Qorvo Inc, a provider of core technologies and RF solutions for mobile, infrastructure and aerospace/defense applications, says that it has scaled its proprietary QGaN25 gallium nitride (GaN) on silicon carbide (SiC) process to produce monolithic microwave integrated circuits (MMICs) on 6-inch wafers. The transition from 4-inch to 6-inch wafers is expected to approximately double Qorvo's GaN-on-SiC manufacturing capacity and favorably impact manufacturing costs – significantly accelerating the affordable manufacture of RF devices, it is reckoned.
"The successful demonstration of GaN-on-SiC MMICs on 6-inch wafers paves the way for significantly increased production capacity and cost efficiencies," says James Klein, president of Qorvo's Infrastructure and Defense Products Group (IDP).
Qorvo says that scaling its QGaN25 production process - on high-yielding, X-band power amplifier (PA) MMICs - from 4-inch to 6-inch GaN-on-SiC wafers paves the way for the conversion to 6-inch wafers of all of its GaN-on-SiC production processes, with gate lengths ranging from 0.15μm to 0.50μm, covering the full range of microwave to millimeter-wave (mmW) applications. Full-rate production is anticipated in 2016.
The 12-watt X-band point-to-point MMIC PAs met greater than 8% DC and RF yields. This process feasibility sets the stage for high-rate production for the commercial base-transceiver station (BTS) and point-to-point radio, CATV and defense markets, says Qorvo.
Qorvo reckons that the scale-up in wafer size consolidates its position as a Defense Manufacturing Electronics Agency accredited 1A Trusted Source. The firm completed the Defense Production Act Title III GaN-on-SiC program in 2014, and is the first company to have achieved Manufacturing Readiness Level (MRL) 9, demonstrating that its high manufacturing processes are ready for full-rate production.
The US Department of Defense's Manufacturing Readiness Assessment (MRA) ensures that manufacturing, production and quality assurance can meet operational mission needs. This process ensures that the product or system transitions successfully from the factory to the field, providing the best value for the customer, and meeting full performance, cost and capacity goals.
