Murata Manufacturing Co. Ltd.

09/03/2021 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 09/03/2021 00:04

Murata Acquires Eta Wireless Inc., the Developer of Digital Envelope Tracking Technology that can Dramatically Reduce the Power Consumption of RF Circuits - Contributing to[...]

9/3/2021

Murata Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
President: Norio Nakajima

Murata Manufacturing Co., Ltd. (Head office: Nagaokakyo, Kyoto Prefecture, President: Norio Nakajima, hereinafter referred to as 'Murata Manufacturing') is pleased to announce that we have completed the acquisition of Eta Wireless Inc. (Head office: Massachusetts, USA, CEO/Founder: Mattias Astrom, hereinafter referred to as 'Eta Wireless'), the developer of Digital Envelope Tracking Technology*1 that can dramatically reduce the power consumption of RF circuits involved in wireless communications.

*1 Digital Envelope Tracking Technology is a proprietary power management technology that optimizes the voltage supplied to the RF circuit, thereby reducing the power consumption.

As the performance of mobile devices has continuously improved in recent years due to greater capability and functionality of integrated circuits (IC's), it has become increasingly important to tackle the challenge of reducing power consumption in such devices. The problem is that for broadband signals like 5G and the next-generation 6G, there is a limit to the improvements that can be made through the hardware manufacturing and analog methods that we have typically relied on to reduce power consumption in the electronic components that we develop. To achieve even better results in low energy consumption, it is essential to adopt an approach that combines signal processing techniques with digital power management technology to efficiently control RF circuits.

This is where Eta Wireless comes in. The company's Digital Envelope Tracking technology, which was realized through a proprietary power management integrated circuit (hereinafter referred to as 'PMIC')*2 and DPD algorithm*3, optimizes the voltage within the RF circuit, thereby reducing the power consumption. Designed specifically for this purpose, the PMC digitizes and optimizes the voltage required by the RF circuit, supports broadband signals such as 5G, and helps to curb excessive power consumption. Additionally, the DPD algorithm achieves further reduction in power consumption through a unique algorithm that minimizes distortion and noise in the RF circuit.
With this acquisition, Murata Manufacturing is aiming to provide superior RF products through the synergy between our electronic components and design techniques for RF circuits and the Digital Envelope Tracking Technology of Eta Wireless.

*2 A circuit that generates the voltage to be supplied to the RF circuit.
*3 Digital Pre-Distortion algorithm. It generates a signal that cancels out the distortion and noise that occur within the RF circuit.


Norio Nakajima, president of Murata Manufacturing, stated the following regarding this latest acquisition:
'Advances in the realms of communications and electronic components have made mobile devices around the globe more powerful and more sophisticated. To extend the operating time of mobile devices when they have limited battery capacity, it is essential not only to increase the capacity of the battery, but also to strive for low energy consumption in the electronic components. We are very pleased to be able to combine the technologies of Eta Wireless with our own, to provide even better products to our customers.'

CEO and founder of Eta Wireless, Mattias Astrom, said:
'We are thrilled to become part of Murata and jointly solve the key power and thermal challenges for 5G. Murata's leadership in RF front ends made them the perfect partner when we first started to work together a number of years ago. The collaboration has been excellent, and we can now make an even greater impact in the RF front-end market as one team. We are excited to enable the full potential of 5G and extend battery life for the next generation mobile devices.


About Murata Manufacturing

Murata Manufacturing Co., Ltd. is a worldwide leader in the design, manufacture and sale of ceramic-based passive electronic components & solutions, communication modules and power supply modules. Murata is committed to the development of advanced electronic materials and leading edge, multi-functional, high-density modules. The company has employees and manufacturing facilities throughout the world.


About Eta Wireless

Eta Wireless is working to solve the fundamental power challenges in the mobile communications industry based on groundbreaking research by two professors at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Today's smartphones, wearables, and IoT devices are highly energy inefficient and typically waste most of the power consumed as heat. Eta Wireless' game-changing Digital Envelope Tracking Technology dramatically reduces energy consumption to significantly extend the battery life of all wireless communication devices. Unlike legacy analog envelope tracking technologies, Digital Envelope Tracking Technology supports new gigabit communication standards for 5G-NR, 5G-mmWave and WiFi.

Murata in Brief

Murata Manufacturing Co., Ltd. is a worldwide leader in the design, manufacture and sale of ceramic-based passive electronic components & solutions, communication modules and power supply modules. Murata is committed to the development of advanced electronic materials and leading edge, multi-functional, high-density modules. The company has employees and manufacturing facilities throughout the world.

For more information, visit Murata's website