SBIR Phase I: Environmentally Sustainable Manufacturing Technology for Fabrication of Radio Frequency (RF) Filter Products

这个小企业创新研究第一阶段项目的广泛影响是开发射频（RF）网络小型化技术和制造方法，以显着减少射频滤波器的尺寸、重量和成本。这项研究将为广泛的无线应用开发特殊滤波器，包括智能手机及其基础设施、WiFi设备、广播系统和卫星系统。建议的技术可减少超过300吨的堆填量，减少2200吨的废金属，减少4500吨的一般金属消耗。该SBIR第一阶段项目旨在通过模拟和原型制造，利用新的网络分馏算法，证明世界上第一个RF滤波器网络在空气中小型化的可行性。分数化算法克服了空气中射频滤波器小型化的高挑战性波长障碍，用于开发微型多层空气滤波器结构。本项目将开发：(1)单层谐振器电路层组件的制造方法，这是多层空气过滤器结构的主要组成部分；(2)包含多个单谐振器电路层组件的结构制造方法，用于制造多谐振器微型多层空气过滤器原型，以展示多层空气过滤器技术在不同频率和功率水平下的性能和关键属性。这些原型将用于展示大规模生产的微型多层空气过滤器的可扩展性、可重复性和再现性，以及建立生产单位成本模型。该奖项反映了美国国家科学基金会的法定使命，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。

The broader impact of this Small Business Innovation Research Phase I project is to develop a radio frequency (RF) network miniaturization technology and manufacturing methodologies to dramatically reduce the size, weight, and cost of RF filters. This research will develop special filters for a broad range of wireless applications, including smartphones and their infrastructure, WiFi devices, broadcast systems, and satellite systems. The proposed technology may reduce landfill contributions by over 300 tons, scrap metal by 2200 tons, and general metal consumption by 4500 tons. This SBIR Phase I project seeks to demonstrate the feasibility of the world’s first RF filter network miniaturization in air using an new network fractionalization algorithm via simulation and prototype fabrication. The fractionalization algorithm overcomes the high challenging wavelength barrier to RF filter miniaturization in air for development of miniature multilayer air filter structures. This project will develop: (1) methods of manufacture for single resonator circuit layer assemblies, the main building blocks for construction of multilayer air filter structures; (2) manufacturing methodologies for structures comprising multiple single resonator circuit layer assemblies to fabricate multi-resonator miniature multilayer air filter prototypes to demonstrate performance and key attributes of the multilayer air filter technology at various frequencies and power levels. The prototypes will be used to demonstrate the scalability, repeatability, and reproducibility of the miniature multilayer air filters for mass volume production, as well as to establish production unit cost models.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.