SBIR Phase II: Thermally-optimized power amplifiers for next-generation telecommunication and radar

SBIR 第二阶段：用于下一代电信和雷达的热优化功率放大器

• 批准号: 2335504
• 负责人: Austin Hickman
• 金额: $ 100万
• 依托单位: SOCTERA, INC.
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Cooperative Agreement
• 财政年份: 2024
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2024-03-15 至 2026-02-28
• 项目状态: 未结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=2335504&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: SBIR; Phase; II; Thermally; optimized

This Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase II project enables the next generation of wireless communication that makes our world smarter and safer. The promise of 5G is to enable unprecedented connectivity - smart cars, smart homes, etc. The technology also promises equity of information in the form of broadband coverage across the United States. Thus far, the dream of 5G has been limited due to poor signal range and prohibitive cooling costs. This solution is a thermally-optimized power amplifier that dramatically increases signal range and stays cool - reducing costs. As a result of boosted signal range, broadband coverage will be incentivized in more rural areas, preventing the deepening of the digital divide. Lower costs enable next-generation connectivity between smart devices - such as that between cars which can dramatically lower motor vehicle accidents. Finally, the development and production of this technology, all within the United States, will contribute to the ongoing effort to revitalize the nation’s semiconductor industry.This Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase II project focuses on the scaling and commercialization of an innovative power amplifier technology. State-of-the-art power amplifiers (PAs) are made of gallium nitride. In many cases, the performance of these PAs is thermally limited - they can't handle the heat they generate during operation. The result for wireless communication systems, such as 5G telecom and radar systems, is limited signal range and high cooling costs. By inserting a thin aluminum nitride layer in its semiconductor stack, the power amplifiers developed in this Phase II project will have significantly improved thermal management, resulting in increased efficiency and power handling capabilities. The resulting power amplifiers will reduce cooling cost and increase signal range, enabling next generation telecommunications and advanced radar systems. In this project, production will transition from the university lab to a scaled, commercial process. This transition will involve multiple rounds of power amplifier fabrication and assessment, as well as the formation and maintenance of key partnerships. The result of this project will be a demonstration of the minimum viable product at commercial scale.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.

这个小型企业创新研究（SBIR）第二阶段项目支持下一代无线通信，使我们的世界更智能，更安全。5G的承诺是实现前所未有的连接-智能汽车，智能家居等，该技术还承诺以宽带覆盖美国的形式实现信息公平。到目前为止，由于信号范围差和高昂的冷却成本，5G的梦想受到了限制。该解决方案是一款经过散热优化的功率放大器，可显著增加信号范围并保持散热，从而降低成本。由于信号范围的扩大，宽带覆盖将在更多的农村地区得到鼓励，从而防止数字鸿沟的加深。更低的成本使智能设备之间的下一代连接成为可能，例如汽车之间的连接，这可以大大降低机动车事故。最后，这项技术的开发和生产，都在美国，将有助于正在进行的努力，以振兴国家的半导体产业。这个小企业创新研究（SBIR）第二阶段项目的重点是规模和商业化的创新功率放大器技术。最先进的功率放大器（PA）由氮化镓制成。在许多情况下，这些PA的性能受到热限制-它们无法处理运行期间产生的热量。无线通信系统（如5G电信和雷达系统）的结果是有限的信号范围和高冷却成本。通过在其半导体堆栈中插入薄氮化铝层，该第二阶段项目中开发的功率放大器将显著改善热管理，从而提高效率和功率处理能力。由此产生的功率放大器将降低冷却成本并增加信号范围，从而实现下一代电信和先进的雷达系统。在这个项目中，生产将从大学实验室过渡到规模化的商业过程。这一过渡将涉及多轮功率放大器制造和评估，以及关键合作伙伴关系的形成和维护。该项目的结果将是在商业规模上展示最小可行产品。该奖项反映了NSF的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的知识价值和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。