Help may be on the way for iPhone 4 users frustrated by dropped calls with the arrival of Radio Frequency Microelectromechanical Systems (RF MEMS), semiconductors that can improve the performance of antennas in cell phones, according to the market research firm iSuppli Corp.

Long plagued by technological hurdles and other disappointing setbacks, RF MEMS are finally ready for the big time, with revenue projected to double in 2010 and more than triple in 2011.

From slightly less than $4M in 2006, global RF MEMS revenue is anticipated to climb to $8.1M this year—and then surge to $27.9M in 2011, according to iSuppli. By 2014, revenue will reach a whopping $223.2M—a far cry from the industry's extremely modest beginnings.

"More than 50 percent of cell phones shipped in 2014 will feature some form of front-end-module tuning using RF MEMS or other tuning technologies," said Jérémie Bouchaud, principal analyst for MEMS and sensors at iSuppli.

"The implementation of RF MEMS switches and varactors in mobile phones could help boost the performance of smart phones like the iPhone 4, which made news headlines recently because of a problematic antenna that resulted in dropped signal strength. RF MEMS are also ideal for impedance matching of the Power Amplifier."

Although other technologies will address antenna issues, including SoS FETs and BST varactors, MEMS deliver the best performance in terms of insertion loss.

RF MEMS switches have been used in small volumes in instrumentation applications because of their small form factor and excellent RF performance. However, despite initial promise, they failed to take off on a large scale because of myriad commercialization and technological obstacles. All that is about to change as RF MEMS technology begins to realize its potential because of strong product offerings from a number of major suppliers.

Seven firms are sampling RF MEMS products.

California-based WiSpry Inc. and Japan's TDK-Epcos are offering RF MEMS for high-volume cell phone applications. On another front, U.S. firms Analog Devices Inc., Radant Technologies Inc. and XCOM Wireless Inc.—in cooperation with relay manufacturer Teledyne Technologies Inc.—as well as Japanese supplier Omron Corp. are targeting high-end applications for testing and instrumentation such as ATE and RF test. U.S. startups Radant MEMS and MEMtronics focus on defense applications.

In particular, interest is growing among mobile handset manufacturers on how RF MEMS can be used for the front-end tuning of cell phones to improve antenna performance, given the advent of new wireless standards like LTE for 4G technology. WiSpry—which has garnered several design wins for its MEMS varactors—is expected to commence volume production by the fourth quarter this year.

Outside of cell phone antennas and instrumentation, a pair of smaller—but still untapped—opportunities also exists for RF MEMS switches and varactors in the foreseeable future. One of these areas is in wireless infrastructure gear—e.g., for femto cells—and cellular base stations, where the current switches being used could be supplanted by cheaper and higher-performing RF MEMS devices.

Another area is in defense and aerospace applications, including radio systems and phased array antennas, especially after 2014. This represents a high-volume opportunity for RF MEMS numbering in the millions of units.

iSuppli's market intelligence helps technology companies achieve market leadership. Catch the latest MEMS & Sensors Industry Headlines from all across the world, straight from our immensely experienced analysts. The MEMS & sensors portal at iSuppli provides deeper insights into MEMS sensors, actuators, microfluidics, substrates in data processing (printers, business projectors, laptops), wired communications (optical telecom and automated distribution frameworks), wireless communications (cell and smart phones, base stations), consumer (gaming, TV, DSCs, appliances), automotive, industrial, medical electronics, aerospace and defense applications. iSuppli provides comprehensive MEMS Technology & Motion Sensors Market Research that is rigorous, reliable & relevant.

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用RF MEMS来tune PA的匹配电路，或者用别的方法譬如开关电容、开关电感、变容管等等，好处确实是显而易见的。可是我到现在都不明白，用于Impedance Tuning的RF MEMS技术真的已经发展成熟到可以大规模商用了？WiSpry最近貌似风头很健，频频曝光，还有它后面的IBM，但是网上搜罗了半天也找不到关于他技术的真正有价值的咨询。拭目以待吧！

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前段时间真是忙得团团转，工作以来最大的一次挑战，好在最后终于赶在deadline之前完成任务。可是工作做得实在不漂亮，心情也随着工作进度起起伏伏，甚至开始怀疑自己。

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佳佳和皮蛋在北京、天津玩了七天，下午飞机回去。南苑机场，他们起飞我们往回走，结果我们刚到家就收到他们短信说已到家；可见，北京真是大得惊人。

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七天假期到来了，我有很多事情要做。