lead to ever greater demands on electronic systems. In order to meet these requirements, complex, powerful, hardware-based high-frequency components are required, including with the essential function of beamforming, the spatial control of the antenna directivity to increase the capacity of a communication system or to improve the power efficiency.
The EU-funded joint project SMARTWAVE started with a virtual kick-off event on September 16, 2020 with the aim of further developing a main component of every beamforming system, the so-called phase shifter, using innovative technologies. The project partners of the Leibniz Institute for Innovative Microelectronics (IHP) are THALES SA / France, TAIPRO Engineering SA / Belgium, RF Microtech SRL / Italy and the Foundation for Research and Technology Hellas / Greece.
Over the next two years, the project work will develop the prototype of a phase shifter based on the combination of a III-V-based component used in a phased array antenna for Satcomm and / or radar applications as well as in an advanced 140 GHz Radar chipset with SiGe BiCMOS technology is included. A novel approach to phase shifting, based on so-called reconfigurable metamaterials, promises novel technologies for phase shifters with excellent performance properties, higher speed and reduced power consumption.
With the bundled high-tech know-how of the project partners and the technical expertise in the manufacture of radar modules with III-V materials, the aim is to achieve rapid commercialization for radar and Satcomm systems.