Advances in RF power semiconductor technology are causing new technical challenges in the conductor market. 5G mobile services now work at much higher frequencies to make internet access more efficient and to help mobile devices to stay connected with their owners. The use of higher frequencies can cause power consumption problems, leading to the need for new RF solutions for mobile devices. In addition, RF integrated circuits have started to appear in devices that are designed to control different aspects of the device, such as its identification and charging systems. For instance, in September 2021, a semiconductor manufacturing company in the U.S., GlobalFoundaries, renewed its partnership with Qualcomm Global Trading PTE to continue the development of 5G RF (radio-frequency) front-end products with superior cellular speeds.
Currently, there is an increasing demand for RF integrated circuit solutions across many device applications. Some of the primary applications include smartphones and consumer electronic devices (cemented goods, consumer electronics, and medical devices). Some RF integrated circuit solutions also can control industrial equipment (for instance, welding, manufacturing, food processing). Additionally, RF power semiconductors are becoming increasingly popular in the military arena, surveillance, and telecommunications.
One of the primary uses for RF power semiconductor technology is in the area of smartphones. Smartphones use the PIC (Plating Injected Circuitry) to communicate with base stations via the air interface. The use of PICs is increasing since they have higher reliability than traditional circuitry. As a result, there is a growing demand for RF integrated circuit technology to power the various components of smartphones, including communications, sensors, microprocessors, cameras, battery charging units, and multimedia applications. It is anticipated that the RF power semiconductor market will continue to expand as more smartphones are produced using the PIC technology.
RF integrated circuits also have another important application in the wireless networking market. Many cellular phones and other wireless networking devices use RF power semiconductor chips to operate in a low power mode. This allows for extended connectivity with minimal power use while still maintaining full network capability. The growing demand for these devices is likely due to their cost-effectiveness and minimal interference with existing devices. Additionally, the reduced power usage results in significant cost savings.