This acoustic resonator easily configures via ferroelectric switching to filter wide-spectrum frequencies for 5G devices and tactical communication systems. The number of electronic devices that are internet-enabled has been increasing each year. Beyond mobile phones, all sorts of devices from thermostats to refrigerators connect with each other across a network called the Internet of Things (IoT). As more consumer electronics use internet communication, wireless networks must handle more users and devices and deliver higher speeds. Hence, the global market for 5G services, valued at more than $41 billion in 2020, continues to increase rapidly. Due to size and cost constraints, many consumer electronics must use resonators tuned to precise frequencies, which limits their functionality in 5G networks that integrate multiple frequency bands.
Researchers at the University of Florida have developed a digitally tunable acoustic wave resonator for processing signals in multi-band 5G communication systems. The resonator can tune and re-tune to different frequencies over a wide range, enabling 5G-integrated electronics such as radios and tactical communication devices.
Digitally configurable acoustic resonator with wide-spectral coverage for 5G-capable devices
This acoustic wave resonator is digitally configurable because of the ferroelectric properties of its transducer. The resonator consists of a substrate, a first electrode, a composite stack, and a second electrode. The ferroelectric properties of the scandium-doped aluminum nitride film layers in the composite stack allow an applied DC current to tune (and later re-tune) the transducer for particular frequencies. The inherent configurability of the resonator makes it suitable for signal processing in network-capable devices such as 5G radios or in tactical communication systems.
