At the IEEE International Microwave Symposium (IMS 2016) in San Francisco (24-26 May), the current state of the RF Energy Alliance (RFEA) and the impact it has made in its first two years is being showcased by its executive director Dr Klaus Werner.
The RF Energy Alliance was founded in September 2014 by Ampleon, E.G.O. Elektro-Ger tebau GmbH, Huber+Suhner, ITW, Rogers Corp and Whirlpool R&D (an affiliate company of Whirlpool Corporation) as a non-profit technical association consisting of companies dedicated to realizing solid-state RF energy's potential as a clean, highly efficient and controllable heat and power source. Membership has since tripled. The Alliance aims to break down barriers to wide-market adoption by collaborating on methods that reduce costs and complexities of solid-state RF energy (SSRFE) systems. Recent global industry leaders to become members include Panasonic, Miele, Cellencor and Passive Plus Inc. Research university Worcester Polytechnic Institute has also joined the Alliance.
Additionally, the RFEA recently announced the publication of its first specification, the 'RF Power Amplifier (PA) Roadmap: Residential Appliances', which sets more than 40 technical parameters for five PA module generations targeting consumer cooking applications.
"SSRFE specifications and engineering roadmaps are essential to the advancement of the RF power and heating industry," says Werner. "By addressing the necessary economical, technological and regulatory challenges, we believe that this technology will successfully penetrate high-volume, consumer-oriented markets in the very near future," he adds. Werner says that multiple companies have already announced SSRFE solutions leveraging the guidelines.
At IMS2016, the Alliance is being hosted by Ampleon (a developer of SSRFE applications) in booth 2149. Attendees are also invited to join Werner and member spokespeople to discuss RFEA's mission and momentum at the following exhibits:
Passive Plus Inc on 24 May at 11am to noon in booth 2148; Huber+Suhner on 24 May at 1-2pm in booth 846; MACOM on 24 May at 2:30-3:30pm in booth 939; Rogers Corp on 25 May at 1-2pm in booth 2039; Anaren on 25 May at 2:30-3:30pm in booth 2514; and RJR Technologies on 26 May at 11am to noon in booth 2146.
