Plenary Speaker 1: 5:45pm "Cost-effective Semiconductor Technologies for RF and Microwave Applications" Christopher M. Snowden Vice-Chancellor and Chief Executive University of Surrey Guildford, Surrey UK

Abstract:

Microwave systems designers have a wide choice of semiconductor technologies for applications up to 100 GHz. While there is a natural tendency to choose integrated silicon as the technology of choice for most RFIC applications below 2 GHz and for many applications at higher frequencies, there are many other options available which can offer cost-competitive and performanceenhancing solutions.

This presentation will examine the current state-of-the-art in microwave and RF semiconductor technologies set against economic pressures which demand the lowest cost solution while meeting technical performance requirements, reliability and reproducibility. The presentation will examine factors affecting the wafer cost or equivalent die cost for various microwave technologies and the significance of mask set costs for some choices. The need for high yields and larger diameter wafer technology to reduce die costs led to 6” (150mm) wafer diameters becoming an industry standard for compound semiconductors.

The presentation will conclude by offering some insight into emerging technologies and their potential performance advantages for microwave and RF applications.

About Christopher M. Snowden:

Christopher Snowden is Vice-Chancellor and Chief Executive of the University of Surrey, Guildford, UK and a microwave engineer with wide experience of the international microwave and semiconductor industry.

He is currently a non-executive Director of Intense Ltd, which designs and manufactures photonic products such as laser arrays for the professional printing industry. He is also an advisor to DMD Ltd and Filtronic plc. He has previous experience as a Non-Executive of several other technology companies.

Prior to his appointment at Surrey he was Chief Executive Officer of Filtronic ICS. He joined Filtronic plc in 1998 as Director of Technology before being promoted to Joint Chief Executive Officer in 1999.

Professor Snowden is a Member of the UK’s Council of the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council, the UK’s Engineering and Technology Board (ETB), the Defence Scientific Advisory Council, the Board of Universities UK (UUK), and Deputy-President of the Institute of Engineering and Technology. He is Vice-President of the Royal Academy of Engineering and Chair of the Engineering Policy Committee.

Professor Snowden is a Fellow of the Royal Society, Fellow of the Royal Academy of Engineering, Fellow of the IEEE, a Fellow of the IET and a Fellow of the City and Guilds Institute. He was awarded the Royal Academy of Engineering’s Silver Medal in 2004 for his ‘outstanding contributions to the microwave semiconductor industry’. He was a Distinguished Lecturer for the IEEE Electron Devices Society for seven years until 2005. He was awarded the 1999 Microwave Prize of the IEEE Microwave Theory and Techniques Society.