Agile Materials and Technologies Launches Family of Tunable Components for Wireless and Military Communications Proprietary Barium Strontium Titanate thin-film ferroelectric process enables the development of ground-breaking components that reduce cost, design complexity and power consumption.

Agile Materials and Technologies, Inc., (Agile) the technology leader in tunable wireless components, today launched its first product lines, tunable RF and microwave components including phase shifters, tunable matching networks, tunable filters and custom designed tunable passive circuits, and announced it is shipping both samples and prototype quantities of these devices. For the first time, using Agiles products, wireless communications equipment manufacturers can utilize a single tunable device to design a new generation of products that quickly tune over a wide range of frequencies, while lowering cost, design complexity, and power consumption.

GOLETA, Calif. (PRWEB) June 9, 2003 -- Agile Materials and Technologies, Inc., (Agile) the technology leader in tunable wireless components, today launched its first product lines, tunable RF and microwave components including phase shifters, tunable matching networks, tunable filters and custom designed tunable passive circuits, and announced it is shipping both samples and prototype quantities of these devices. For the first time, using Agiles products, wireless communications equipment manufacturers can utilize a single tunable device to design a new generation of products that quickly tune over a wide range of frequencies, while lowering cost, design complexity, and power consumption.

As the wireless industry has evolved weve seen the development of a wide range of incompatible systems operating on a variety of frequencies and providing different features and functions such cellular phone service, Global Positioning System (GPS) and wireless Local Area Network (LAN) connections," said Chuck Bischof, president and CEO of Agile. Unfortunately these differences have made it extremely difficult and expensive to design wireless devices that will serve the complete market needs -- until today. With Agiles tunable devices, a single component can provide the high level of performance and functionality across a wide range of frequencies required by the rapidly changing RF communications market."

Agiles tunable components address all RF market industry product applications and allow manufacturers to significantly reduce the number of components required to develop multi-mode functionality systems. Because Agiles wireless components are able to quickly tune over a wide range of frequencies, a single tunable device can replace several single-frequency components in a design, enabling a new generation of cost effective, high-performance products.

In addition, Agiles components are extremely small in size and consume little or no power making them ideal for wireless system architects.

By leveraging Agiles groundbreaking technology manufacturers now have the ability to offer significant new capability at a reduced price. Agiles tunable technology is a significant step forward for the wireless industry and enables the manufacture of affordable multi-purpose wireless products for both the commercial and defense markets.

Agiles initial product line includes:

•    Phase Shifters (L through Ka Bands)

§    Phased Array Antennas

§    Amplifier Linearization

•    Tunable Matching Networks

§    Antenna Impedance Matching

§    Amplifier Impedance Matching for optimal power added efficiency at different power levels

•    Tunable Filters

§    Tunable networks for ceramic filters and duplexers

•    Custom Designed Tunable Integrated Passives (CSIPs)

Due to the small size of Agiles new circuits the company is able to manufacture them using standard integrated circuit foundry processes resulting in low cost components in all product areas. A typical matching network is less than one square millimeter in size and a phase shifter only a few square millimeters. The tunable devices can be mounted using standard wire bond or flip-chip practices. Agile delivers manufacturers and OEMs of RF devices wide tenability, low cost, improved performance and miniaturization, and reduced parts count. The parts are currently available as samples and prototypes.

Unique Technology

Agile, an outgrowth of a DARPA funded research project called Frequency Agile Materials for Electronics (FAME), specializes in the manufacture of tunable RF and microwave components using the ferroelectric material, Barium Strontium Titanate (BST) in thin film form. As a ferroelectric material, BSTs chief distinguishing characteristic is that its dielectric constant is adjustable with the application of a simple DC voltage. Capacitors fabricated with BST as the dielectric material therefore display a voltage variable capacitance value. When these capacitors are used in filters, phase shifters, matching networks or other circuits, their responses can be precisely adjusted. Such adjustable circuits are highly desirable for wireless equipment because of their potential to reduce cost, save board space and enhance performance and battery life.

BST also has a very high capacitance density allowing for the construction of high value capacitors in a very small area. Agiles thin film technology allows the capacitors to be integrated on-chip with other components, forming an integrated passive circuit. Up to this point, ferroelectrics have been primarily utilized in bulk" form, meaning relatively thick applications of the material were used. Years of research helped develop thin-film technology and allowed Agile to master the process of precisely manipulating the deposition of BST, allowing the company to grow" the material in any desired configuration.

About the Company

    Founded in 1999, Agile Materials and Technologies is the technology leader in tunable wireless components that enable commercial and military RF communications manufacturers to significantly decrease the number of components required for multi-mode systems, reducing device size, power consumption, complexity and cost. The company evolved from a Defense Advanced Research Project Administration (DARPA) funded research project on Frequency Agile materials (FAME) at the University of California, Santa Barbara, and has successfully commercialized its proprietary method to harness the unique properties of a thin-film ferroelectric material called Barium Strontium Titanate (BST). Unlike GaAs, MEMs, or thick-film technologies, Agiles technology facilitates the design and fabrication of high-performance tunable components that for the first time cost-effectively allow a single wireless device to operate over a range of frequencies and formats.

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