>Broadcom will produce advanced radio frequency components — including FBAR filters

Thin-film bulk acoustic resonator

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thin-film_bulk_acoustic_resona...

>Trends to utilize RF spectrum more efficiently with higher frequencies than roughly 1.5–2.5 GHz and in some cases also simultaneously with increasing RF output power have supported FBAR technology to become one of the key enabling technologies in telecommunication realisations. FBAR technology complements and in some cases competes with surface acoustic wave (SAW) technology and FBAR resonators can replace crystals in crystal oscillators and crystal filters at frequencies more than 100 MHz.

▲

MrBuddyCasino 2 hours ago | parent [-]

Fascinating. I suppose they can be smaller than quartz crystals?

▲

ahartmetz 34 minutes ago | parent | next [-]

If you find that fascinating already... did you know that all cellphones use mechanical filters in the GHz range? They combine very good performance with very low energy consumption.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Surface_acoustic_wave

https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Akustische-Oberfl%C3%A4chenwel... (pictures)

▲

MrBuddyCasino 26 minutes ago | parent [-]

Honestly, the "HF physics is black magic" trope has made me numb to the phantastical contraptions. I appreciate when they look cool, like esoteric orgon wave radiators.

	▲	ahartmetz 9 minutes ago \| parent [-]
		AFAIK, the black magic factor is much higher for HF electronics than for HF mechanics. It's at least partially because you can build more complex systems with HF electronics. The other difference is that high frequency EM oscillations easily radiate energy in the form of photons, while high energy mechanical oscillations radiate nothing for practical purposes (at least in vacuum), gravity waves if you're being pedantic.

▲

drum55 2 hours ago | parent | prev [-]

Very little uses crystal oscillators, they’re gigantic compared with electronics today and have very wonky performance over temperature and shock.

▲

i_am_a_peasant 25 minutes ago | parent [-]

even txco's?

	▲	MrBuddyCasino 13 minutes ago \| parent [-]
		You probably know this, they don't have wonky performance but are even bigger. An oven around a crystal.