Mosaic Microsystems, a microelectronics and photonics packaging company providing thin glass substrates and through-glass vias (TGVs) for next-generation products in RF communications, has reported winning a Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) Phase I award to collaboratively develop ultra-low loss solutions for next-generation radar arrays with the University of Florida. The award is sponsored by the Air Force Research Lab (AFRL) under the AFWERX Agility Prime Open Topic.
Mosaic’s thin glass bonded to a carrier provides characteristics such as low loss, CTE match, stability and cost effectiveness particularly desirable for 5G, as well as MEMs and sensors for the Internet of things (IoT). The proprietary Viaffirm™ temporary bond technology uses innovative approaches to support thin glass substrates during downstream processing. This exciting thin glass handling technology allows the supply chain to process thin glass leveraging the existing infrastructure, thereby unlocking the value that thin glass brings to next generation microelectronics and photonics applications.
Dr. YK Yoon, Professor in the University of Florida’s (UF) Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering (ECE) and Director of the Multidisplinary nano and Microsystems (MnM) Laboratory, is a leader in RF and Microwave technology. His group will lead the effort to provide innovative metaconductor technology to low-loss glass substrates, which can result in order of magnitude reduction in loss performance.
AFWERX Phase I STTR
AFRL and AFWERX have partnered to streamline the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) process in an attempt to speed up the experience, broaden the pool of potential applicants. Beginning in 2018, and now in 2020, the Air Force has begun offering ‘Special’ SBIR/STTR topics that are faster, leaner and open to a broader range of innovations.
This Phase I STTR award through AFWERX is an exciting program that partners Mosaic with the University of Florida ECE Department and the MnM Lab. Combining Mosaic’s innovative thin glass handling technology, the innovative metaconductor technology developed by Dr. Yoon, and MnM’s RF and mmWave experience will allow the development of radar arrays with a step change in low loss, high gain performance. Establishing highly efficient devices has broad application not only in radar arrays but many other needs across the DoD. Combining both of these innovative technologies will provide a dramatic improvement in size, weight and power performance.
Mosaic Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Christine Whitman, stated “We are excited to work with the University of Florida to enable important revolutionary higher efficiency devices. This technology will have broad adoption across many defense and commercial markets and is an important part of Mosaic’s roadmap.”
