RFIC
Disruptive RFIC Technology
Our team from the Photonics & Quantum Research group at the University of Bristol are developing a disruptive RFIC technology that offers many new benefits…
Our Technology
Light-Controlled Signal-Conditioning RFICs
We are developing a disruptive light-controlled radio frequency integrated circuit (RFIC) technology which can offer extremely low-loss and ultra-linear signal switching, controllable attenuation, and phase shifting up to several-hundred-gigahertz ranges and several-hundred-watt RF incident powers, while keeping all the reliability and cost advantages of traditional solid-state technologies.
Low-loss and ultra-linear signal switching
Controllable attenuation & phase shifting
Several-hundred-GHz frequency response
Several-hundred-watt RF incident powers
Long lifetime, small size, and low cost
Ultra-Linear Performance
Significantly reduces signal distortion, intermodulation, and bit error rate.
High Power Handling:
Efficiently manages several-hundred-watt RF incident powers without the need of high control voltages.
Minimal Signal Loss
Our technology offers extremely low signal loss, while maintaining high-quality signal conditioning.
ULTRA-HIGH FREQUENCY RESPONSE
Allows signal control up to hundreds of GHz, ideal for millimeter-wave RADAR and imaging applications.
Our mission
Ultimate RFIC
solution
In modern RF systems, traditional signal-conditioning RFICs face significant challenges at higher frequencies and powers, including increased RF loss, signal distortion, size, cost and decreased lifetime. Our innovative light-control solution addresses all these issues head-on.
Best-in-class Performance
Our technology uses novel light-controlled semiconductor configurations to achieve best-in-class performance.
Energy Efficient
In Tx/Rx duplex switching, we help reduce electrical power consumption by 10-30%.
Reliable and Compact
In switch-matrix-based testing, our switches significantly increase test equipment lifetime and compactness.
Bringing Disruptive RFICs to Market
Industry applications
Who will benefit from this technology?
Our light-controlled RFIC technology benefits manufacturers and distributors of mobile phone base stations, satellite communication systems, test and measurement equipment, RADAR systems, general-purpose RF devices, and medical devices etc. Integrating our signal-conditioning RFICs enhances system performance and reliability, while reducing total power consumption, complexity, and cost.
Applicable in many industries
Immense variety of uses
FAQ
Have any questions?
Here are some of the most commonly asked ones. However, if you would like to know more feel free to contact us below.
Why is your insertion loss so low?
We use light-activation of free electron and hole pairs in intrinsic semiconductors, this creates what is known as a plasma (that’s where our name comes from!) and results in very low on-state resistance and very high off-state resistance simultaneously.
Why is your power handling so good?
Since our insertion loss is so low, we naturally dissipate small amounts of heat which helps power handling. We also have patent-pending (DJC144021P.GBA) heat-sinking technology to dissipate any remaining heat.
Why is your signal distortion so low?
The fact that we have no built-in PN junctions or heterostructures means that we have inherently very low signal distortion.
Discover Our Innovative RF Products
Meet Our Team
Yutian Zhang
Entrepreneurial Lead
Senior Research Associate at University of Bristol
Martin Cryan
Principal Scientific Advisor
Professor of Applied Electromagnetics and Photonics at University of Bristol
Contact Us
Get in touch with us today
