There is no doubt that the demands for microwave electronics have increased dramatically over the last few years. This increase in demand is not from the military or defense industry, but rather the range of consumer goods that now include this technology.
The use of microwave circuits in cell phones, GPS devices and a wide range of hand-held electronics continue to grow exponentially. So does the use of the same technology that allows fitness trackers, pet trackers and a range of other devices to use GPS systems.
Of course, for the last decade, the biggest trends have to be to produce smaller and smaller components. This includes the design and use of MMIC or monolithic microwave integrated circuits that are as small as one millimeter squared. This compact circuit is a challenge to develop, but it is also a low-cost option for productions once design and tested.
Possible Open Source Effort
One change in microwave electronics that is being moved forward by the military and defense sector is the idea of open source RF (radio frequency) and microwave program.
This is designed to provide a more consistent and industry-standard based application of the technology. Currently, there is a wide range of different technologies in used, many of them proprietary, which is somewhat limiting in the ability to move the technology forward.
It can also make it more challenging for a business to find a company to provide microwave electronics that is using best practices and the latest in the technology. This is one reason why companies that specialize in this field are often challenging for prototype developers to locate. The variance between the technology, particularly in the smaller electronics companies, is often behind where the top companies in the industry are working.
More Capabilities with Lower Power Demands
While one of the reasons that microwave technology is used so extensively is the small size of the circuits and the low power requirements, there is an increasing demand to continue to decrease power needed to operate the circuits.
Through lower power demands equipment can again downsize, batteries can be smaller and provide longer use times between charges and more can be done with the device. Devices such as medical implants can operate for longer, which is another important factor to consider.
This is definitely a consumer driven change in the electronics industry, but it is one that is here to stay. As this push continues, the top companies in the electronics field continue to produce smaller and more powerful components to meet these demands.
