Yoon & Mosaic Microsystems Collaborate to Develop Next-Generation Radar Array Tech

Mosaic Microsystems, a microelectronics and photonics packaging company providing thin glass substrates and through-glass vias (TGVs) for next-generation products in RF communications, recently 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. ECE Florida Professor YK Yoon and his Multidisplinary nano and Microsystems (MnM) Laboratory 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.

Read Mosaic’s full announcement here.

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.

This project will combine Mosaic’s innovative thin glass handling technology, the innovative metaconductor technology developed by Dr. Yoon, and MnM’s RF and mmWave experience, allowing for 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.”

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.

About Mosaic Microsystems

Mosaic Microsystems is a microelectronics and photonics packaging company located in Rochester, NY. Mosaic delivers robust solutions to enable thin glass products for exciting initiatives in RF communications, particularly for 5G, as well as advanced packaging, MEMs and sensors for the internet of things (IoT). Mosaic’s solutions provide customers with the ability to establish high volume manufacturing of thin glass solutions using existing industry standard equipment and processes.