Akoustis has launched the industry’s first 5.6 GHz WiFi BAW filter. The AKF-1256 is a high performance, high frequency coexistence filter that operates at 5.6 GHz in the unlicensed spectrum for high-speed WiFi. When paired with the Company’s recently introduced AKF-1252, a high performance 5.2 GHz BAW RF filter, it becomes the first tandem BAW coexistence filter solution covering both the 5.2 GHz and 5.6 GHz frequency bands in a tri-band WiFi router.
The Company has begun shipment of AKF-1256 samples to select customer engagements for evaluation and technical feedback. Akoustis intends to expand sampling to additional target customers, including OEMs, ODMs, SoC and RF module manufacturers in early calendar 2019.
The strategic highlights of the new AKF-1256, include:
- New solution enables tandem 5 GHz WiFi BAW filter solution for tri-band architectures
- The new AKF-1256 offers the same size advantage versus DR filters as the Company’s AKF-1252
- Filter performance further demonstrates the sub-6 GHz capability of the XBAW™ process
- XBAW™ technology compatible with future mobile handsets requiring tri-band and MU-MIMO designs
The AKF-1256 provides low insertion loss covering the U-NII-2C and U-NII-3 bands (mid-point - 5.66 GHz) and addresses the stringent rejection requirements enabling coexistence with the U-NII-1 and U-NII-2A bands. 5.6 GHz is a challenging band given the wide passband and the high operating frequency. By comparison, the 5.6 GHz WiFi pass band requires 345 MHz versus the narrower 5.2 GHz WiFi passband of 160 MHz.
The AKF-1256 filter product features:
- Ultra small form factor 2mm x 2.5mm x 0.9mm
- Single ended Tx/Rx ports
- Ultra-wide passband covering 345 MHz
- High rejection enables coexistence with adjacent WiFi UNII bands
- High power rating, maximum +30dBm
- Low insertion loss passband filter
- Performance over -40C to +85C
- RoHS compliant, Pb-free package
In September, Akoustis completed the final engineering modifications to its AKF-1252, the tandem filter product complementing the new AKF-1256. The Company has since received pre-production orders for the AKF-1252 from a multi-billion-dollar Tier 1 SoC vendor, as well as a distributor partner, both of which are expected to ship in the current quarter. Separately, Akoustis has shipped evaluation boards and individual AKF-1252 filters to more than a dozen potential customers, including the Tier 1 WiFi OEM announced last week.
The AKF-1252 and AKF-1256 are high performance 5.2 GHz BAW RF micro filters designed for use in tri-band WiFi router applications. The filters are produced using Akoustis’ proprietary XBAW manufacturing process, which delivers high performance RF filter solutions for frequencies up to 7 GHz to address critical RF filter requirements for existing and next generation communications applications, including the emerging 5G mobile network. The high power rating satisfies the demanding requirements of the latest WiFi standards including 802.11ax. The filter solution incorporates standard commercial module packaging and is compatible with high-volume, lead-free SMT soldering processes.
