6 March 2014

Cree selects Plextek RFI as preferred European design resource

Plextek RF Integration (Plextek RFI) of Cambridge, UK, which designs and develops RFICs, MMICs and microwave/millimeter-wave modules, has been selected by Cree Inc of Durham, NC, USA as a preferred design resource to provide third-party design services to European customers of Cree’s gallium nitride (GaN) foundry service.

Commercial availability of GaN transistors has provided a step change in achievable performance for solid-state power amplifiers (SSPAs), says Plextek. Cree has a growing portfolio of discrete transistors, microwave monolithic integrated circuits (MMIC), and GaN foundry services that allow customers to design their own transistors and MMICs for fabrication on Cree’s processes.

Cree’s European customers will now have access to Plextek RFI’s proven design capabilities to develop their own custom GaN MMICs. In addition to providing design and layout services, Plextek RFI has in-house test facilities that allow evaluation of MMICs both in bare die form (directly on wafer) and as packaged parts.

“We see huge growth potential for GaN in Europe,” says Cree’s foundry services program manager Jeff Barner. “Plextek RFI’s experienced design and development team will provide a significant advantage to our European customers,” he adds.

“We have been seeing a steady increase in the amount of GaN MMIC design work we are taking on, and being able to provide our clients with access to one of the world’s best foundry processes will significantly enhance the service we are able to offer,” comments Plextek RFI’s CEO Liam Devlin.

Tags: Plextek Cree GaN RF

Visit: www.cree.com/rf

Visit: www.plextekrfi.com