154: RF modules and filters

In a mobile phone's wireless communication system, the antenna, RF front-end, RF transceiver module, and baseband signal processor are all indispensable. Among them, the RF front-end is the fundamental part that converts digital signals into wireless RF signals, consisting of the Power Amplifier (PA), filter, Low Noise Amplifier (LNA), Switch, tuner, and duplexer.

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In the previous life, Huawei, as an enterprise with numerous patents in 5G and a large-scale proponent of the 5G concept, suffered five rounds of technological suppression from the USA. The USA's most malicious move was strictly prohibiting other companies from supplying filter RF chips to Huawei.

In fact, after Huawei resumed purchasing processors from Qualcomm, these processors supported 5G signals, but the RF front-end limited Huawei's 5G implementation. This is why the RF module is a hurdle we must overcome for the independent development of 5G.

The filter, composed of filtering circuits made of capacitors, inductors, and resistors, can effectively filter out specific frequency points or frequencies outside that range in power lines.

The result is a power signal of a specific frequency. It can be said that the filter is the most important component in the RF module.

“Next, I will reassign tasks to your groups. Group A will continue to increase the frequency experiments on the RF switch.”

“Sun Tao's Group B, I am allocating Group D to you. You will continue the research and development of high-power tubes and filters.”

“Group C has a new assignment.”

“Your new project, Group C, is the re-development of the charging IC chip.”

“Our fast-charging laboratory has already begun experimenting with 120-watt charging power. This kind of high-power charging requires higher standards for the charging IC than before, and CEO Chen plans to supply our charging ICs to other mobile phone manufacturers.”

“Our current goal is not to develop the world's most advanced RF module or filter, but to solve the problem of going from zero to one. There may be many difficulties involved, but I firmly believe that our Hongxing Semiconductor will definitely be able to develop our own RF module!”

“Group B, your task is heavy. CEO Chen has also invested a lot of effort into this project. Bypass patents where you can; if you absolutely cannot bypass them, we can obtain authorization. You don't need to worry about that.”

“Does everyone understand their tasks?” Dr. Lu finished speaking and looked at the crowd.

“Yes!” All the team members were happy and excited. In other companies, leaders liked to micromanage, and in some domestic research institutes, researchers and Engineers at the bottom level were treated almost like corporate slaves—it would take forever to get promoted or receive a favorable rating.

After all, there is one position for every person, and everyone understands that.

Since coming to Red Star, the company's senior management only gives instructions on the broad direction and doesn't bother them with many trivial matters. Crucially, the salary provided is top-tier in the industry.

The company boss is also someone who likes to hand out bonuses frequently. Who wouldn't like a company like this?

Although they are a bit busy, with money as the foundation, none of that matters.

Currently, Red Star's charging protocol has essentially unified domestic manufacturers. Everyone uses Red Star's charging solution, with a maximum speed of 22.5 watts. Chen Chen is not worried about whether these manufacturers have independently developed higher-power solutions.

Red Star's fast-charging laboratory has applied for patents for several protocols and solutions, stifling not only China manufacturers but also making it impossible for Qualcomm to bypass Red Star and promote their own charging protocol in this area.

Red Star offers 22.5 watts, and if Qualcomm offers 10 watts, it's clear whose product everyone will use.

In Dr. Lu's team's theoretical design, the entire RF chip module must support TD LTE and LTE FDD, because China uses a hybrid networking method. The 4G licenses issued to the three operators last year were TD LTE licenses, which is China's own network standard.

In the future, LTE FDD licenses will also be issued to the other two operators besides China Mobile, for hybrid networking.

Because China Mobile carried the banner for China's 3G era, using TD-CDMA technology, it suffered greatly due to issues with signal strength, stability, and speed.

Now that 4G licenses have been issued, China Mobile is the most proactive in deploying base stations, having already constructed many 4G base stations ahead of schedule.

This means that this year is the first year of 4G. If a released phone does not support 4G signals, it is outdated the moment it is launched.

“Congratulations, Host, on achieving phased progress in the RF module. Rewarding RF Filter Technology.”

“Do you want to receive it now?”

Chen Chen was startled by Xiao Ai's voice in his mind. Since the last time Xiao Ai granted little star some abilities and things went slightly out of control, the system had been mostly unresponsive, and he hadn't received any effective rewards for the phones and other products released.

Why the sudden reward now?

Suppressing his curiosity, Chen Chen chose no. He hadn't prepared a dedicated encrypted hard drive at the company, so extracting it after returning home felt safer.

He pressed the button on his office desk, and Shen Rou and Song Ziwei, hearing the bell, came out from the adjacent room.

“Shen Rou, go ask Dr. Lu in the Semiconductor Department if there has been any progress in the RF module research.”

“Song, collect some information about domestic filters. Go now.”

“Understood, CEO Chen.” The two didn't say anything unnecessary. One went out to the Semiconductor Department, and the other returned to the office to gather data.

Soon, Song Ziwei came out of the office holding an iPad. “CEO Chen, I checked. Currently, mobile phone filters are divided into Surface Acoustic Wave filters (SAW) and Bulk Acoustic Wave filters (BAW).”

“The SAW filter is suitable for frequency bands at 2 GHz and below.”

“The BAW filter performs better in mid-to-high frequency bands.”

“Among domestic companies, Zhongxin and Kaiyuan already have the capability to mass-produce SAW filters. As for BAW filters, I couldn't find relevant information on domestic enterprises.”

“However, there is one piece of news: Professor Zhang Hao of our country had planned to advance the research of domestic BAW filters. Unfortunately, Professor Zhang was discovered by the USA government last year while allegedly stealing secrets and is currently imprisoned.”

“Bang!”

Chen Chen angrily slammed the table.

How could a professor specializing in semiconductors possibly be “stealing secrets”? This was clearly the USA restricting Professor Zhang under false pretenses because they didn't want him to push forward the domestic development of filters.